12 volt battery operation

[restfulbliss]

Hello, I am planning to spend about three nights aboard a houseboat in the Florida Keys next month. Since I will be away from all shore power, I plan on using a 12 volt DC power source to operate my CPAP. I have read somewhere that when using this type of power I should not use the humidifier, due to the fact that it may be damaged.
My CPAP is a Respironics, REMstarPro, M series.
Thanks Bill

[LinkC]

You can use the humidifier in pass-over mode (no heat...turn the knob OFF).

I think the "damage" thing is because some brands/models use 110AC for the humidifier heater. Your M-series doesn't, BUT you would run your battery down VERY quickly using the humidifier. You can either turn the knob to Off or unplug the humidifier "jumper" from the back of the blower...to ensure it doesn't get turned on accidentally. I'd go with #2.

[restfulbliss]

Thanks LinkC, for the response to my post. I'll take your advise and bypass the humidifier..Bill

[GumbyCT]

If there is a jumper on the back it is only on the 12V models. Respironics made about 3 diff models of the M humidifier, I think only 1 was 12v. I know mine is AC and has no jumper.

[builta]

If there is a jumper on the back it is only on the 12V models. Respironics made about 3 diff models of the M humidifier, I think only 1 was 12v. I know mine is AC and has no jumper.

Yup, GumbyCT is correct. The R-3 humidifier is the 12 volt version (it is the one with the two different length connectors on the top of the water reservoir that fits into the humidifier.)

I've used my M-Series Bi-PAP Auto w/ R-3 Type humidifier on many a camping trip and all over the world. It works great on a Deep Discharge Marine Battery. I can easily get 3 nights or so with a fully charged 100AHr Marine Deep Discharge battery with my humidifier set to 1. (but i never use my humidifier in Florida--humidity is already pretty high.)

Cheers,
Builta

[builta]

Hello, I am planning to spend about three nights aboard a houseboat in the Florida Keys next month. Since I will be away from all shore power, I plan on using a 12 volt DC power source to operate my CPAP. I have read somewhere that when using this type of power I should not use the humidifier, due to the fact that it may be damaged.
My CPAP is a Respironics, REMstarPro, M series.
Thanks Bill

Hi Bill,

I was thinking about what you are talking about doing. You want to use your CPAP on a house boat.

I would strongly recommend that you do not hook up or use your humidifier on your M-Series xPAP at all on a house boat.

Make sure that it is unplugged and do not put any water in the humidifier when you are on a boat! Keep the humidifier un-plugged and empty. Better yet don't take the humidifier on the boat.

The M-series is sensitive to having water back flow from the humidifier into the blower if it is tipped/dropped or giggled alot. This can make the blower not work. A boat will be sensitive to rocking and rolling. You might even motor it somewhere.

Cheers,
Builta

[physicsbob]

I agree that you should not put any water in your humidifier, Florida has enough humidity. But I would leave the cpap in the humidifier but disconnect the power to it and only plug in the cpap. The Mseries is loud enough as is, the humidifier chamber quiets down the cpap quite a bit. If the houseboat has a standard 12 volt car battery or bigger you should be able to use that to sleep as long as you start the engines at least once a day and run for about 15 or 20 minutes to charge them. Using a 100amp/hr deep discharge battery I can get over 3 eight hour nights with the humidifier with my MSeries at 9 cm/H2O. I have also plugged it into my wife's small car and slept for 4 hours with no problems. I would say go for it and have fun and not worry.

[GumbyCT]

To be clear - I was not recommending the use of the HH or water. The motion of the ocean can ruin your machine for sure. Just leave the chamber empty or IF you do remove it, make sure you have that special adapter needed to connect the hose. The M series is not usable without that special hose adapter. Most folks have no idea where they put it or what it looks like.