Going camping...

[Slartybartfast]

I read elsewhere that a yellow or blue-topped Optima deep cycle battery will tolerate deep discharge without harming its life expectancy. So, I can go from the little red-tipped circular plug from the back of my PR machine straight into the 12 volt deep cycle battery...eliminating the power pack the PR machine uses normally?

If it's this easy I am pretty relieved, as all I'll have to hunt up is the power cord adapter and a battery.

The power cord may be easy enough to find at Radio shack. At least you can probably get the plug and some wire there. If your machine uses 5amps of current, you'll need 40 Amp-hours or more from the battery for one night's worth of CPAP power. Optima deep cycle batteries can provide around 75 Ah. More than enough for one night, maybe enough for two.

Optima isn't the only brand out there, but they are good. I was pricing some deep cycle batteries at a local NAPA today, and they have a refillable (note: these can spill if tilted over enough) deep cycle cycle batteries for about $100 with a 75Ah rating.

Look for a "SLA" battery (sealed lead acid). They should have them. They're unfillable and unspillable. I swapped out the starting battery in my 2008 Prius with an Optima, simply because it was about the only battery that would fit the tiny battery compartment behind the right rear wheel (don't ask me why they put it there). And I was darned if I was going to buy another Prius starting battery if the factory battery lasts only 4 years. The cost was about the same as the Optima yellow top, around $175. Without question, they're good batteries. The Optima red top is a starting battery and is more expensive. You really don't want that one. You can get a Group 24 SLA battery for about $75 if you look around. Auto parts stores are often a little pricy. Try WalMart, Costco, or Sears. I found a local battery store that has just about everything from wheelchair batteries ( called U-1 utility batteries) which would also work for what you're talking about, and they're unspillable, to golf cart batteries. Make sure you put the battery in a plastic battery box. Safer and easier to schlep around that way.

[Dan Jacobs]

Look for a "SLA" battery (sealed lead acid). They should have them. They're unfillable and unspillable.

NAPA did, and they were marine starting/deep cycle, not a true deep cycle battery. The optima blue top was over $200, but if I buy one online, I have to pay haz-mat shipping fee and also have to ship it back for warranty if necessary. If I can find a Portland, OR area store to buy an Optima blue top for $175, I'll probably jump on it, or just find a good SLA as close to $100 as I can get.

But the Optima's are damn good, and still hard to break away from even if I'll have to use a credit card and their terrible interest to be able to get one right now.

[GumbyCT]

but if I buy one online, I have to pay haz-mat shipping fee and also have to ship it back for warranty if necessary.

I thought you could bring it to any distributor for warranty?

[Dan Jacobs]

but if I buy one online, I have to pay haz-mat shipping fee and also have to ship it back for warranty if necessary.

I thought you could bring it to any distributor for warranty?

Haven't tried/had to, so I don't know how that would work.

[67tony]

So, I search for a nearby Optima dealer and it turns out he is in my small hometown and I know him. He's familiar with sleep apnea, and offers to call his Optima rep. Well, the rep recommends I buy a deep cycle wheelchair battery, a DCM35 group, for $110.

Then, get myself a solar (or daylight) powered battery tender, and just plug the battery into it every day. The tender works even if it is cloudy, and will recharge the wheelchair battery without a problem. The battery will easily give me one night of power, and maybe two. But, with the ease of operation and low cost of the solar tender, it is no problem to recharge every day.

If I go this route, I will test it out at home and post my results.

[Dan Jacobs]

That sounds like a great idea. Sunshine is free!

[archangle]

Then, get myself a solar (or daylight) powered battery tender, and just plug the battery into it every day. The tender works even if it is cloudy, and will recharge the wheelchair battery without a problem.

Run, do not walk, from anyone who thinks a reasonably sized and priced solar array will keep a battery charged for CPAP use if you're using the battery every night, especially if he thinks it works well even if it's cloudy. A small solar panel might keep the battery charged if it's not being used, but it won't keep it charged if you're using it.

How big, and how expensive on the solar panels, what model charge controller?

Are you going to be driving a vehicle to where you will be camping, or are you going to have to lug all this stuff on foot from campsite to campsite?

[DiverCTHunter]

Run, do not walk, from anyone who thinks a reasonably sized and priced solar array will keep a battery charged for CPAP use if you're using the battery every night, especially if he thinks it works well even if it's cloudy. A small solar panel might keep the battery charged if it's not being used, but it won't keep it charged if you're using it.

How big, and how expensive on the solar panels, what model charge controller?

Are you going to be driving a vehicle to where you will be camping, or are you going to have to lug all this stuff on foot from campsite to campsite?

^This

There are soooo many different interpretations of the word "camping".

Depending on how you're traveling, plan on doing one of the following:

1. Find somewhere to charge your battery during the daytime.
2. Invest in a good set of jumper cables and plan on idling your car for 3-4 hours/day*.
3. Shell out $150 for a cheap generator and beg/bribe someone to help carry everything.
4. Shell out $400-$1000 for 3 medium-sized solar panels and a voltage controller, then find one of Ted Kaczynski's neighbors to help you install everything.

*Note - Optima's website estimates 6-12 hours to fully recharge using a 10-amp trickle charger.

[67tony]

I camp with a 23' hybrid and a pickup truck...no electricity.

A small solar charger looks like a no-go, apparently I would need a 40 watt solar array to recharge a group 35 battery in one day.

Looks like I'm back to my blue-topped deep-cycle Optima idea, and then every 2 or 3 days driving the 1 hour back to our cabin for recharge.

[DiverCTHunter]

If it were me, I'd pack a quiet generator and run it while you're at camp but not asleep. Most of the big chains start around $300 for a quiet 1KW unit.

[archangle]

Looks like I'm back to my blue-topped deep-cycle Optima idea, and then every 2 or 3 days driving the 1 hour back to our cabin for recharge.

If you're in a place where you can, just hook up to the truck battery with jumper cables, and idle the engine a while each day.

[GumbyCT]

Looks like I'm back to my blue-topped deep-cycle Optima idea, and then every 2 or 3 days driving the 1 hour back to our cabin for recharge.

Is there a reason you can't charge it off the truck you mentioned?

[67tony]

Looks like I'm back to my blue-topped deep-cycle Optima idea, and then every 2 or 3 days driving the 1 hour back to our cabin for recharge.

Is there a reason you can't charge it off the truck you mentioned?

I'd love to charge it off the truck, with jumper cables, and wouldn't mind at all idling for 20 or 30 minutes. But, I have no idea how long it would take to fully recharge. Earlier in this thread it was suggested 3-4 hours! Plus, I think that an automotive alternator becomes fully functional at rpm's higher than idle.

[GumbyCT]

Looks like I'm back to my blue-topped deep-cycle Optima idea, and then every 2 or 3 days driving the 1 hour back to our cabin for recharge.

Is there a reason you can't charge it off the truck you mentioned?

I'd love to charge it off the truck, with jumper cables, and wouldn't mind at all idling for 20 or 30 minutes. But, I have no idea how long it would take to fully recharge. Earlier in this thread it was suggested 3-4 hours! Plus, I think that an automotive alternator becomes fully functional at rpm's higher than idle.

And you won't know unless you try. Remember - IF it is to be, it is up to me.

afaik - the auto alternator is functional as long as the motor is running. I would think starting with idling for 20-30 min would be reasonable.

IF you don't have a DVM invest in a $10 model from Walmart or an auto parts store to 'log' your battery voltage while under a load (in use). You are the pioneer on this one buddy.

You could always buy 2 batteries to charge one while using the other?

I think you got a lot of good ideas here. It would be nice for you to follow-up later to let all know how you made out with whatever you did.

[DreamStalker]

I camp with a 23' hybrid and a pickup truck...no electricity.

A small solar charger looks like a no-go, apparently I would need a 40 watt solar array to recharge a group 35 battery in one day.

Looks like I'm back to my blue-topped deep-cycle Optima idea, and then every 2 or 3 days driving the 1 hour back to our cabin for recharge.

You do know that lightweight portable and foldable solar panels are available up to 60 watts right?