A question about battery or alternate power source?

[Jon_m_holt]

Hey I have a slight problem... I have gone camping a few times in the last few months and have plans to go a lot more in the near future. I wasn't able to use my cpap because there is no electricity. What's the best solution? I know there is battery packs and different types of plugs but was wondering what the best way is. I know I would enjoy myself a lot more on the camping trips if I was able to get sleep!

[JimIllinois]

Well, there's always my personal solution - go camping where there are electrical hookups...

[Lee Lee]

I broke down and bought a battery powered machine for power outages. It's comforting to know I have it for those times when there's no power.
There are a bunch of excellent posts on this subjects, if you'll do a search.

[carbonman]

This is my camping/emergency power option.
Optima Blue top /marine deep cycle 55AH battery
12v adpt.
Mseries 12v adpt.
Resmed noise abatement system
Works great**....both camping and during power outages.




**With the Optima battery, this is a car camping only solution.

Big snow storm predicted for this weekend....just topped off the battery.

Bring it!

[rested gal]

Some additional (what an understatement!! ) ideas:

LINKS to Battery operation, camping, power outage
viewtopic.php?t=9682

[Patrick A]

by carbonman on 13 Nov 2009, 19:37

This is my camping/emergency power option.
Optima Blue top /marine deep cycle 55AH battery
12v adpt.
Mseries 12v adpt.
Resmed noise abatement system
Works great**....both camping and during power outages.
**With the Optima battery, this is a car camping only solution.

Big snow storm predicted for this weekend....just topped off the battery.

Bring it!

Great pictures. I like my set I use the Respironics Battery Pack for my M-series BiPap Auto.

[bearded_two]

Optima Yellow Top Deep Cycle Batteries

Model.......Cap.......Dimemsions.........Weight....Connector...........Approx price
D51.........38 AH......9.25 x 5.0 x 9.0"....26.0 lbs...Top Post.............$170
D35.........48 AH......9.31 x 6.7 x 7.8"....36.4 lbs...Top Post.............$180
D75/25.....48 AH......9.25 x 6.7 x 7.8"....37.8 lbs...Top Post+GM Side..$175
D34/78.....55 AH......10.0 x 6.8 x 7.8"....43.5 lbs...Top Post+GM Side..$190
D34.........55 AH......10.0 x 6.8 x 7.8"....43.5 lbs...Top Post.............$190
D31T........75 AH......12.8 x 6.5 x 9.4"....59.8 lbs...3/8" top studs.......$230
D31A .......75 AH......12.8 x 6.5 x 9.4"....59.8 lbs...Top Post.............$230

Height includes 1" terminals

Top Post = Standard 1" car battery type posts
GM Side = GM battery side screw terminals
3/8" top studs = 3/8" threaded stainless steel top studs for ring type connectors

[Patrick A]

by carbonman on 13 Nov 2009, 19:37

This is my camping/emergency power option.
Optima Blue top /marine deep cycle 55AH battery
12v adpt.
Mseries 12v adpt.
Resmed noise abatement system
Works great**....both camping and during power outages.
**With the Optima battery, this is a car camping only solution.

Big snow storm predicted for this weekend....just topped off the battery.

Bring it!

Great pictures. I like my set I use the Respironics Battery Pack for my M-series BiPap Auto.

If push comes to shove..I can go over to my RV and sleep in it I have 6 6v House battery's and 3 100w Solar panels we can go for several weeks without having to charge the battery's

[Patrick A]

I forgot to state that the last time the power went out here in Chula Vista, we could not even get out of our neighborhood because of all the police activity. Also if I had even wanted to go get into our RV we couldn't get into it because the power was out there also. So now I have my portable battery pack here at the house.So when we use the RV it is carried along just in case I need it also.

[timbalionguy]

For most modern xPAPs, and decent deep cycle battery will work. Sealed 'gel cells' (the Optima previously mentioned is one type) are best for camping because they don't spill or leak. I have several 38 AH batteries I use for amateur radio, astronomy, occasional video shoots (with power-hungry professional cameras), and now, CPAP. Only camped once this season, battery was good for two nights, probably would have held out for a third.

With winter coming, and its violent wind storms here in the Reno area (and especially where I live), power outages are frequent. The same kind of battery, maintained with a 'battery tender' will back up my APAP machine (DeVilbiss IntelliPAP), and take over should the power go out.

Keep in mind that most machines will not power the humidifier on battery. Humidifier will still work in passover mode, which is generally fine for camping as the humidity usually goes up at night outside. If you really need the heated humidifier, you will need a good quality (but not terribly large-- 400 watts is usually adequate) AC inverter and a MUCH bigger battery. Some machines need a 'pure sine wave' inverter, which is more expensive-- and heavier.

[Pinhead]

I when on a Motorcycle trip this spring we were going to be doing some camping without power. I bought one of those battery jumpers with a 12 volt charger and cigar lighter power source.

It worked great I was able to get two days on it without charging. It could charge it on the car cigar lighter during the day when we were riding. I don't know how many nights you can get on the car battery. This was a lot lighter and smaller and self contained.

Jack

[SnoozyWoozyCat]

I know this question has been answered many times even in the few weeks that I have been a member of this forum, but I'm not trusting my sleepy little oxygen-deprived brain to grasp the specifics. I want to make sure I am understanding what I can use to power up my machine:

I have a ResMed VPAP Auto 25. As long as I don't use the humidifier, I can use the following power pak and just plug my machine in during a power failure:

http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-DPP-600H ... =8-1-spell

Are the 600 watts overkill?

If I want to use the humidifier, I would have to purchase the sine convertor as well.

Am I understanding all of this correctly?

[Patrick A]

I know this question has been answered many times even in the few weeks that I have been a member of this forum, but I'm not trusting my sleepy little oxygen-deprived brain to grasp the specifics. I want to make sure I am understanding what I can use to power up my machine:

I have a ResMed VPAP Auto 25. As long as I don't use the humidifier, I can use the following power pak and just plug my machine in during a power failure:

http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-DPP-600H ... =8-1-spell

Are the 600 watts overkill?

If I want to use the humidifier, I would have to purchase the sine convertor as well.

Am I understanding all of this correctly?

I had one of those made by the same company but with a different name. I charged it up as directed but it only lasted less than 2 hours. That was using my original CPAP machine in 2005, I got one of the Battery Packs made by Repironics to replace it. Unless Xantrex has changed their power packs, I would not buy one. I would buy any of the ones sold at CPAP.COM

[lessismore]

The cheapest solution I found was to buy a SEARS Car battery jump starting battey it come all enclosed clean, and the 18 AMP HOUR Battery last a few nights, on my REMSTAR SERIES M, the only problem is that it takes a few days to recharge, but is it all encloesed safer than using a mirine battery, and not as expensive as the battery pack that con=mes fron RESPIRONICS........