concerned for northeast cpap'ers

[Issac]

I just hope the people going without electric up north don't have to go without their pap therapy for long.
What could we worse? I hope there are public charging stations for batteries.
Let this be a warning for us all to be properly prepared for loss of electric!

[JohnBFisher]

I previously posted instructions in the Post "Battery Backup Design" .. It's a fairly simple approach to use a deep cycle battery to act as a backup battery. I've used this approach for about 10 years at this point. I am on my second battery. It should last another few years. I test the system about once a month. Even if you don't implement it fully, there is a lot of information that everyone contributed into that post.

But you know what? The best way to handle an emergency is to be prepared for it!! You don't build one of these backup units when the storm is approaching. You build it on a sunny day when there is no problem. That way when the storm approaches you can check to be certain it is working correctly. And know you are prepared.

Battery Backup Design
viewtopic.php?t=49115

[JohnBFisher]

P.S. Even if you decide you don't like that design - DO SOMETHING!! There are LOTS of posts about backup power for xPAP devices. Pick one. And then ACT so that you are prepared.

[johnthomasmacdonald]

Power was out for three days - it's been a fairly wild ride - i'm in NW New Jersey and the house got hit by FIVE falling trees through the night - the yard looks like a war zone. Roads in and out were blocked. House is basically a wooden cabin and an A-frame built in the 1920s- i think the A-frame saved it, the trees just seemed to hit and bounce off it and roll off the roof - a couple of houses in the neighborhood were split in half ( no deaths luckily - amazing actually how often the tree fall just missed parked cars and houses). Bookcases fell over and the the refrigerator fell against the sink - freezer still works but the fridge doesn't work. I thought we were covered for a power outage with a propane powered permanent generator that automatically turns on when the power goes out - didn't consider the possibility that it would get taken out by the trees - no way propane dealer is getting back there before the trees are removed - they are huge trees. Now i have a backup up electric generator ( arrived today - electricgeneratordirect.com drove it here - good bunch to deal with) to backup the propane generator to backup the battery operated sump pump ( since in hurricane Irene the pump failed to work when the power went out since the installers left a little plastic piece in the sump pump in the sump pit and it jambed and broke the pump within an hour of its turning on ( 3 feet of water in the basement).

Last night back on apap went pretty well - ahi 3.9, 9 1/2 hrs of therapy ( i rarely get more than 6 1/2) 90% pressure was around 13 i think - the night before ( first night back on apap) was worse but not too bad ahi 7.9 and 90% was around 14 it was a rough night though all around ( had to take my sister to an ER about an hours drive away since her surgical cathetor (sp?) came out - we were in the ER about 5 hrs and i didn't get to sleep until about 1am