Battery pack for in-flight use

[dtsm]

It appears airlines are tightening up on using their power source for us hoseheads. I've done a search for battery packs and see a vast price difference btwn a few types. All of them are lithium ion, some claim to power for several days. My needs are pretty straightforward. I fly across the pacific a couple times of year, usually 16 hour flights. I usually sleep 6-8 hrs on these flights. I have a ResMed S8 AutoSet II which I use for travel, and newer S9 Auto for home use. I understand ResMed S8 has some quirks that require a special inverter ?????

Suggestions welcomed for a battery pack for in-flight use, for only 6-8 hours [no humidifier used]. Weight more important than battery capacity...once I land, can recharge for homeward flight.

Many thanks.

[jdm2857]

The S8 itself will run an any inverter -- pure or modified sine wave. The H4i humidifier,
however, must have a pure sine wave inverter.

The S8 blower also has a 12V DC power input. It's just above the AC power input. The H4i receives
no power when the blower is connected to a DC power source.

So, if you can live without the humidifier, you really don't need an inverter at all. I'm not sure
you can even position the machine on a plane in such a way that you can be sure that the humidifier
doesn't get tipped over.

(For others reading this post, the S9 machines are totally different. Both the S9 blowers and H5i
humidifier will run on either type of inverter without damage.

And the DC power input to the S9 is 24V, not 12. I don't know whether or not the H5i will run
when powered by DC.)

[lido14]

I use a portable lithium battery that I bought on the internet. It weighs about 6 pounds and I can get up 20-25 hours on it even with a humidifier. I've used it on airplanes, boats, backpacking, etc. Its been effective and useful for charging other 12 volt items like phones etc.

[dtsm]

I use a portable lithium battery that I bought on the internet. It weighs about 6 pounds and I can get up 20-25 hours on it even with a humidifier. I've used it on airplanes, boats, backpacking, etc. Its been effective and useful for charging other 12 volt items like phones etc.

Really..you actually lug six pound battery? I was thinking the 2 lbs heavy enough

[JohnBFisher]

Our host has a Resmed option:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... hines.html

Of course you can also use the following:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/DC-Con ... hines.html
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -pack.html

The second option has more pieces/parts, but only costs $385 compared to $700 for the first option.

[idamtnboy]

I don't know whether or not the H5i will run when powered by DC.)

Yes it does. That's why in the battery discussions about the S9 you'll see so many recommendations to use a deep cycle battery, at about, what, 50 pounds!

[dtsm]

Our host has a Resmed option:https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... hines.html

Yep, saw this one in my research. High end and expensive for occasional use...

Of course you can also use the following:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -pack.html

Specs indicate 14 lbs, not sure I would want to carry on

Has anyone any experience with this battery -- looks like a reasonably priced compromise: http://www.bestcpapprice.com/Compact-Po ... p_516.html?

[JohnBFisher]

Sorry, this was the one I wanted:

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/CPAP. ... -Pack.html

It's Lithium Ion .. It's lighter. And it's cheaper. Helps if I picked the right one!

And I'm pretty certain we have several members that have that unit you listed.

[Sleep Tight]

Here is a lithium battery that is used by photographers to power our studio strobes while on location.
It's made by Paul C. Buff in Nashville, TN. I've used it with my ResMed S9 AutoSet and can get around 13 hours of use per charge.
It's less than $250.00, very well built, weight is around 3.5lbs and replacement/back-up batteries cost around $90.00.

http://www.paulcbuff.com/vagabond.php

[dtsm]

Sorry, this was the one I wanted: https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/CPAP. ... -Pack.html

Anyone have thoughts re the above and how it compares with these:

1. http://www.amazon.com/CPAP-Battery-Pack ... B007D27010
2. http://www.cpapsupplyusa.com/CTB01-3394 ... -Pack.aspx

Thanks again for all the input.

[Drowsy Dancer]

There are, of course, government regulations about what kind of batteries you can take on an airplane. Don't even try to carry on a deep-cycle battery. You need a lithium ion batter with no greater than 25 ELC.

I haven't flown with a battery yet. Some flight attendants may be nervous about them, be prepared with regs in hand. There was a fire at the beginning of the year on a Dreamliner that had an Li-On battery carried as *cargo* (not in the cabin), and that may add to the nervousness of the ignorant: http://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/ICAO ... craft.aspx

Start here:

http://safetravel.dot.gov/definitions.html

and here: http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dgr/ ... hange.aspx (IATA updated regs in 2013): http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dgr/ ... 3-V1.1.pdf pages 12, 13, and 14

Actually, this looks like a handy thing to carry: http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dgr/ ... endum1.pdf

billbolton knows more about the battery regs than I do, hope he drops in on this thread.

[billbolton]

It's less than $250.00, very well built, weight is around 3.5lbs and replacement/back-up batteries cost around $90.00.

Thanks for mentioning that.

I read through all the information on the Buff web site and it looks like a pretty good unit for in-flight CPAP use, with good battery storage characteristics and a replacement battery pack that is relatively inexpensive. It also looks like it will easily fit in the Resmed carry bag, if I put my H5i Humidifier in checked baggage

I need to replace the my dual NiMH packs I made several years ago for in-flight use - they have given sterling service with an S8 and an S9 but they are now at end of life. Each NiMH pack weighed about 0.9 Kg (~2lbs), so at 1.58Kg (3.5lbs) the Vagabond Mini is lighter, as well as having a higher energy density!

Cheers,

Bill

[dtsm]

It's less than $250.00, very well built, weight is around 3.5lbs and replacement/back-up batteries cost around $90.00.

Thanks for mentioning that.
I read through all the information on the Buff web site and it looks like a pretty good unit for in-flight CPAP use, with good battery storage characteristics and a replacement battery pack that is relatively inexpensive. It also looks like it will easily fit in the Resmed carry bag, if I put my H5i Humidifier in checked baggage

Bill - Did you see anything re using with S8 autoset II units...need a special plug or inverter or good as is to use?

[JohnBFisher]

... Did you see anything re using with S8 autoset II units...need a special plug or inverter or good as is to use? ...

Fortunately, Resmed makes answering that a LOT easier than Respironics. The following link provides Resmed's excellent Battery Guide:

http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/documen ... lo_eng.pdf

The S8 does have a converter to convert from 12VDC to the power of the S8 unit. See page 18. Or you can use an inverter. See pages 8 & 13. The specifics depend on your unit.

Hope that helps.

[billbolton]

Bill - Did you see anything re using with S8 autoset II units...need a special plug or inverter or good as is to use?

The Vagabond Mini produces sine wave mains voltage AC, so its just a matter of plugging the S8 II AC power cable into the power outlet on the face of the unit and you're good to go.

However, an S8 II draws about 45% more energy than an S9 at the same pressure level, so you'd need to make sure that the Vagabond Mini has enough capacity for your purposes. For in flight use of an S8, its best to just take the Humidifier entirely off the blower unit.

BTW, when calculating how much energy your xPAP machine is likely to use in-flight, remember that "cabin pressure" (equivalent effective cabin altitude) is like an altitude of about 8000 feet or 2400m above sea level*, so the xPAP will auto adjust for that and needs to work harder to produce the relevant pressure level. Therefore, current consumption to deliver any specific sea level pressure level when in flight, will actually be at 3-4cms H20 above the specified the sea level current draw. For instance, if you use a sea level pressure of 10cm H20, then at an altitude of 2400m in order to deliver that 10cm H20 pressure, the xPAP has to work as hard as if it was delivering ~14cm H20 at sea level

For my S9, which I run at 14cm H2, at sea level the blower draws uses 11 watts of energy, while at "cabin pressure" in flight it will draw about 12.5 Watts of energy.

I have ordered a 230V output Vagabond Mini for the Australian distributor (AUD $400, delivered) for my use on my next Trans-Pacific flights in May/June, and will report on its efficacy for in-flight use after that.

Cheers,

Bill

(* slight lower on the newest jets)