Can anyone recommend a battery for my Philips Respironics DreamStation?

[mileena]

I sometimes sleep in my car for up to 90 days straight, and do not have electricity to power my CPAP. So I need a battery that is portable and that can be charged quickly, like at a library, gym, or while driving. I have a Philips Respironics DreamStation Auto CPAP Hum DOM. It uses 12 V.

Would this work:

https://www.cpapdirect.com/parts-and-ac ... attery-kit

coupled with this cord:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-dre ... cord.html

I use the same battery for my ResMed machine. If you look up the battery on cpap.com, it shows you exactly what cord/adapter you need to hook it up to your cpap. I use mine for camping, and recharge each day at the electrical outlet in the bathroom - it takes 3 to 4 hours to recharge after 8 hours of use.

That would work! I am glad to see it you like it. Thank you for posting the info!

[mileena]

Thank you. The problem is weight would become an issue if I had to carry it somewhere to plug it in to recharge it. Plus, the extra weight would decrease my car's fuel efficiency.

25lbs is gonna mess up your fuel economy that much?

You're right. Apparently I just like arguing, although I am also using that as excuse for me to lose weight to help fuel economy!

[mileena]

Also, don't cell phones use a lithim ion battery which is recharged daily? Their batteries last a few years at least.

Well, two years is a stretch for a lot of folks, and cell phones are notorious for losing power over time. Also, cell phones use Lithium Polymer, a special version of Lithium Ion. Each cell is is slightly different - and you can be sure that the cheapest pack will have the shortest life! 500 cycles is commonly advertised as a "life" for these packs. Tesla, however, is trying to build for 8-10 years of daily charging! This is the ultimate YMMV!

The problem with a solar panel is since I urban camp, especially in California, the homeless and other criminals come out at night and would steal my solar panel, especially since I do not want to drill and lock it down. It would also add weight to my car, so less fuel efficiency. I already had a homeless druggie try to break into my car while I was in it sleeping in California. And three times in one hour one night people tried to break in to my car while sleeping in downtown Baltimore.

To make it worse, in urban areas you'll often be shaded my buildings. On the other hand, flexible panels can be tied on and removed easily.

With a power outlet, which I often have as I use my laptop for hours in a library or at a place like Panera Bread, how do you charge an AGM battery? You need a separate battery charger? I don't mind lugging an AGM battery indoors once a week.

AGM's use the same chargers as car batteries, so there are a lot of inexpensive options. I like the BatteryTender trickle chargers because they are very gentle and reliable, but the largest is only 5 Amps. You want a charger that puts out at least a quarter of the size of battery - i.e. a 40 Amp-hour battery would like about 10 Amps when charging. The 35 AH batteries are a luggable 25 pounds, I like the 50% to 85% charging protocol, but it can be pushed to 20% to 90% at the cost of lifetime and charge time. This might mean something like 3 hours charging once a week, total life reduced from about 1000 cycles to 500 -still not bad for a $65 battery. Also, you can get a second battery and rotate as needed.

You have been so nice CapnLoki! Thanks for your info. I learned so much!

We're all still learning!

Ok, well I might have to buy a small battery charger then if I choose to go the AGM route. I would save more money and it would last longer, but then I would have to drag both into some place to charge every week, unless I hooked it up to my car somehow,. Not sure if I I want to do that due to technical expertise and not wanting to drill holes in my vehicle. We will see! Your answers have been so helpful. I did not realize how different lithium ion batteries were for cell phones, or that car batteries can not undergo a deep discharge.

[OkyDoky]

well I might have to buy a small battery charger then if I choose to go the AGM route. I would save more money and it would last longer, but then I would have to drag both into some place to charge every week, unless I hooked it up to my car somehow,. Not sure if I I want to do that due to technical expertise and not wanting to drill holes in my vehicle. We will see! Your answers have been so helpful. I did not realize how different lithium ion batteries were for cell phones, or that car batteries can not undergo a deep discharge.

The AGM set up isn't too complicated. You can get a long 12 volt cord that plugs into your car 12 volt and it doesn't require any technical work. Just plug in and drive. We did this with a jump start battery pack and a lithium battery at different times.
With the AGM weight to take it in to charge you could always get a small cart and pull it.

[mileena]

Thanks OkyDoky!

I have decided to get a AGM battery to run my CPAP (without a humidifier since I doubt an AGM could handle that). How long will a 35 AH AGM last running a CPAP? 2 nights? Or is a 100 AH AGM battery luggable to an outlet? I would put it in a bag to conceal. I don't wont to be seen going to Starbucks wheeling in a lead acid battery on a cart, lol!

These are the two batteries I have found

Harbor Freight Tools - Thundeerbolt Magnum Solar - 35AH - $69.99 plus their 20% off coupon - bad reviews:
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-Volt-3 ... 8680.html

or

Batteries and Bulbs - Duracell - 35AH - $79.99 plus 10% online coupons - excellent reviews:
https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/SLAA12=35C

Are there better ones out there?

Also, are these the adaptors I need?

Alligator clip to DC 12V socket:
https://www.amazon.com/KUNCAN-Cigarette ... 01MQPQLNM/



and this one:

12V plug to CPAP:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -cord.html



Can I pick this last one up locally, or do I have to buy online, since I am leaving for a trip on Wednesday?

[mileena]

Also, does anyone know what type of battery charger I need to charge an AGM battery? What amperage? 40? 10? Trickle? I want to lug it inside to charge once or twice a week, and will 4-8 hours to do so Do I need special adapters? Or do all chargers have alligator clips to charge the AGM?

[mileena]

I checked, and this AGM battery I posted above only has 50-150 cycles at 100% discharge?? That's it? So it will shot in under a year??

https://www.batteriesplus.com/productde ... laa12=35c



And why doesn't it have top post terminals like normal car batteries? How do I connect alligator clips to it?

[OkyDoky]

If you read this CapLoki post it might answer some questions. viewtopic/t114012/Choosing-a-Battery.html Scroll down to the post where he describes his set up.
Be sure and test everything before you take off in case you need to make adjustments.

[mileena]

If you read this CapLoki post it might answer some questions. viewtopic/t114012/Choosing-a-Battery.html Scroll down to the post where he describes his set up.
Be sure and test everything before you take off in case you need to make adjustments.

Thank you. I went to the thread and it looks Capn Loki has written very comprehensively about the topic. As it turns out, it looks like an AGM battery solution is not for me since it takes too long to charge. I only have 4 hours per day to charge the battery inside at a library (some days 8 hours). I can't wait around more than that for it to charge. I used to have a professional Schumacher car battery charger and that could charge your car battery in 30 minutes to an hour at 50 amps. I wish it could charge an AGM like that

It looks like I am going to have to buy one of those expensive $300 li-ion batteries sold by CPAP.com. Maybe two. Like the Freedom battery.

Connecting an AGM battery to a car to charge is a no go since I may only drive 30 minutes a day for a few days. Or I may drive 8 hours.

I need fast charging, portability, and a battery that will run for 9 hours a night.

This topic is so depressing. Why is there no easy solution for someone who camps 90 days straight?

[HoseCrusher]

Perhaps a change of perspective is in order...

Rather than being depressed and asking

"Why is there no easy solution for someone who camps 90 days straight?"

You should look at this as an opportunity to advance the current state of things. You may find combinations that are very useful to extended campers.

On the other hand you may just end up patting yourself on the back for figuring out a difficult situation. No one I know of camps out in their car for 90 days at a time, so you may not have a large opportunity to share your findings with.

You are the explorer. If you look at this as opportunity rather than a problem you may be surprised at what you end up with.

[CapnLoki]

Thanks OkyDoky!

I have decided to get a AGM battery to run my CPAP (without a humidifier since I doubt an AGM could handle that). How long will a 35 AH AGM last running a CPAP? 2 nights? Or is a 100 AH AGM battery luggable to an outlet? I would put it in a bag to conceal. I don't wont to be seen going to Starbucks wheeling in a lead acid battery on a cart, lol!

These are the two batteries I have found

Harbor Freight Tools - Thundeerbolt Magnum Solar - 35AH - $69.99 plus their 20% off coupon - bad reviews:
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-Volt-3 ... 8680.html

or

Batteries and Bulbs - Duracell - 35AH - $79.99 plus 10% online coupons - excellent reviews:
https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/SLAA12=35C

Are there better ones out there?

Also, are these the adaptors I need?

Alligator clip to DC 12V socket:
https://www.amazon.com/KUNCAN-Cigarette ... 01MQPQLNM/

Not sure why you don't consider the Universal for $65 with free shipping. This brand consistantly get 4.5 stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Power- ... B00IL0PVL4

I really dislike alligator clips, especially for something that should be semi permanent. How about this on the battery:
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-0 ... B000NCOKZQ
which connects to
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-0 ... B0041CDPQO
Its even better if the charger has the same connector!

As for the limited cycles at 100% discharge, this is typical - I think Universal claims 200 cycles at 100% discharge (which seems optimistic to me!) The issue is that Lead-Acid batteries are damaged a bit whenever to go really deep. How much depends on the quality, and the design. Starting batteries might only give you a dozen total discharges - that's why we have deep cycle. If you always leave at least 20%, the life goes way up - maybe 500 cycles. I you only go 50%, you might get 1000 cycles or more. Lithium is more forgiving of very low discharge, but their voltage can drop so low that equipment shuts down. BTW, many inexpensive pack only claim 500 cycles in best case. The real problem for Tesla was designing pack that could go 3000 cycles.

[mileena]

Not sure why you don't consider the Universal for $65 with free shipping. This brand consistantly get 4.5 stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Power- ... B00IL0PVL4

Thanks for this re commendation! Good price too. But it does have a number of bad reviews:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/cr/B00IL0P ... geNumber=1

But the Duracell AGM at Batteries & Bulbs has 16 perfect reviews and is just $8 more and I can pick it up locally. But U like the price of yours!

I really dislike alligator clips, especially for something that should be semi permanent. How about this on the battery:
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-0 ... B000NCOKZQ

Will this plug directly into my Philips DreamStation Auto CPAP? Because otherwise I will need a total of three adaptors to connect to an AGM battery.

[palerider]

Not sure why you don't consider the Universal for $65 with free shipping. This brand consistantly get 4.5 stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Power- ... B00IL0PVL4

Thanks for this re commendation! Good price too. But it does have a number of bad reviews:

Doesn't everything?

If you look at the "compare to similar" you can see a 2 pack of the *same battery*, with 83% 5 star out of 810 reviews.

You're right. Apparently I just like arguing, ...

And, there we have it.

[mileena]

Perhaps a change of perspective is in order...

Rather than being depressed and asking

"Why is there no easy solution for someone who camps 90 days straight?"

You should look at this as an opportunity to advance the current state of things. You may find combinations that are very useful to extended campers.

On the other hand you may just end up patting yourself on the back for figuring out a difficult situation. No one I know of camps out in their car for 90 days at a time, so you may not have a large opportunity to share your findings with.

You are the explorer. If you look at this as opportunity rather than a problem you may be surprised at what you end up with.

You are right HoseCrusher (which is a funny name, btw)! I tend to be very negative. I need to have a more positive outlook like you. Thank you for reminding me of that. I just wish I has more time to orer stuff and test it out before my two-week trip next week.

I really feel bad for the homeless who have no electricity to power their CPAP's. I should be grateful I am not as bad off as them.

[mileena]

Not sure why you don't consider the Universal for $65 with free shipping. This brand consistantly get 4.5 stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Power- ... B00IL0PVL4

Thanks for this re commendation! Good price too. But it does have a number of bad reviews:

Doesn't everything?

If you look at the "compare to similar" you can see a 2 pack of the *same battery*, with 83% 5 star out of 810 reviews.

You're right. Apparently I just like arguing, ...

And, there we have it.

You're right palerider! I think I let reviews sway me too much. I am easily influenced. And yes...I do like to argue...I do need to stop being so adversarial and tone it down sometimes. I guess it comes from my days of youth.