Dreamstation batteries...UK user

[Erlolhiasn]

Hi all - I've managed to avoid it for the 4 years or so I have been using CPAP but it looks as though I will need to go on a camping trip next week (yay, I hate camping!).
Anyway - I need to buy a battery pack/whatever else is needed for my Dreamstation pretty quickly.
I am in the UK, and wonder if anyone can suggest where and what to buy? Do the batteries come with leads for charging and for plugging into the machine?
Also - I am very glad I logged into the forum tonight (as I have said before, I am a former regular user of the forum but can't find my old login details and no longer have access to that email address) as I had no idea my machines were subject to recall notices! I have started that process separately, but I don't have much choice other than to continue using it meantime.
Thanks all!!

[Pugsy]

How long are you going to be camping?
Will there be any chance of having the ability to recharge the battery from electric source during the day?
Do you use or need a humidifier?
What pressures are you using?
Is cost a factor?
Is weight a factor? Doing much hiking and sleeping away from main camp?

That's the extent of my help here but answers to those questions will help the others offer more targeted ideas.

I would suggest though that you look at a scooter battery of some to be determined size.
It won't come with the hook up things you need but those are easy to find.

[Erlolhiasn]

How long are you going to be camping?
Will there be any chance of having the ability to recharge the battery from electric source during the day?
Do you use or need a humidifier?
What pressures are you using?
Is cost a factor?
Is weight a factor? Doing much hiking and sleeping away from main camp?

Thanks Pugsy!
Trip length - just one or two nights;
Re-charging - yes, I will be able to from mains;
Won't need humidifier on;
Pressure - Fixed on 10.5;
Cost - yes, would prefer not to spend much as can't see it being a regular thing;
Weight - no issue, can stay in the car.

Thanks again!!

[rick blaine]

Hi Eriolhiasn,

The UK outfit called hope2sleep are offering the approved Philips Respironics lithium battery for £395, and say they have them in stock. If you declare that it's for medical purposes, there shouldn't be any VAT. And as far as I can see, this deal comes with appropriate cables.

https://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/respironic ... m-one.html

The alternative would be to go to any yacht and small power-boat dealer and get a 'deep-cycle' battery. That would be cheaper, but probably a lot bulkier. And you would have to drum up the clips and cables separately.

You might also call Philips Respironics UK in Chichester on 0800 130 0844, or go on line, and become a 'registered customer' of theirs – which is a new thing they've started doing. And if you were to buy direct from them, that might get you something off this and any future items.

PS. If you feel that the cost of this lithium battery is too much for just one trip, think of it this way. Having a charged-up battery at home means you will be covered in the case of power cuts.

[SleepGeek]

The first thing you will need is the correct DC cable to fit your make & model cpap. They are all different. Where you got your cpap should be able to get one.

Once you get that IMO the easiest thing to do is get a jump start battery. It will have uses after your camping trip to jump start your car or for future power outages. The jump start battery should come with the correct AC recharger so as mentioned the only thing you will need is the correct DC cable to fit your cpap.

The jump start battery should have a DC connection (cigarette light receptacle) for your cpap. Do NOT use the AC inverter if it has one. Most today will also have a USB connection or two, a light, an air compressor, and a meter or gage to show the state of charge.

Do not use a heated hose or humidifier when using any battery power cuz that depletes any battery much faster.

I think a jump start battery is the closest you will get to plug n play. They come with different size internal batteries so check the specs.

No matter which battery you get you will need to charge it before use as you don't know how long it was sitting on the shelf.

https://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t649 ... on+gumbyct

[rick blaine]

Hello again, Eriolhiasn,

I think what the previous poster means by "jump-start" battery is a car battery. And the problem with your run-of-the-bill car battery when used with a sleep-apnea machine is that that is likely to run the charge all the way down to zero.

And running the charge all the way down to zero is bad for the average car battery. They're not designed for that.

Here's what one trader says:

https://carbrandswiki.com/bez-rubriki/i ... ttery.html

If you are planning to use the battery even a few times, then you want what's called a 'deep cycle' battery – the kind used in boating. Here's what another trader says:

https://www.sunstore.co.uk/product-cate ... batteries/

Now, I'm not here to tell you how to live your life. I'm just giving you information so you can make choices.

You might be prepared to spend £80+ for a car battery to use for just one night, and if that ruins it, then just write it off as the cost of camping out.

But if you buy a deep-cycle battery, you have other choices.

You can keep the deep-cycle battery on the basis that you might just use it again for another camping trip.

You might keep it as a back-up, in case of power failure.*

And if you don't want to keep it, you can sell it on eBay.

(And, BTW, these three choices are also available to you if you were to buy the PR lithium battery mentioned above.)

As to connecting cables, you might try Halfords, but nowadays it's probably quicker to use Amazon.

* I don't know which part of the UK you're in, but as a sleep apnea patient, you can register with your electricity supplier to be given advance warning by phone and text of any on-going or planned power outage. Ask the company whose bills you pay for contact details.

[Pugsy]

I would look at a deep cycle scooter (wheelchair, power scooter, gold cart) type of battery if it were me and the appropriate connectors or clips.
35 Ah size would likely last 3 nights with no heated hose or humidifier to drain it.

Cheaper than the lithium batteries for sure.

I have no idea how it compares to a jump start kind of battery thing.

Marine batteries are deep cycle as well but with extra "padding" built in to help protect it from the roughness of boats bouncing around on the water...they are usually more expensive than the scooter batteries. You don't need the extra "padding".

[chunkyfrog]

If you hate camping, isn't there some excuse you can use to get out of it?
Not going would be my first choice.(at my current age)
When I was younger, a completely different story--not so much any more.
For instance "sleeping" on the ground--arthritis would rule out any actual sleep.
Without sleep, I could guarantee a foul temper--and language to match.
I would never be invited back.

[palerider]

Without sleep, I could guarantee a foul temper--and language to match.
I would never be invited back.

So, what your advising is to be foul tempered with matching language *before* the camping trip?

[zonker]

Without sleep, I could guarantee a foul temper--and language to match.
I would never be invited back.

So, what your advising is to be foul tempered with matching language *before* the camping trip?

this seems like sound advice to me!


my wife was dragged camping when she was a child. hated every friggin' minute of it. once she got old enough, she bailed.

and has never been camping since.

of course, it COULD be her language....

[SleepGeek]

I think what the previous poster means by "jump-start" battery is a car battery.

Car batteries are normally SLA.
The "jump start" battery is not a car battery but a battery used to "jump start" a car battery .
fwiw - The "jump start" battery in that link above is a 22AH AGM battery shown in the link below.


https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Power- ... B005735WSK

[palerider]

I think what the previous poster means by "jump-start" battery is a car battery.

Car batteries are normally SLA.

No, they're not, they are normally flooded lead acid, with few exceptions.

[rick blaine]

Hello again Erlolhiasn,

If you want to go for a scooter battery, this UK dealer looks like they know what they're doing. And their 34 AmpHour battery fits Pugsy's suggestion.

https://www.discountscooters.co.uk/34-ah-battery

It's £77. But note that it is a scooter battery, and thus under the rules can't be classed as 'exempt from VAT'. So the final price is £92.40.

You might could appeal to HMRC ('the Revenue') for a refund. But the Revenue might argue that this item is not vital for your treatment. (Go figure.) And in the end, it is their say.

[SleepGeek]

I think what the previous poster means by "jump-start" battery is a car battery.

Car batteries are normally SLA.

No, they're not, they are normally flooded lead acid, with few exceptions.

Good point, And the Jump Starter battery is not is the point.

And the only diff is you're not supposed to add "Distilled Water" to an SLA battery.
And these days many new cars have "Maintenance FREE" - or SLA batteries.

[Erlolhiasn]

Thanks everyone - that's all really useful.
I can't believe how expensive the actual battery pack is - more expensive than my machine!!
I'll have a think - I'm thinking trying to find somewhere to park with mains power is going to be a lot cheaper than a battery. But, yea, I have always wanted a back-up in case of a power cut - it's only ever happened to me once for about an hour, but it was really not pleasant!!