Hi,
I have been reading up on the camping threads as I prepare to use the tent trailer this summer. I have read about hooking up a battery - might as well be chinese to me. My hubby is going to help me out.
I was wondering if anyone uses power packs? It is a battery with the inverter built right in - so you can plug your normal plug right in. you can use them to jump start your car, power your fridge or laptop... I have a link for one at Canadian Tire (a staple here in the North) and would be curious at to what someone who knows something about this stuff, thinks.
Thanks!!!
W
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/produ ... f42f465bf0
CPAP Power pack?
3 posts
• Page 1 of 1
CPAP Power pack?
Pressure 7-9 C-Flex 3 AHI 1.6
Mirage Swift
Marine Mask Seal so my mask doesn't leak
Polygrip Strips so my mouth doesn't leak
Di-Oval for aerophagia
Eye drops for air coming out my tear ducts
Pur-Sleep so I can fall asleep despite all of the above.
Mirage Swift
Marine Mask Seal so my mask doesn't leak
Polygrip Strips so my mouth doesn't leak
Di-Oval for aerophagia
Eye drops for air coming out my tear ducts
Pur-Sleep so I can fall asleep despite all of the above.
-
sleepinginseattle
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:50 pm
The powerpack is a simple solution. You can get one that will power your cpap at night by just plugging in the power cord but you won't be able to use your humidifier. Using a powered humidifier isn't practical with any battery solution.
The Motomaster Eliminator 600A is rated at 20 amp hours. (Sorry but I'm going to have to be a little technical to provide you with the information you need.) The amp hour rating is important because this is going to tell you how long you'll be able to run your cpap. The other important number to know is how much power your cpap draws each night. This is more complicated because the pressure setting and brand/model of your machine are factors that make for different power requirements.
As an example, I have a RemStar Pro 2 set at 11cm. So, it's kind of like your machine. Mine draws about 1.5 amps per hour. The math is simple. Take your battery rating (like the Motomaster 600A mentioned above with 20 amp hours) and divide by your machine's draw. 20/1.5= 13.33 hours. So, for me, I'd get a good night's sleep and have some reserve. If your pressure setting is lower, perhaps you'll only draw 1 amp per hour. It's hard to know.
Now, there's a few things you should consider before you conclude that the little Motomaster 600A mentioned above is right for you. If you draw power from an inverter which is what that "wall socket" outlet is that you'll plug into, that 20 amp hour battery will probably act more like a 17 or 18 amp hour battery. It takes energy to convert battery current (12volt DC) to alternating current (AC). That's inefficient because your cpap can be DC powered directly. Secondly, if you drain a battery, any battery, to a fully discharged state, you'll reduce that battery's ability to take a full charge in the future. Do it enough and you'll end up with a battery that will only hold about half the power that it was originally rated to hold. Finally, battery weight is proportional to capacity. Want more power to last twice as long? Get ready for a battery that weighs twice as much.
The Motomaster also contains a built in air compressor, jumper cables, and light. Those extras add weight but don't add utility if your sole concern is powering a cpap. On the plus side, it is a very simple solution (just plug in your cpap), it is nicely packaged (including a case and handle) and it is relatively cost effective.
If you decide you're not interested in the powerpack solution, there are simple solutions involving a 12 volt battery and a power cord that connects to the 12 volt (DC) power socket of your cpap for direct DC operation. All you'll need is a battery and a 12 volt DC power cord. You can buy the battery at a car parts or battery store and you can buy the power cord from an online cpap dealer.
But before you rush out to buy a car battery, it's important to know that there's no such thing as a standard 12 volt battery. There are car batteries that are designed to deliver a lot of power very quickly to the car's starting system and then be quickly recharged by the car's alternator. They are not designed to be drawn down to 50% or less capacity.
Alternately, there are deep cycle batteries that are designed to deliver a constant trickle of power over a long period of time and fully recover from a 50% drain. Deep cycle batteries are used by boaters (that's how fishermen power those electric trolling motors for hours on end) and they're popular with RVers that need power on the road.
These are just two examples but the type of battery you want is the deep cycle sort to power the cpap all night long. Sure, you can use a car (or motorcycle) style battery to power a cpap but don't expect it to last very long.
Finally, a note about battery safety. Batteries can be extremely dangerous. Don't confuse 12 volt rating as being "weak" compared to 120 volt AC power. 12 volt batteries can deliver an enormous amount of current very quickly and be potentially explosive. They are filled by a very nasty caustic acid and if they are shorted (by connecting the positive and negative terminals with a metal fork for example) they can explode. They also vent explosive gases when being charged.
The good news is that battery makers recognize these hazards and have engineered batteries that limit the dangers. The best of these batteries combine very durable cases with special construction (gel or AGM) that means they won't spill even if they're tipped over, and emit very little gas if charged properly.
Frankly, if I was you, I'd spend some good money on a seriously good deep cycle battery like the Lifeline GPL-24T Marine Battery (see link below). It is extremely durable (the build quality is obvious even to a novice like myself), it utilizes AGM construction that is widely regarded as the most resistance to damage from shock and vibration, emits very little gas /fumes when being charged and it is rated at 80 amp hours (enough for 53 hours using my 1.5 amp draw). With a capacity of 80 amps you could comfortably use it for 5 nights and not draw it down below 25% capacity. Of course, it is woefully heavy, 56 lbs, and you'll need a battery box (cheap) and a good charger (something rated above 5 amps).
I hope I haven't added to your confusion, but a good solution for powering your cpap while camping is worth doing a bit of in-depth research.
Good luck.
Cale
http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marineflyer.php?id=1
The Motomaster Eliminator 600A is rated at 20 amp hours. (Sorry but I'm going to have to be a little technical to provide you with the information you need.) The amp hour rating is important because this is going to tell you how long you'll be able to run your cpap. The other important number to know is how much power your cpap draws each night. This is more complicated because the pressure setting and brand/model of your machine are factors that make for different power requirements.
As an example, I have a RemStar Pro 2 set at 11cm. So, it's kind of like your machine. Mine draws about 1.5 amps per hour. The math is simple. Take your battery rating (like the Motomaster 600A mentioned above with 20 amp hours) and divide by your machine's draw. 20/1.5= 13.33 hours. So, for me, I'd get a good night's sleep and have some reserve. If your pressure setting is lower, perhaps you'll only draw 1 amp per hour. It's hard to know.
Now, there's a few things you should consider before you conclude that the little Motomaster 600A mentioned above is right for you. If you draw power from an inverter which is what that "wall socket" outlet is that you'll plug into, that 20 amp hour battery will probably act more like a 17 or 18 amp hour battery. It takes energy to convert battery current (12volt DC) to alternating current (AC). That's inefficient because your cpap can be DC powered directly. Secondly, if you drain a battery, any battery, to a fully discharged state, you'll reduce that battery's ability to take a full charge in the future. Do it enough and you'll end up with a battery that will only hold about half the power that it was originally rated to hold. Finally, battery weight is proportional to capacity. Want more power to last twice as long? Get ready for a battery that weighs twice as much.
The Motomaster also contains a built in air compressor, jumper cables, and light. Those extras add weight but don't add utility if your sole concern is powering a cpap. On the plus side, it is a very simple solution (just plug in your cpap), it is nicely packaged (including a case and handle) and it is relatively cost effective.
If you decide you're not interested in the powerpack solution, there are simple solutions involving a 12 volt battery and a power cord that connects to the 12 volt (DC) power socket of your cpap for direct DC operation. All you'll need is a battery and a 12 volt DC power cord. You can buy the battery at a car parts or battery store and you can buy the power cord from an online cpap dealer.
But before you rush out to buy a car battery, it's important to know that there's no such thing as a standard 12 volt battery. There are car batteries that are designed to deliver a lot of power very quickly to the car's starting system and then be quickly recharged by the car's alternator. They are not designed to be drawn down to 50% or less capacity.
Alternately, there are deep cycle batteries that are designed to deliver a constant trickle of power over a long period of time and fully recover from a 50% drain. Deep cycle batteries are used by boaters (that's how fishermen power those electric trolling motors for hours on end) and they're popular with RVers that need power on the road.
These are just two examples but the type of battery you want is the deep cycle sort to power the cpap all night long. Sure, you can use a car (or motorcycle) style battery to power a cpap but don't expect it to last very long.
Finally, a note about battery safety. Batteries can be extremely dangerous. Don't confuse 12 volt rating as being "weak" compared to 120 volt AC power. 12 volt batteries can deliver an enormous amount of current very quickly and be potentially explosive. They are filled by a very nasty caustic acid and if they are shorted (by connecting the positive and negative terminals with a metal fork for example) they can explode. They also vent explosive gases when being charged.
The good news is that battery makers recognize these hazards and have engineered batteries that limit the dangers. The best of these batteries combine very durable cases with special construction (gel or AGM) that means they won't spill even if they're tipped over, and emit very little gas if charged properly.
Frankly, if I was you, I'd spend some good money on a seriously good deep cycle battery like the Lifeline GPL-24T Marine Battery (see link below). It is extremely durable (the build quality is obvious even to a novice like myself), it utilizes AGM construction that is widely regarded as the most resistance to damage from shock and vibration, emits very little gas /fumes when being charged and it is rated at 80 amp hours (enough for 53 hours using my 1.5 amp draw). With a capacity of 80 amps you could comfortably use it for 5 nights and not draw it down below 25% capacity. Of course, it is woefully heavy, 56 lbs, and you'll need a battery box (cheap) and a good charger (something rated above 5 amps).
I hope I haven't added to your confusion, but a good solution for powering your cpap while camping is worth doing a bit of in-depth research.
Good luck.
Cale
http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marineflyer.php?id=1
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and any opinion I might offer is not to be considered advice. If you want advice, ask your doctor.
Wow, what an amazing, detailed reply. Thank you so much Cale! I will go over this with my hubby and we will look into the lifeline batter. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out!
Erin
Erin
Pressure 7-9 C-Flex 3 AHI 1.6
Mirage Swift
Marine Mask Seal so my mask doesn't leak
Polygrip Strips so my mouth doesn't leak
Di-Oval for aerophagia
Eye drops for air coming out my tear ducts
Pur-Sleep so I can fall asleep despite all of the above.
Mirage Swift
Marine Mask Seal so my mask doesn't leak
Polygrip Strips so my mouth doesn't leak
Di-Oval for aerophagia
Eye drops for air coming out my tear ducts
Pur-Sleep so I can fall asleep despite all of the above.
3 posts
• Page 1 of 1