Coverage for partial power outage

I *think* I know what the answer will be on this, but checking just in case.

I have plans in the near future to go to a country that is know for frequent power outages. I do anticipate that at times we would have power to charge a battery, and my hope is that at night we would have power some of the time (there will be a generator in use as well). Rather than a long-term solution I was wondering if there's something that doesn't necessarily need to run 8 hours but may help with the gaps that is perhaps not as pricy as a full "camping" type solution. I currently have an Airsense 10.

Resmed makes a battery backup, and there are somewhat less expensive 3rd party battery backups. You can leave the machine plugged into the battery, with a power supply plugged in to charge it. When the power goes off the CPAP will continue to run on battery, which will then start recharging as soon as power is returned. Note that the humidifier and heated hose are not going to work well with this setup, they draw much much more power than the machine by its self. A quick google search will find plenty of options like this.

You could also consider a computer UPS. It will be much less efficient because the Resmed power supply isn't as efficient as running the machine directly. But for short outages its a practical solution. Its probably more expensive than the battery solution, at least if its large enough to operate for a full night like the backup battery. But if you had access to one for other reasons its practical.

Various home grown solutions are possible as well, some have been discussed on this forum.

The battery systems designed specifically for 24V CPAP machines will probably be the best all around, but are somewhat pricey.

Clizby wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 22, 2025 11:31 am

I *think* I know what the answer will be on this, but checking just in case.

I have plans in the near future to go to a country that is know for frequent power outages. I do anticipate that at times we would have power to charge a battery, and my hope is that at night we would have power some of the time (there will be a generator in use as well). Rather than a long-term solution I was wondering if there's something that doesn't necessarily need to run 8 hours but may help with the gaps that is perhaps not as pricy as a full "camping" type solution. I currently have an Airsense 10.

You should immediately buy an automatic voltage regulator once you get in country. Unstable electrical grids cause voltage spikes, which can be hard on electrical equipment. It will also convert power to be like US standards.

bayareacpap wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 24, 2025 8:19 am

Clizby wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 22, 2025 11:31 am

I *think* I know what the answer will be on this, but checking just in case.

I have plans in the near future to go to a country that is know for frequent power outages. I do anticipate that at times we would have power to charge a battery, and my hope is that at night we would have power some of the time (there will be a generator in use as well). Rather than a long-term solution I was wondering if there's something that doesn't necessarily need to run 8 hours but may help with the gaps that is perhaps not as pricy as a full "camping" type solution. I currently have an Airsense 10.

You should immediately buy an automatic voltage regulator once you get in country. Unstable electrical grids cause voltage spikes, which can be hard on electrical equipment. It will also convert power to be like US standards.

Electrical engineer here. The OP's ResMed 90 watt power supply is rated for any AC voltage input range between 100–240V and 50–60Hz, which should cover any utility-supplied voltage encountered most anywhere in the world. (It's also rated for 115V, 400Hz, which is the system voltage utilized on some commercial aircraft.)

FWIW, I've never heard of an AC "voltage regulator" suitable for travel use. Voltage converters are typically utilized when necessary to convert between 110-120 VAC and 220-240 VAC. Similarly, frequency converters are utilized when necessary to convert between 50 and 60 Hz. Universal chargers and power supplies, such as the ResMed power supply, perform both of these functions.

If lightning, utility power surges and/or transient voltage spikes are a concern, a surge suppressor suitably rated for the line voltage and anticipated event should be used. These devices do not regulate nor convert voltage or frequency. Instead they simply divert excess energy surges above their rated threshold to ground.

bayareacpap wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 24, 2025 8:19 am

Clizby wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 22, 2025 11:31 am

I *think* I know what the answer will be on this, but checking just in case.

I have plans in the near future to go to a country that is know for frequent power outages. I do anticipate that at times we would have power to charge a battery, and my hope is that at night we would have power some of the time (there will be a generator in use as well). Rather than a long-term solution I was wondering if there's something that doesn't necessarily need to run 8 hours but may help with the gaps that is perhaps not as pricy as a full "camping" type solution. I currently have an Airsense 10.

You should immediately buy an automatic voltage regulator once you get in country. Unstable electrical grids cause voltage spikes, which can be hard on electrical equipment. It will also convert power to be like US standards.

Automatic voltage regulators typically have surge suppression so you don’t fry your electronics in a power surge and protect from brown-out power where voltage drops below 100 volts, which is common in many countries.

bayareacpap wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 26, 2025 8:24 am

Automatic voltage regulators typically have surge suppression so you don’t fry your electronics in a power surge and protect from brown-out power where voltage drops below 100 volts, which is common in many countries.

Okay, I'll bite, LOL.

Please post a link to some of these portable (and reasonably affordable) unicorn devices that can somehow simultaneously shunt transient voltage during unexpected surges while magically producing missing voltage during brown outs.

bayareacpap wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 28, 2025 7:51 am

https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/ups/avr/

Precisely my point. Those are all bulky uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices that rely on heavy internal sealed lead-acid batteries to operate. The web listing clearly communicates that they're intended to "offer guaranteed power protection for desktop computers, workstations, personal electronics, and home networking/VoIP". There's no mention of them being designed for convenient portability and/or international travel use.

However, if one was to opt to travel with one of these anyway, only the two smallest models have batteries that are rated below the FAA's 100 watt hour limit for carrying this type of battery in carry-on or checked luggage. Even then, those smallest devices are still the size of an average shoebox and weigh 13 lbs. That's basically 3.5x the weight of a typical ResMed PAP machine with humidifier tub and 90w power supply.

UPS devices like these don't accept universal AC voltage input either. They're limited to operation off of 90-140Vac 60 Hz line voltage only, which only makes them usable in North America and some parts of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Similarly you might be able to purchase a comparably rated UPS in Europe that operates off of 220-240Vac 50 Hz. mains voltage, but it would only produce the same 220v 50 Hz voltage, albeit in cleaner form, and would be useless for use in the 110-120vAC 60Hz western hemisphere (except for in maybe a few countries in southern South America.)

No doubt they work great for their intended use, but international travel isn't it.

bayareacpap wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 24, 2025 8:19 am

You should immediately buy an automatic voltage regulator once you get in country. Unstable electrical grids cause voltage spikes, which can be hard on electrical equipment. It will also convert power to be like US standards.
...
Automatic voltage regulators typically have surge suppression so you don’t fry your electronics in a power surge and protect from brown-out power where voltage drops below 100 volts, which is common in many countries.

First of all, the original poster did not say which country [s]he was going to. If the country in question has electricity in the 220-240 volt range, it's unlikely that there would be a brownout that drops below 100 volts. Also, some countries are known for voltage spike, and some are known for frequent outages (and some are known for both). Knowing which country the destination would be helpful in answering the original question.