Backpacking, Hiking and Camping - the PowerAdd Pilot Pro

maybe this is one time when ramp would be helpful

palerider wrote:maybe this is one time when ramp would be helpful

Excellent idea!!!

I started the ramp at 8.0 and it is now humming away on 19!!!

Roger - can you verify?

Finster63 wrote:

palerider wrote:maybe this is one time when ramp would be helpful

Excellent idea!!!

I started the ramp at 8.0 and it is now humming away on 19!!!

Roger - can you verify?

I thought about the way respironics do a hard start at set pressure, rather than a soft start the way the resmeds do, and the comment someone made about the very high initial current measured.... and locked rotor motor currents... stirred my brain a bit, and thought ... RAMP!

the lower the initial speed, the lower the initial load (logic would say.)

Finster63 and palerider - this is great info for all interested here - I really do appreciate both of your input on this issue!

However, all I can confirm (I believe) is that the PowerAdd I have must indeed be one of the defective units - because no matter what I change on my CPAP I can't get it to stay on when powered by the battery. At first I just tried lowering my numbers - when that didn't work, I even changed the Bi-Level and Bi-Flex settings to CPAP and "none" - but none of those changes made any difference. Even if I put the pressure down to 4.0 (the lowest possible setting) my CPAP still trips the battery as soon as it comes on - and unfortunately for me using the ramp feature has no change on any of this behavior (that was a great idea though).

So, for others thinking of getting this battery, this should all be helpful information I would think. For me, it seems I'll need to send my current battery back as planned and buy a second one and cross my fingers that I don't get a second "lemon" from this company

Now I'm going to move on to my fuse testing with my old battery before it gets too late and I need to put my mask on for the night and get some much needed sleep - I'll post those results later or in the morning.

- thanks - Roger

Had to wait until this morning to test my old cpap dot com battery (this one https://www.cpap.com/productpage/cpap.c ... cable.html) as I needed to charge it up - but unfortunately no matter what fuse I put in my adaptor cord that seemingly should make it work with my CPAP machine (https://www.cpap.com/productpage/dc-pow ... hines.html) - I tried an 8,7,5, and 3 amp fuse - none made any change - my CPAP just displays "service required" on the LCD screen with this set up. Disappointing as this seems like it should work. I'm open to anyones ideas here.

- thanks - Roger

rogerconnelly wrote:Had to wait until this morning to test my old cpap dot com battery (this one https://www.cpap.com/productpage/cpap.co ... cable.html ) as I needed to charge it up - but unfortunately no matter what fuse I put in my adaptor cord that seemingly should make it work with my CPAP machine ( https://www.cpap.com/productpage/dc-powe ... hines.html ) - I tried an 8,7,5, and 3 amp fuse - none made any change - my CPAP just displays "service required" on the LCD screen with this set up. Disappointing as this seems like it should work. I'm open to anyones ideas here.

I have that same battery...works great on a 50 series bipap even with humidifier attached machine but I never could get it to work with my 60 series machine no matter what I tried...same results were obtained from the person I got it from. She thought maybe it was the battery but no longer had a 50 series machine to test it on....I did so she gave it to me. It worked just like it was supposed to on my 50 series bipap but never would give me anything but "service required" thing on the display.
That battery simply won't work with the 60 series machines. I have NOT pursued trying the other battery package setup from cpap.com that is supposed to work with the 60 series machine...I have read where even that setup is not 100% reliable and simply didn't want to spend the money just to test it out.
The battery system package that JohnO tried a long time ago with his 60 series Bipap...worked great even with humidifier but I haven't had an extra $300 to burn on that experiment as I really have no real need for a battery backup system at this time.

Thanks Pugsy - yes, I was on a 50 series machine when I bought this battery - it worked great with that machine the couple of times I got to use it.

If only I had known when my DME recommended getting the 60 series when it was time to replace my 50 series machine (which was starting to fail and needed replacing) that I was going to make my battery useless - ah well, no use crying over spilled milk and all

Do you recall just what better package JohnO was using? I'm currently faced with the choice of either buying a second PowerAdd battery on Amazon and hoping my luck is better with a second purchase, or dropping at least $295 on a battery that I assume is known to work with the 60 series since that is what it is listed for (https://www.cpap.com/productpage/c-100- ... -pack.html).

- Roger

rogerconnelly wrote: Do you recall just what better package JohnO was using?

It's in this thread...maybe page 2 or 3, I forget.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=86960&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=battery
The one that cpap.com shows (that you have linked to) I have seen some reports where people said it didn't work or worked initially and wouldn't work later and user was unhappy because it was way past any return time. Hard to know for sure what happened though.

Hi: Have been following this post since it started and just received my Pilot Pro 32000mAh Monster Capacity Multi-Voltage (5V 9V 12V 16V 19V 20V) Portable Charger External Battery Backup from Amazon. It came charged to around 65% and I am charging it to max now.

We are leaving soon on a long camping trip that will entail some boon docking so I've been wanting to get a backup - but didn't want a huge battery. So hopefully I will be one of the lucky ones with a correctly operating unit.

My XPAP is a Phillips Respironics System One (60 series) 560P with a-flex. My present settings are pressure 10-12, a-flex of 3, no ramp. I do experience FLs but still rarely go above 11 in pressure and probably would do fine on straight pressure setting of 10 and maybe could use less if necessary.

I am reluctant to try the battery out first during the night when I need to sleep, so was considering letting the XPAP run during the day tomorrow with my present settings. I know I need to turn off humidity and tube temp, but is it alright to leave the humidifier chamber attached as it certainly dampens the CPAP noise (which bothers me when sleeping if the humidifier isn't attached)? I thought that if all seemed well and there was power left, I would then try it at night.

What do you think of this plan? Does a daytime run seem reasonable? Any suggestions?

I am deeply grateful to all of you who have posted on this subject ! Thank you, thank you. thank you. I'll let you all know how my testing goes. My fingers and toes are crossed!.

Jagzoo

Hey Jagzoo -

It seems to me that if you let it freeflow, it uses up the battery a lot quicker than if you put it under a pillow.

Not sure if this true, but that's how it appeared to me.

- and the pillow will help keep the noise down.

Jagzoo, use the APAP on the battery tonight or you will never know how it will hold up in-service. It's not a great idea to just let the machine blow air. That will use more power than if you actually use the machine to maintain pressure. If the power drops out on you, simply plug in the AC. That way you have a real-life idea of how this thing is going to work out.

OK Sleeprider & Finster63 - I guess I'll wake up if everything stops? Oh what about leaving the humidifier (off) attached?

Wish me luck! Am a bit nervous.

Thanks,
Jagzoo

I would use it in the same configuration as camping...humidifier off. You might as well know now what you're dealing with.

jagzoo wrote:what about leaving the humidifier (off) attached?

Since the humidifier helps buffer the machine noise it won't hurt anything (it or whatever) to leave it attached but turn the setting to 0 which essentially turns it of. You can leave the chamber dry or put some water in it and get a little passover humidification if you wish.
As long as the humidifier is set to 0...it won't heat anything and thus won't draw any power.
Probably should use a regular hose and not a heated hose....I don't remember how to turn off the heated hose part.

Well, I didn't even get to try it for the night.

I set my CPAP up as outlined: pressure 10-12, no humidify, no heat. I only have the heated hose but turned heat etc. off. Other settings were: A-Flex 3, System One Humidification Off, Humidifier 0, Ramp 0, Tubing type 15, System One Resistance 0.

As soon as I hit the start button everything started up and within a couple of seconds stopped. The voltage light on the battery pack was flashing (set on 12V). As there was an earlier report of this happening at pressures above 12.5 I wasn't expecting this complication at 10. I then tried turning the pressure setting down to 9-11 but still the same thing - immediately shut off. I tried it both with and without the (non operating) humidifier tank attached.

I was so hoping! Guess I'll send it back tomorrow and it will be too late to try another one. Guess I'll just go without for a couple of nights now and then.

Jagzoo