Batteries for CPAP - How to select, use, charge, etc.

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:00 pm

GumbyCT wrote:These type jump starters should stay on charge right up until the time they are going to be used.

The SLA batteries used in simple jump start devices hold charge reasonably well, so a top up charge for a few hours every month should be all you need if you haven't used the battery during the month. Its kinder to the battery and the environment!

Cheers,

Bill

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:50 pm

Certainly that will work if you can remember to do it every month for sure. The down side is if you forget the battery will discharge and may not be ready when you do need it.

Most important is that what I have been doing has kept this battery (now 3 y/o) in good enuff condition that it sustained the 7hrs. I already mentioned and had more charge remaining. So whatever I've been doing has been working.

Brings to mind the old adage - if it ain't broke ....

Did I mention this exact battery is what is used in my UPS? How do they manage to keep the UPS batteries ready? Perhaps, in the interest of the environment, I should unplug it?

WNJ · Post by **WNJ** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:28 pm

Gumby,

Your UPS may cut off the charging current to the battery when it is fully charged, and turn it on gain only when enough charge has drained off the battery after days/weeks.

A number of inexpensive chargers work this way. Not all do. I suggest you check the book that came with your jump-starter to be sure.

You could also put it on a timer to charge it an hour a week.

Wayne

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:14 pm

GumbyCT wrote:Certainly that will work if you can remember to do it every month for sure.

Life is full of things that need to be done periodically, many on a monthly basis... so you just add it to the list of those things. I have my PC remind me to charge my jump-start CPAP backup pack for few hours at the start of each month.

GumbyCT wrote:How do they manage to keep the UPS batteries ready?

By using built in charging circuits that typically apply a more sophisticated charging strategy than is typically available with the plug-pack chargers supplied with simple jump start units.

SLA batteries will survive on trickle charge for quite a long time.... but if continuously trickle charged, when they fail, they will often do so suddenly, so "may not be ready when you do need it."

Cheers,

Bill

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:10 pm

Been working just fine for me!!
So one less thing to fuss with.

"If it ain't broke - don't fix it".

Bottoms UP

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:57 pm

GumbyCT wrote:"If it ain't broke - don't fix it".

Hey, if you are prepared to live with the "fix" of it when you discover its unexpectedly "broke", there's no problem!

Cheers,

Bill

sgtbrown · Post by **sgtbrown** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:48 pm

I just bought (for a song) a Puritan Bennett battery pack as used with their 425 BIPAP unit. Anybody have any experience with this model?

Thanks,
Tom

Bearded_One · Post by **Bearded_One** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 5:06 pm

RipVW,

I didn't want to figure out that URL, if it is the Battery Geek Li-Ion CPAP battery, I just got one and used it during a power outage night before last. I have several other batteries, but this one is portable; it is small and holds enough charge for two nights.

http://www.batterygeek.net/v/vspfiles/S ... _222Wh.asp

sleepyguy1 · Post by **sleepyguy1** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 6:47 pm

Hurricanes--I have a variation of this battery concern. I live in South Florida and every two or three years you can count on a hurricane coming close enough to knock out power for a week, and sometime more.

I have had my CPAP for 1 1/2 years and we have had no hurricane since then, but Hurricane Wilma knocked out power from 1-3 weeks in different parts of town.

I have no idea what I would do for a week or two without a CPAP. Any ideas?

The problem with a battery is you will get tired of charging it in the next 3 years and it will be bad when a hurricane comes. The same with a generator. After a hurricane everyone buys generators, but then 3 years later when another hurricane comes close, the generator has seized up from non- use.

All I have thought of to do is try sleeping on my side for a week.

Any ideas?

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:49 pm

This was a humorous post from all the naysayers lining up to roast Gumby at the stake. It came back up while I was looking for the post with the Radio Shack parts list in it.

In fact let me link back to that list -
viewtopic/p637598/12-v-operation-with-R ... ml#p637598

And this -
viewtopic/t64943/Another-Battery-Option.html

While I am at it - I would like to disagree one more time about not keeping the jump start on charge daily.
1st - I have been doing just that as detailed in "Another Battery Option" above.
2nd - IF you intend to use it when the power goes off, just how do you know when that will be? So maybe the defib unit should be charged just before your heart attack? Or keeping the fire extinguisher in the basement until you need it?

Edit: the naysayers prob wouldn't want to know what I used instead of candles or oil lamps when the power went off during Irene.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:15 pm

I will have to review this more tomorrow.

billbolton wrote:
GumbyCT wrote:"If it ain't broke - don't fix it".
Hey, if you are prepared to live with the "fix" of it when you discover its unexpectedly "broke", there's no problem!

Cheers,

Bill

GumbyCT wrote:This was a humorous post from all the naysayers lining up to roast Gumby at the stake. It came back up while I was looking for the post with the Radio Shack parts list in it.

In fact let me link back to that list -
viewtopic/p637598/12-v-operation-with-R ... ml#p637598

And this -
viewtopic/t64943/Another-Battery-Option.html

While I am at it - I would like to disagree one more time about not keeping the jump start on charge daily.
1st - I have been doing just that as detailed in "Another Battery Option" above.
2nd - IF you intend to use it when the power goes off, just how do you know when that will be? So maybe the defib unit should be charged just before your heart attack? Or keeping the fire extinguisher in the basement until you need it?

Edit: the naysayers prob wouldn't want to know what I used instead of candles or oil lamps when the power went off during Irene.

ohwhatanight · Post by **ohwhatanight** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:47 pm

This may be a stupid question. Does insurance pay for a battery backup to have in case of power failure or is that generally an out of pocket expense? Do you get one from your DME or just order online? I hadn't thought about the need for one until seeing this thread. Now, of course, I will worry about the power going out!

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:52 pm

ohwhatanight wrote:This may be a stupid question. Does insurance pay for a battery backup to have in case of power failure or is that generally an out of pocket expense? Do you get one from your DME or just order online? I hadn't thought about the need for one until seeing this thread. Now, of course, I will worry about the power going out!

Since each insurer is diff, I think it's best to ask yours.

You can feed your DME but my guess is the needed parts will cost less on cpap.com or anywhere else online.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:00 pm

For example this adapter can be bought online or at most any auto parts store near you.
As can a decent Jump Starter

12V Battery Clip-On and Cigarette Lighter Adapter
http://www.amazon.com/Roadpro-Battery-C ... auto_img_b

Batteries for CPAP - How to select, use, charge, etc.

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Re: Batteries for CPAP - How to select, use, charge, etc.

Re: Batteries for CPAP - How to select, use, charge, etc.

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