Emergency power for CPAP machines!

Vader wrote:

GumbyCT wrote:Gee, I don't have the Duracell yet.... I'll have to see about getting one.

It was $115 this morning for about two hours. It's now $149.
I've never really had to learn about these things because I have a Generac whole house generator, powered by natural gas (or propane) in the event of an emergency. I don't use it a lot, but OH....WHEN I DO!

A propane generator would be MY choice too
Tho propane is hard to find 'round here now too.

I've been doing a LOT of research, and the generators powered by natural gas sound like the way to go.

Aren't they like $8000 though?

Lee

lee_leses wrote:I've been doing a LOT of research, and the generators powered by natural gas sound like the way to go.

Aren't they like $8000 though?

Lee

lmao, I got 3 jump starters for <$200.

GumbyCT wrote:

lee_leses wrote:I've been doing a LOT of research, and the generators powered by natural gas sound like the way to go.

Aren't they like $8000 though?

Lee

lmao, I got 3 jump starters for <$200.

Very good point. You can also buy several deep cycle marine batteries and have a LONG CPAP time in an emergency. Of course, having the lights, refrigerator, etc. still run is great if you want to spend the money for a good generator.

The big problem with generators is if you don't test and maintain them, you tend to find that they don't actually start when you need them. Or they do like mine does. You go out to test it, it cranks up, and runs fine. However, if you actually need it, and try to use it, it dies after about 10 minutes.

The big problem with generators is if you don't test and maintain them, you tend to find that they don't actually start when you need them. Or they do like mine does. You go out to test it, it cranks up, and runs fine. However, if you actually need it, and try to use it, it dies after about 10 minutes.

LOL! About right.

I've found what you said to be too true, from working in hospitals for 20 years!

That's why I'm more interested in what I can do with battery power.

I'm not saying batteries are no maintanence, but less I think than generators.

Lee

lee_leses wrote:I've found what you said to be too true, from working in hospitals for 20 years!

I would think hospitals will have gas or diesel generators rather than propane which shouldn't be prone to the same problems, no?

I got this one.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... reNum=2502

Right HD has em too. I went back to my other post to mention HD and include your link.

I think the point should be between Sears, Walmart, HD, and Amazon these jump starters are readily available. Not to mention your local auto supply store.

Then you would need a DC cable to fit your machine and time to charge the battery; Radio Shack or Auto Supply should havve the parts. Get a heavy gauge wire, 5A or better for just the CPAP. Keep spare fuses on hand too. Ideally, you would want to try your setup out before you actually have to use it.

Plan your work - Work your plan.

Generators really are not the point of the discussion as far as “emergency cpap power” goes, because clearly, battery backup is the way to go. But the REASON I love mine is that I have experienced power outages of 2-3 weeks long, and it’s really nice to have lights , and not have to throw away all your food from both refrigerators. (not to mention having hot water.) and other things such as internet and tv, come in handy too.
It’s also nice to have HEAT during an ice storm, or air conditioning after a hurricane or lighting storm.
My generator has proven to be very reliable for the past four years. It runs through a programed weekly test, and I change the oil once a year. No problems. No worries. I have never regretted that purchase.
Besides, I’m a Republican. We’re all unnecessarily rich…right???.
....but the neighbors sure have liked hanging out at my house when there’s no power.

Gumby,

I'm actually not sure, I think they are diesel generators at the hospital.

More than once they've had to rent generators in a trailer when the generators at the hospital would not start. And, that is with them trying to maintain them on a regular basis!

So okay Vader, now I really want to know a price range of what that cost!

You need private security to keep the neighbors out! LOL!!!

Lee

lee_leses wrote:Gumby,

I'm actually not sure, I think they are diesel generators at the hospital.

More than once they've had to rent generators in a trailer when the generators at the hospital would not start. And, that is with them trying to maintain them on a regular basis!

So okay Vader, now I really want to know a price range of what that cost!

You need private security to keep the neighbors out! LOL!!!

Lee

Actually I'm glad to help out my neighbors whenever I can. There are several who are in their 80's, and I don't know what they'd do without AC/Heat. (but for security, I have one mean little terrier! )

4-5 yrs ago, I paid $6K, complete. I forgot what the amp/voltage rating is.
I'll have to look it up, but it powers everything in my ENTIRE house. 4 bdrm, dining rm, fam rm, living rm, kitchen, basement, garage, etc....IOW, the whole house, including 220 lines.

Vader, you have me thinking I should look into one. We won't get one this year, but it might be a good thing to look into. We have a gas generator that does most things, but it does not have the amperage output to run the dryer, the stove or the AC units. That was fine at one time, but I'm having more problems with heat, so it is definitely something to consider.

Or course, our heater / gas line is a long way away from our power, but an electrician should be able to handle that. It might just add a bit to the expense. In the meantime, I finally took my generator to the repair shop. Some bad gas appears to have gummed up the unit. It will be nice to get it back and have it as an available resource. As with my battery, I test it at least once a month. And I run it for about 20 minutes for exactly the reason that archangle mentions:

archangle wrote:However, if you actually need it, and try to use it, it dies after about 10 minutes.

JohnBFisher wrote:Vader, you have me thinking I should look into one. We won't get one this year, but it might be a good thing to look into. We have a gas generator that does most things, but it does not have the amperage output to run the dryer, the stove or the AC units. That was fine at one time, but I'm having more problems with heat, so it is definitely something to consider.

Or course, our heater / gas line is a long way away from our power, but an electrician should be able to handle that. It might just add a bit to the expense. In the meantime, I finally took my generator to the repair shop. Some bad gas appears to have gummed up the unit. It will be nice to get it back and have it as an available resource. As with my battery, I test it at least once a month. And I run it for about 20 minutes for exactly the reason that archangle mentions:

archangle wrote:However, if you actually need it, and try to use it, it dies after about 10 minutes.

Which is why "propane" is a better choice.

For over a year I powered my M series cpap directly from a 120 AH deep cycle Marine battery, that is charged by a battery-minder float charger. For the last six months I "dual" power my Intellipap with AC and the battery, as it will automatically switch between the two, however the humidifier is not powered on battery. Three weeks ago we had a very bad thunderstorm here, with the power going on and off every five minutes, after about the eighth time it stayed off and I just unplugged every thing and went to bed unplugging the AC from my apap. Three weeks later I decided to turn up my humidifier as I was getting a little congested and found I couldn't turn it up because I had forgotten to plug the AC back in. I have gone camping with my M series cpap for four eight hour days with a pressure of 10 cm and the humidifier set at 2, and I had about 40% charge left on the battery. I haven't tried any battery life tests with my Intellipap yet, but I think I could easily get at least eight eight hour days using the humidifier in passover mode.
My whole back up system cost less than $200, Marine battery $92 Battery-Minder $49, battery case $15, Respronics 12Volt cable $25 , connectors $10. As we lose power here regularly, eight times this year that I know of, a battery system for me is a must.
On a another note, the pros and cons of running a MSW inverter, while I have several and use them for different things. They work by switching the voltage 150V approximately on and off positive and negative. While this works ok for motors and transformers, the switching power supplies in cpaps, computers, etc. have a hard time with this, the interaction between the two can cause instantaneous high current spikes between them. This not only causes lots of electrical interference that can be passed onto the cpap, but it also causes the efficiency of the power supply to drop considerably, so the power conversion could be as low as 40%

GumbyCT wrote:

archangle wrote:However, if you actually need it, and try to use it, it dies after about 10 minutes.

Which is why "propane" is a better choice.

Yes, propane is probably better in a lot ways. A neglected propane generator won't be reliable either.

Another big problem with gasoline generators is that stored gasoline goes bad in short order due to the ethanol and some of the pollution control additives. Propane or diesel fuel tends to keep a lot better than gasoline. You need to drain the gas tank of your gasoline generator or run it dry periodically.