Modified UPS for Electrical Backup?

For your other plans for a UPS I can tell you what I do.

For clocks I use those Atomic clocks, they are battery powered, update themselves nightly, show you the day of week, the date, inside AND outside temperature. I don't know how I lived so long w/o them. I liked em so much I bought one for everyone in the family. I have two.

It is nice to know what the temp is (in the shade) BEFORE going outside. I bought another atomic clock as part of a weather station.

For the alarm clock - that is ALL done on my smartphone. It goes everywhere with me. Luckily, mine folds up to display just like an alarm clock. I bought 2 of those also (used) for when you can't buy them any more.

There aren't many clocks in the house any more that I have to change the time on and are AC powered. I use rechargeable batteries

So, Gumby, Am I right that all I need is to plug my jump start package (pic below) into the wall and plug my APAP into it via the cigarette plug on the side? And that's IT?



If so, problem solved. As you said get 2 jump starts. In my case I can take 1 to a friends house to charge when power is out here. But it sounds too easy. There must be more to it, like my Respironics will be destroyed, or it won't run all night, etc.

OldLincoln wrote:So, Gumby, Am I right that all I need is to plug my jump start package (pic below) into the wall and plug my APAP into it via the cigarette plug on the side? And that's IT?



If so, problem solved. As you said get 2 jump starts. In my case I can take 1 to a friends house to charge when power is out here. But it sounds too easy. There must be more to it, like my Respironics will be destroyed, or it won't run all night, etc.

And pending your confirmation of the above, Gumpy, can you also give us an estimate as to how many hours of xPAP machine operation will be provided by your model jump start package and what is the make and model?

Thanks, --papit

OldLincoln wrote:As you said get 2 jump starts. In my case I can take 1 to a friends house to charge when power is out here. But it sounds too easy. There must be more to it,

It is really that easy. But you have to either buy the DC power cord or make your own. IF you buy the correct cord there is NO risk - IF you make one as bb says it's 50/50 chance of getting it right. Unless you search here for your machine, it all has been discussed many, many times. cpap.com sells the right DC cord for any machine they sell.

IF all you want is the UPS effect for your machine then you would need only one jump starter. IF you are going camping or planning for an extended power outage then you should get more than one AND keep them charging.

The BIGger the battery the longer it will last and the heavier it will be. But if you know what you are doing you can always ADD a larger battery to the jump starter. This may be helpful for camping.

Keep in mind many of these jump starters come with a plug to charge it directly from your car, which is handy during a power outage. It takes time but it can be done in lieu of going to a friends. Our town had charging stations set up (when the power went out) because today so many people rely on their cell phones to live.

My memory seems to fade so to answer how many hours I got during the last outage - I am pretty sure I mentioned it in the link below.

GumbyCT wrote:

edm_msu wrote:Your thoughts on this?

Why re-invent the power supply?
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64943&p=695301#p695301

Remember for a UPS only one jumper is needed along with the correct DC cable. IF you own Re$med$ then you pay more, BUT it's really that simple.

Gumby, Have you ever tried your maching on the AC circuit of the jump starter?

Lizistired wrote:Gumby, Have you ever tried your maching on the AC circuit of the jump starter?

NO, nada, negative ... did not have a reason. Sorry.

My humidifier will even work on DC.

Lizistired wrote:Gumby, Have you ever tried your maching on the AC circuit of the jump starter?

This guy has.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64943&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... 45#p652433

GumbyCT wrote:

Lizistired wrote:Gumby, Have you ever tried your maching on the AC circuit of the jump starter?

NO, nada, negative ... did not have a reason. Sorry.

My humidifier will even work on DC.

By using the jump starter to provide 110 Volt A/C, you will run out of battery quicker, as the converter makes for loss usually 15 to 25% added power drain. Quality varies for different units. Also recharging with your car electrical system can over charge the jumpstarter and cause it to fail sooner from overcharging. Jim

I don't think for the period of an outage any damage will occur. Most do come with a fused cigarette lighter plug to charge with. Which I assume is to leave plugged in and carry in the car/truck. In fact, I am willing to bet that is how tow truck operators keep their units charged.

I know during the first outage last year I had 3 diff units connected to my car a variety of different ways. That was June or July last yr and mine are still working. I think that more damage is caused by allowing them to run down to far BEFORE charging.

Keep in mind the longer the jumper is in use the longer it will take to get to a full charge. Which I found during the last outage you may not get it to full charge before you need to use it again and the power is still out.

Most units have warnings in the instructions that excessive charging from the car system can lower the life of the starter, by over charging. Most say that the house charging is safe for extended use. The fuse in the car plug is to prevent overload, and has no effect of charging voltage, which for a normal lead acid battery is 12.6 volts D/C, and a good working car Volts system should be under 14.8 Volts D/C, but can reach much higher levels if the control circuits fail. A full fielded 12 volt car alt, can hit 100 volts D/C.

As a mechanic I worked on a police that had $30,000 radio damage in 3 weeks due to a bad alt, I was the third mechanic to work on the car, and the last I might add. "Goofproof" Jim

Goofproof wrote:As a mechanic I worked on a police that had $30,000 radio damage in 3 weeks due to a bad alt, I was the third mechanic to work on the car, and the last I might add.

I'd be interested in know what you found as the cause?

Thanks, I could just try it out one night but maybe like most things, now that I have it, I won't need it.

Lizistired wrote:Thanks, I could just try it out one night but maybe like most things, now that I have it, I won't need it.

I am not sure what it is you have?

GumbyCT wrote:

Goofproof wrote:As a mechanic I worked on a police that had $30,000 radio damage in 3 weeks due to a bad alt, I was the third mechanic to work on the car, and the last I might add.

I'd be interested in know what you found as the cause?

That was in 1978, if I remember it was a internal short in the Alt that allowed it to full field the rotor, it was a Ford full sized Police car with a 460 Cu engine, the Alt had a internal voltage reg, two other mechanics worked on the car, and pronounced it fixed. They got by with it because the battery hadn't fully charged up, as it did the voltage went high, and toasted the radios at highway speeds. I wasn't allowed that, if I didn't fix everything it was free, and I had to keep working on it until it was repaired, and I had to stand behind the repair forever. It made my familty very hungry, but it taught me a lot, which later allowed me to get a paying job. Jim

(Went into mining working on equiptment that cost over $500,000 per unit, Big Toys.)

I saw Old Lincoln's other post and that brought me back here. I can only say that I do have great respect for Goofproof and what he says. What he says I guess could happen but I also can say it has NOT happened to me, yet.

I do know that tow truck operators keep these jump starters in their trucks and keep them charged, I don't but certainly would IF my power was out and I needed a way to re-charge my jump starter.

I do value my sleep as it affects every waking moment.