Sleeping thru a power outage?

I've tried to do a keyword search on this and haven't found anything, but my apologies if I didn't find an existing thread.

Question: If the power goes out at night while you're using the CPAP, what happens? Do you wake up, or do you continue breathing and inhale mostly CO2? (That can't be good!) I imagine that I'd wake up due to the change in pressure, etc., but what if I don't? Yikes!

Does an alarm go off? Couldn't find anything in the ResMed S9 manual about this, and have been wondering.

Yes, I am working on getting a backup power setup, but most of the options discussed here involve waking up and plugging into the backup system.

Nobody says anything about whether you wake up automatically or not, especially if you're a sound sleeper.

Hi kbid -- I have an S9 and I don't believe it has any sort of alarm feature. There's an inexpensive power out alarm device (about $15), I bought it at the local hardware store. I have it plugged into the same power strip that my cpap is plugged into. If the power goes out, the alarm beeps and lights up. I don't have the resources right now to set up a battery backup system, but I do at least want the peace of mind to know I'd wake up. It's a start.

thanks.

I did a different keyword search and did find that one of the many "backup power" threads did migrate to the topic of what goes on when the power goes off (some people said that they wake up, no problem). But some people did recommend the little alarm. It seems rather cheesy and most reviews say it's not very loud, but seeing that the power strip my CPAP is plugged into is right by my head, I think it will work.

I will buy one.

I still haven't sorted out the solution that will work best for me re: backup power (jeez, there are a lot of options!) but am still interested in knowing people's experience with how they wake up when the power goes out. Since ResMed doesn't say much other than that you won't be able to breathe thru the nasal mask if the CPAP is on, and since those user manuals seem mostly to be written by lawyers, there must not be much of a problem - i.e., I guess that people just wake up and figure out what's happened.

You can breath some through the machine and since your using a nasal mask I would assume you'd probably open your mouth and breath.

you won't be able to breathe thru the nasal mask if the CPAP is on

meant to say when the CPAP is OFF...

kbid wrote:I've tried to do a keyword search on this and haven't found anything, but my apologies if I didn't find an existing thread.

There are at least 4 threads on BATTERY BACKUP if you search in above box.

Question: If the power goes out at night while you're using the CPAP, what happens? Do you wake up, or do you continue breathing and inhale mostly CO2? (That can't be good!) I imagine that I'd wake up due to the change in pressure, etc., but what if I don't? Yikes!

Does an alarm go off? Couldn't find anything in the ResMed S9 manual about this, and have been wondering.

No alarm goes off b/c the machine does not know if you're asleep or awake.

Yes, I am working on getting a backup power setup, but most of the options discussed here involve waking up and plugging into the backup system.

Using the one battery backup discussed here

viewtopic.php?t=49115

you don't need to unplug and replug b/c it is running at all time.

Nobody says anything about whether you wake up automatically or not, especially if you're a sound sleeper.

See this device:

http://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Controls ... d_sim_hg_2

or

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R ... reId=10051

kbid wrote:I've tried to do a keyword search on this and haven't found anything, but my apologies if I didn't find an existing thread.

Question: If the power goes out at night while you're using the CPAP, what happens? Do you wake up, or do you continue breathing and inhale mostly CO2? (That can't be good!) I imagine that I'd wake up due to the change in pressure, etc., but what if I don't? Yikes!

Does an alarm go off? Couldn't find anything in the ResMed S9 manual about this, and have been wondering.

Yes, I am working on getting a backup power setup, but most of the options discussed here involve waking up and plugging into the backup system.

Nobody says anything about whether you wake up automatically or not, especially if you're a sound sleeper.

There's no yikes about it. I used to (note past tense) wake up after taking a few breaths. It happened so frequently, I decided to bypass the internal battery in a disused computer uninterruptible power supply and connect to an external deep cycle battery. Now I'm totally unaware of power outages and, since my alarm clock is also plugged into the UPS, I only know a power outage has occurred when I see the kitchen clock blinking.

Check out: viewtopic/t73063/UPSZILLA--UPSUninterru ... upply.html

This caused me a problem during Sandy. Six days - no power. Last three nights I packed the CPAP and slept at a friend's house with power working.

kaiasgram wrote:Hi kbid -- I have an S9 and I don't believe it has any sort of alarm feature. There's an inexpensive power out alarm device (about $15), I bought it at the local hardware store. I have it plugged into the same power strip that my cpap is plugged into. If the power goes out, the alarm beeps and lights up. I don't have the resources right now to set up a battery backup system, but I do at least want the peace of mind to know I'd wake up. It's a start.

what's this device called? sounds like a good solution to me.

sleepnasta wrote:

kaiasgram wrote:Hi kbid -- I have an S9 and I don't believe it has any sort of alarm feature. There's an inexpensive power out alarm device (about $15), I bought it at the local hardware store. I have it plugged into the same power strip that my cpap is plugged into. If the power goes out, the alarm beeps and lights up. I don't have the resources right now to set up a battery backup system, but I do at least want the peace of mind to know I'd wake up. It's a start.

what's this device called? sounds like a good solution to me.

Here's a link to the one I got at my local Ace Hardware store: http://www.acehardware.com/product/inde ... agpspn=pla

kbid wrote:I've tried to do a keyword search on this and haven't found anything, but my apologies if I didn't find an existing thread.

Question: If the power goes out at night while you're using the CPAP, what happens? Do you wake up, or do you continue breathing and inhale mostly CO2? (That can't be good!) I imagine that I'd wake up due to the change in pressure, etc., but what if I don't? Yikes!

Does an alarm go off? Couldn't find anything in the ResMed S9 manual about this, and have been wondering.

Yes, I am working on getting a backup power setup, but most of the options discussed here involve waking up and plugging into the backup system.

Nobody says anything about whether you wake up automatically or not, especially if you're a sound sleeper.

I guess everyone is different, but I always wake up immediately when the power goes out. I could sleep thru a train running thru the house with my CPAP, but as soon as it shuts off, I wake up. Perhaps everyone is different in this and an alarm couldn't hurt. My hubby is going to be sleep tested next week, so I might get an alarm for him when he starts CPAP, not a bad idea. I just never thought about this before now. Good point to bring up.
Jen

I went through a power outage last winter and woke up right away.

Does anybody know if FSA money can be used to buy a battery backup for CPAP? I have a bunch set aside for dental work for my hubby, but I'm starting to worry that he won't use it by the end of the year. I'd rather buy CPAP gear than lose it.

kaiasgram wrote:

sleepnasta wrote:

kaiasgram wrote:Hi kbid -- I have an S9 and I don't believe it has any sort of alarm feature. There's an inexpensive power out alarm device (about $15), I bought it at the local hardware store. I have it plugged into the same power strip that my cpap is plugged into. If the power goes out, the alarm beeps and lights up. I don't have the resources right now to set up a battery backup system, but I do at least want the peace of mind to know I'd wake up. It's a start.

what's this device called? sounds like a good solution to me.

Here's a link to the one I got at my local Ace Hardware store: http://www.acehardware.com/product/inde ... agpspn=pla

thanks! i just ordered one.

I wake up easily; but an alarm might be a good idea for naturally sound sleepers, or
those who use sleep meds or enjoy adult beverages.
About FSA for a battery backup, if it was covered, (which I do not know),
the power supply would have to be cpap-specific for them even to consider it.
In view of recent natural disasters, who knows?

I woke up in the morning when there had been a power outage sometime during the night. I was breathing fine through the vent holes in my mask, although with a little more effort than when I was having air blown up my nose *smile*. If your apnea is so bad that you are in danger from the time that the power fails to when you would wake up in the morning, then a UPS sounds like a good idea. UPS's also have an alarm feature that you can turn off or leave on. And provide really good surge protection as well *smile*.

I do have a battery that I use for camping that I can use for a few nights if I had to, but don't really have an automatic power failure switch over for it set up. So I would have to wake up, and re-hook everything up to use the battery to do that. I'm wondering if there is a piece of electronics that's just the switching part of a UPS, so I could plug in my own battery and it would do the automatic power switch over when power fails and when it comes back on...say, there might be a market there *smile*.