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03-20-2016, 07:49 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Sunriver
, Oregon
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 128
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CPAP Machine Useage
We are planning on a trip that's going to be a few weeks. My wife uses a CPAP machine. I do not have a generator and was wondering if the inverter was activated for the evening with nothing else on would it run the cpap machine all night without depleting batteries? How do other members address this?
I appreciate any input.
Regards
Mike
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03-20-2016, 07:57 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2013 31' Classic
billings
, Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,577
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You need to know how much the draw is, a 2000 honda is super quiet and will run all night....
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03-20-2016, 08:54 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2014 23' Flying Cloud
Fair Oaks
, California
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 717
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CPAP Machine Useage
I've tried using the CPAP machine while Airstreaming, and generally find that it's too much of a hassle to bother with. I actually like using it at home, where it can stay in one place plugged in, and even if I get up at 4 AM to go to the bathroom, I turn it back on when I come back to bed. But in the Airstream, with wires running all over the bed, it's just more hassle than it's worth. I go backpacking, and my Dr said for a week or two it's no problem to go without it. Since we don't go out for more than a week or two at a time in the AS, I've pretty much stopped taking it there too. From the specs on my CPAP, you could run it all night with the inverter if the battery were fully charged. But the battery would be pretty far gone in the morning and you would have to charge it up again the next day. If your wife really needs to use the CPAP every night, you should get a generator.
P.S. Other things are always on: the refrigerator thermostat and fan, various sensors, the clock, etc., and the inverter itself draws about 2 amps whenever it is on.
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03-20-2016, 09:01 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2015 30' Classic
Pleasanton
, California
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 745
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You should be fine. Even the lastest machine from ResMed including all the bells and whistles (humidity and heater) draws 105 W from 120 V. That will consume 105 W / 120 V / 0.8 = 1.1 A from the battery. Add another 1.5 A or so due to the 1000 W stock inverter losses and your total current drain from the batteries will be 2.6 A. If you keep it on for 10 hours that's 26 AHr from your batteries. Since you probably have two 84 Ahr group 24 batteries, you shouldn't drain your batteries more than 50%, so you will have 84 AHr of capacity to use. Since the inverter and CPAP will only use 26 AHr, you have 84-26 = 58 AHr to spare.
If you don't have a generator, how will you make sure your batteries are charged for the next evening?
__________________
Al, K6IV
2015 30' Classic, "Chez Nu"
2014 RAM 2500 w/Cummins Diesel
ProPride Hitch, 400 W Solar
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03-20-2016, 09:11 PM
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#5
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3 Rivet Member
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Sunriver
, Oregon
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 128
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Charging
I have solar panels and as I'm driving should charge them as well to.
Thanks for the answer. Someone else had mentioned it would be no problem but your answer gives me a bit more security. I'm probably going for a generator sometime in future but wanted to hold off a bit.
She does have the newest Resmed to that heats.
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03-20-2016, 10:00 PM
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#6
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Maniacal Engineer
1971 25' Tradewind
Lopez Island
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,244
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alano
You should be fine. Even the lastest machine from ResMed including all the bells and whistles (humidity and heater) draws 105 W from 120 V. That will consume 105 W / 120 V / 0.8 = 1.1 A from the battery. Add another 1.5 A or so due to the 1000 W stock inverter losses and your total current drain from the batteries will be 2.6 A. If you keep it on for 10 hours that's 26 AHr from your batteries. Since you probably have two 84 Ahr group 24 batteries, you shouldn't drain your batteries more than 50%, so you will have 84 AHr of capacity to use. Since the inverter and CPAP will only use 26 AHr, you have 84-26 = 58 AHr to spare.
If you don't have a generator, how will you make sure your batteries are charged for the next evening?
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105W from 12v is 105/12 = 8.75 amps; this would drop a single group 27 to about 40% change over 8 hours. The resmed prob. doesn't draw that much, and the inverter costs some too.
My resmed draws about 1.5 -> 2 amps when running on 12V sans humidifier; it easily lasts the night on a single smaller 12V cell.
Solar panels are a big win here.
- Bart
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03-20-2016, 10:15 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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Many CPAP machines can run on 12 volt power directly with the appropriate power cord. If the humidifier part is not used, they draw very little power that way.
The topic has been discussed in other posts here, so maybe someone can find them and re post the thread.
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03-20-2016, 10:33 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2015 30' Classic
Pleasanton
, California
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 745
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Barts is correct. When the ResMed is powered from 120 V it's 8.75 A from the battery will all the features enabled. Best to try and run it directly from 12 V - it will be more efficient!
__________________
Al, K6IV
2015 30' Classic, "Chez Nu"
2014 RAM 2500 w/Cummins Diesel
ProPride Hitch, 400 W Solar
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03-20-2016, 11:12 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Sunriver
, Oregon
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 128
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Thanks for all the replys!
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03-21-2016, 06:52 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,118
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I have about 12 years experience using mine in the Airstream. I run on 12 volts when not hooked up. I run on 110 when plugged in to shore power. I also carry a small inverter that will run it if needed. We carry a generator because we sometimes spend a week with no power and because our rig does not charge much when driving. I have had one of the 12 volt outlets short and burn out while running the CPAP. That is why I carry the little inverter. I do empty the tank and move the unit onto the bed when towing.
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03-21-2016, 04:58 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1973 Argosy 24
Kitchener
, Ontario
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 945
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Res med's input voltage is 24 volts. Hard to run that off of 12. In the summer forego the humidifier and power use is a lot less. I use a 400W inverter and a 150 watt solar charger and have no problems keeping the CPAP going all night.
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03-22-2016, 11:57 AM
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#12
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3 Rivet Member
2016 28' International
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 122
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcomeaux
How do other members address this?
I appreciate any input.
Regards
Mike
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Hi Mike,
If you know you'll be dry camping in one spot for more than one night, consider battery packs made specifically for the CPAP machine. They also come in handy if you have a power outage at home.
My husband and I both use CPAP machines. Even though we ordered the factory solar with our Airstream last year, we decided we'd play it safe by acquiring the CPAP battery packs. There are a lot of options out there-- we chose these: http://www.sleeprestfully.com/produc...CPAP-Batteries
They are compact, come in their own carrying cases and are very easy to transport. We opted to put together kits with two of the batteries for each of us. I currently have the Resmed AirSense 10. If I turn the heated humidifier down to a setting of 2, I can get three nights out of a single charge. If I turned the humidifer off, I could probably get four nights, maybe a bit more.
We don't do a lot of dry camping and weren't sure how much use we'd get out of the battery packs. At the Balloon Fiesta Rally, the weather turned very cloudy, our solar panels never could recharge the batteries and we slowly lost ground over the course of the event (it didn't help that the first night had been very hot and we'd kept the Fantastic Fans running most of the night, which dropped the house batteries down significantly). That left us unable to adequately recharge the battery packs off the inverter, but since we live in Albuquerque and needed to make a trip back to the house anyway, we were able to take care of that at home.
We have a couple of trips planned that will involve dry camping for at least four nights. We bought a generator to ensure that we can always keep the battery packs and the house batteries charged.
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03-22-2016, 01:40 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2016 23' International
Centennial
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,684
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I agree with NoNameinNM....battery packs are the way to go. I have the Resmed 10 and have had no issues in either my old Airstream or the new one.
__________________
Steve "Centennial Man"
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04-17-2016, 08:47 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 32
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thanks for this
I am always grateful to those who are experienced and share their information in a positive and helpful way. I have a CPAP and am still learning how to use it while camping.
bd
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04-17-2016, 10:16 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,408
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dower.bill
I am always grateful to those who are experienced and share their information in a positive and helpful way. I have a CPAP and am still learning how to use it while camping.
bd
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CPAP use is actually easier for me in the AS once all piped in. We run mostly on AC power... Looking into 12VDC (cigar lighter) outlet plug to RESMED... Expect it reply from RESMED soon.
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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04-18-2016, 06:25 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Berlin
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,787
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I use my CPAP all the time when camping both on and off grid. I have never had a problem running it through the night. Just remember to bring your distilled water.
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04-18-2016, 07:48 AM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member
2013 30' Flying Cloud
Cincinnati
, Ohio
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 205
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My spouse uses a CPAP machine, it is a ResMed but I don’t recall what model. We ordered the 12V converter from ResMed so the machine can plug directly into a cigarette lighter socket to eliminate the use of the inverter. I think that cost $80. My rough calculations were 2.5 amps/hour X 8 hours = 20 amps, or about 15% of battery power. That 20 amps is a pretty significant usage. With everything else we use another 20 amps a day, and we rarely get that all back from our solar panels. We do not have a generator. We can dry camp with no electric for 4 or 5 days, then we start looking for somewhere to charge the batteries.
One thing we had CanAm do is install a 12V cigarette lighter plug in the overhead near the bed in the rear. Our AS came with only one 12V plug, and that was at the front of the trailer. That would have been a very long cord.
CPAP can be used during dry camping without electric, it becomes just one more calculation in your amp requirements. I love the idea of the CPAP-specific battery pack - I did not even know they existed. I may look into that even if only for a backup. Thanks!
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04-18-2016, 08:32 AM
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#18
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2020 Classic 33
Box Elder
, South Dakota
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,731
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My wife uses a CPAP. With my setup I don't have a power issue. But has anyone looked into the Transcend Mini CPAP machines. Very small and they have a battery option with a claimed 14 hour run time. If the one we have ever dies I might see if we can try a Transcend.
__________________
Gary
2020 Classic 33 Twin, 2019 Ram 3500 Longhorn, ProPride
NØVPN
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04-18-2016, 11:05 PM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member
Durango
, Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 144
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I use a Phillips Respironics with or without the humidifier on 12 v system. It draws minimal amperage and load on the battery. Less without humidifier, as previously stated. I would caution you to buy the adaptor that is supplied by the manufacturer of your CPAP machine. You can damage your machine if you use an after market adapter. i.e. Radio Shack etc. You may want to consider a portable solar system to replenish your batteries during the day. I have a roof mounted system from AM Solar. Many threads on solar options. Hope this helps
Ken
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04-18-2016, 11:27 PM
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#20
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3 Rivet Member
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Sunriver
, Oregon
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 128
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CPAP Useage
Thanks again to all for the input big load off my mind. Talking with Lincare tomorrow.
Regards
Mike
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