CPAP w/Battery Backup

[Mongo1]

We own a 2023 Jayco 242BHSW and I use a Philips Dream station 2 CPAP. Main question is who uses a CPAP and what battery backup system do you recommend? Thanks

[Camper_bob]

DW and I are both CPAP users, and avid campers, and I tent camp a fair amount. We both use Resmed Airsense 10s

I use a Renogy battery for mine, and have a 12V adapter for power. ETA: I can wholeheartedly recommend this battery to run a CPAP. If I turn off the humidity (and I don't run a heated hose anyway), I can get 2x8hr sleeps off this one box, while charging my phone too.

And I have all the adapters to re-charge it from a wall plug or the 12V in my vehicle.

https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-72000m...05&sr=8-9&th=1

She uses one kind of like a Jackery portable power station. Also with a 12V adapter.

In the camper, I might recommend upgrading your battery bank, and installing 12V outlets on each side of the bed.

You could also install an inverter and run your machines from 12V through that, but it's more inefficient. That's how we run sometimes in the camper just out of convenience and the fact that we don't currently have 12V near the bed.

[Camper_bob]

12V adapter for Resmed: https://www.amazon.com/IBERLS-Airsen...zcF9hdGY&psc=1

12V adapter for Phillips Dream Station 2: https://www.amazon.com/HKY-Respironi...s%2C126&sr=8-5

Those were just the first in the Amazon search results...

[Mongo1]

I have seen this unit, the Renogy. We have inverter prep in our rig and are new to RVing so have plenty of questions. We have outlets near the bed but from what I have read on threads, best used while plugged in. Is that the case?

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Mongo1

I have seen this unit, the Renogy. We have inverter prep in our rig and are new to RVing so have plenty of questions. We have outlets near the bed but from what I have read on threads, best used while plugged in. Is that the case?

It depends on your battery bank, and what you're trying to power, and what power sources you have available to recharge your battery bank.

Personally, I would only use an inverter if I had no other option, at least for CPAPs. Since they run on low voltage, it is inefficient (although convenient) to run 12V from a battery into an inverter to change it to 110V, to then have your power cable go back to ~12V (or "low voltage"; between 6 and 24V through a transformer) to run your CPAP.

So, rather than installing an inverter, so that you can only use your CPAP while plugged in (which is a circular argument, if you're plugged in, you're fine using the camper's on-board AC 110V system to power your CPAPs), you're better off installing 12V outlets near the bed so you can run directly off battery power while not plugged in. This will also allow you to run directly off your battery while on shore power, when your on-board converter is re-charging your battery(ies).

What my wife did previous to me getting involved in her power usage: She would plug her CPAP wall plug into her battery backup 110V AC outlet (just like the wall). Granted, her battery backup has enough juice to make it through a regular night like that, but I can get 2 nights (plus some) out of mine running out of the 12V DC outlet. On the same box.

The only thing we use our inverter for is running the TV/DVD player while in transit, if the generator is not running. Every now and again, I'll turn it on so I can charge my laptop, again, if the generator is not running. Every now and then we'll stop for a quick over-night on the road where we don't need the generator, and our current battery won't make it through the night powering both of our CPAPs (through the inverter), along with all the other 12V items.

We don't generally boondock at times/places when we cannot/are not running the generator. Plus I'm pretty big on power management, so when we're in "conservation mode", I get kind of "antsy" about controlling power usage.

But there are plenty of people out there who have well-developed and thought out solar systems, battery banks, inverters... such that they never have to run a generator or plug into shore power. You're not going to see these setups in my neck of the woods (South Texas) during the summer...

So, really it depends on how and where you want to use your camper. But it is not efficient to install an inverter to run low voltage items through an AC outlet using a transformer.

[Camper_bob]

Sorry, forgot to mention that if you have "inverter prep", but no actual inverter, those outlets near your bed will not function unless you're plugged in (shore power).

Funny story: Our trailer did not have an inverter. A couple YEARS into ownership, we stopped for lunch at a rest stop. It was a little steamy (I did say South Texas, didn't I?), so I'm going around the camper opening the windows to get a cross-breeze. I turn around, and my wife is holding a regular old oscillating fan, and trying to plug it into the wall outlet. I just stood there and watched her plug it in, then turn the knob. The look on her face when nothing happened was absolutely priceless. I just started cracking up. She says "WTH are you LAUGHING at?! Why doesn't this work?!" I said "Sweetheart, I love you to death, but if you don't know why that doesn't work after YEARS of using this trailer, I'm just not sure I can help you!"

I almost ended up in the ER to have a broken oscillating fan removed from a certain orifice of mine! LOL!!

[Jagiven]

I have a dreamstation 2. I use a 12v power cord. I installed a 12v aux outlet next to the bed.

My battery is a group 31 deep cycle. I can go two days on a charge, including normal rv use. When boondocking, I'll charge the battery for a few hours everyday just to keep it topped off.

The DS is a 12v system, so switch from 12v DC to 120v ac, and the power cord swaps back to 12v DC wastes a lot of power. My 12v power cord I bought for my old DS, cost about $30 a few years back

[JudyB]

My sister uses the Resmed and last week while plugged into shore power at a camp, person at end of line had their air running and plugged in their EV!!! Burned the whole line out and her CPAP was out from 5 am-8am and she was masked. I felt horrible! Now only plug into Jackery and can get 3 days out of it.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by JudyB

My sister uses the Resmed and last week while plugged into shore power at a camp, person at end of line had their air running and plugged in their EV!!! Burned the whole line out and her CPAP was out from 5 am-8am and she was masked. I felt horrible! Now only plug into Jackery and can get 3 days out of it.

This (power outage) is why we even have battery backups for our CPAPs. We've lived in our current home for over 15 years, and can count on one hand the number of times we lost power, and even then it was only for a moment. Until February 2021 when it snowed for a week in South Texas and ERCOT shut down all the power. After that little debacle, I immediately purchased CPAP dedicated battery backups.

Incidentally, this would be the PERFECT example of one of the HUGE benefits of installing 12V near the bed in the camper for CPAP users. If you lose shore power, you can still sleep (so long as your battery bank is charged).

Just the last time out, I was using my electric kettle to make pour-over coffee in the morning before my wife got up. The ice maker was running, as well as both AC units, so the 11 amps the kettle took put us over our 30A, and our Hughes Watchdog shut us off (over-current). My wife was still asleep with her CPAP on, plugged into the AC outlet, so her machine shut off. There were some elevated vocals after she got that very rude wake-up call!

2 ways I could have prevented this: 1) have the inverter on, which we don't usually do when we're on shore power or generator or 2) have our machines plugged into 12V near the bed.

I will be installing "Option 2" in the VERY near future... Likely will be installing panels that include USB charging ports as well...

[SloPoke]

The wife and I both use an ResMed Airsense 10. Wife uses the humidifier settings w/o heated tubing, I don't use any moisture settings or heated tubing.

We boondock most of our travels and like others have pointed out, it sucks to run out of power for your CPAP in the middle of the morning. The Airsense 10 takes 24-volts at the power plug of the unit, I decided that I would power our CPAP's on a 24v bank of standard 12v-80Ah deep cycle batteries wired in series in the storage bay below our bed slideout. Each CPAP plugs in with a Resmed accessory cord to a connector beside the bed. Both connectors are wired to the batteries in the storage bay.

The batteries are charged by a NoCo G7200 charger/maintainer or our Renogy Suitcase solar unit with a 12v/24v charge controller.

[kevine1979]

I have a dream station (not dreamstation2) and use Respironics Pap Lithium Ion Battery Kit. I like it for the fact the it is always in play between the power outlet and CPAP so if the power blips at night it doesnt turn off my machine. When off of AC power, I get 2-3 nights of usage without the humidifier from a charge.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by SloPoke

The wife and I both use an ResMed Airsense 10. Wife uses the humidifier settings w/o heated tubing, I don't use any moisture settings or heated tubing.

We boondock most of our travels and like others have pointed out, it sucks to run out of power for your CPAP in the middle of the morning. The Airsense 10 takes 24-volts at the power plug of the unit, I decided that I would power our CPAP's on a 24v bank of standard 12v-80Ah deep cycle batteries wired in series in the storage bay below our bed slideout. Each CPAP plugs in with a Resmed accessory cord to a connector beside the bed. Both connectors are wired to the batteries in the storage bay.

The batteries are charged by a NoCo G7200 charger/maintainer or our Renogy Suitcase solar unit with a 12v/24v charge controller.

That's a really cool idea!

Originally Posted by kevine1979

I have a dream station (not dreamstation2) and use Respironics Pap Lithium Ion Battery Kit. I like it for the fact the it is always in play between the power outlet and CPAP so if the power blips at night it doesnt turn off my machine. When off of AC power, I get 2-3 nights of usage without the humidifier from a charge.

WHOA!! That's A LOT of money! Granted, it's a "plug-n-play" solution, but still. I'd have a hard time paying that much for a battery.

[kevine1979]

I am certain I didn't pay that much. Maybe a couple hundred though. I'll see if I can find the site I got it from and the cost.

[ttavasc]

I have a ResMed AirSense 11 that I got when they were first introduced. It's a 24v unit and at the time nobody made a native 12v adapter for them. So I just picked up a small Bestek 300w PSW Inverter that plugs into the 12v accessory plug. I get it's not as efficient but for $40 its a simple solution that I can also use for other items like charging my laptop, etc. When boondocking or dry camping I turn off the heated tube and humidifier and it comes in at ~1.5ah - so about 10-12ah total for 7-8 hours use.

[Bendmac]

I've been a CPAP user for 20+ years, currently using a Dreamstation at home. Rather than lug around the big(ger) unit when camping and fretting about power usage when dry camping, I popped for an AirMini.

Think of it as the ,"I've converted my interior lights from regular bulbs to LEDs". You can run 8-10 LEDs for the power it takes for one regular bulb. Same for the AirMini...takes about a tenth of the power to run. I have an inverter to 110v to run it on and there also a separate 12v converter if that suits your needs. I have several solar panels on the roof, and as long as it's fairly sunny, I can recover any amps used easily by noonish...so extended dry camps aren't an issue

There's a HumidX cartridge that can be used with the Mini if you find the Mini's air too dry...profile for the Mini is same as the Dreamstation, set up by my pulmonary doc.

[skiprace]

Here’s a link to what I use. Works great so far. Used mostly when we stop for an overnighter at a Harvest Host. Held enough power for at least two consecutive nights.


powkey Portable Power Bank with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMG8SL94?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[videoarizona]

I use both the Resmed 11(home) and the Resmed Mini (traveling with trailer or motorcycle)... I changed trailer over to a 200ah lithium from 2 GC2 batteries so I can boondock easier. Added benefits of faster charging, and full usage of the 200amps with my cpap. I purchased the Resmed transformer that goes from 12 to 24 volts for both units.(Resmed doesn't recommend unit for the 11 but the power requirements and connector are the same).. I do take the mini now with me, but like that I can use the 11 if I need moisture or heating. So far so good...3 days no charging worries.

[Pauls72]

I have a Resmed AirSense 10. I had their 12v adapter for a number of years. I used a 12V 55Amp Hour deep cycle battery and turned the humidifier off.

Last year the CPAP power adapter died. We now have solar on the trailer, so I just turn on the inverter and run it off the trailers AC power.

[GVStaud]

Have a 2015 Jayco Precept. Inverter powers tv & 2 outlets next to co-pilot seat up front. Nothing by bed or in kitchen area. DW recently on CPAP (Resmed brand). I tapped into reading light above/beside bed. Installed power plug/USB in a plastic snack box (Walmart). Screwed box to wall. Have plug for CPAP & iPhone. We do about 4 weeks of dry camping a yr. DW bought a 110v to 12 v adaptor for her machine . We have new house batteries (2). Run our generator 1hr b4 bedtime. No problems.

[extrachrispy]

Resmed AirSense10. When boon docking, I use an extension cord and plug into the outlet next to the fridge, which is live when the built-in inverter is on. I have a pair of 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries, which is more than enough to get through the night.

When on shore power, I plug into the outlet beside the bed.