Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by 99 on October 29, 2012 at 9:23am

if there is no electric use a mouth device

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ZolliStar on October 29, 2012 at 6:33pm

What kind of a battery back-up device did you buy?  I'm concerned, too.

 

I doubt if we'll be without power for three days. Besides, one only needs

the back-up for a third of each day. Even less for some of us.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ginny Edmundson on October 29, 2012 at 8:10pm

Respironics Portable Battery pack.  Hope I don't have to try it out.  Right now no wind!  Maybe we will be lucky.  Snow flurries stopped for now, too. I had a mouth device specially made and it does not keep my tongue from falling back so was no help at all.  I even have trouble some nights with a horrid chin strap.  Using Pilairo mask now.  Some nights does well. others just does not feel comfortable at all.  It is rather hot when wearing around ones nose.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ZolliStar on October 30, 2012 at 7:11pm

      Thanks for letting me know about it, Ginny. I just broke my piggy bank and ordered not only a Respironics Portable Battery pack but also a second battery. In case anyone else is interested, here's the site: http://cpapcharge.com/

      One battery will last me about two nights, assuming I don't use the humidifier. (It will last one night with the humidifier.)  The second battery is discounted 15% if purchased along at the same time as the first. I figure that now I have four nights of "protection" in the event of an electrical outage.

     BTW, I live in New York City and am lucky: In the wake of Hurricane Sandy I have electricity. Many of my friends don't. One friend who lives in Chappaqua (not far from Bill Clinton) not only doesn't expect to have electricity for up to 10 days (!!) but a tree slammed down hard on their home creating great damage. But at least only the house was severely damaged. if someone had been in the wrong place, he or she could have been severely injured, possibly fatally.

      We must all count our blessings.

Ginny Edmundson said:

Respironics Portable Battery pack.  Hope I don't have to try it out.  Right now no wind!  Maybe we will be lucky.  Snow flurries stopped for now, too. I had a mouth device specially made and it does not keep my tongue from falling back so was no help at all.  I even have trouble some nights with a horrid chin strap.  Using Pilairo mask now.  Some nights does well. others just does not feel comfortable at all.  It is rather hot when wearing around ones nose.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ginny Edmundson on October 30, 2012 at 7:15pm

I was hoping mine would last at least 3 nights.  Even if I had to set the alarm clock and sleep less hours than normal!!   I thought of getting tow!   I wish the battery could be charged with one's car... but it can't.  I bought mine from CPAP.com for under $300.

ZolliStar said:

      Thanks for letting me know about it. In case anyone else is interested, I just broke my piggy bank and ordered not only a Respironics Portable Battery pack but also a second battery. In case anyone else is interested, here's the site: http://cpapcharge.com/

      One battery will last me about two nights, assuming I don't use the humidifier.( It will last one night with the humidifier.)  The second battery is discounted 15% if purchased along at the same time as the first. I figure that now I have four nights of "protection" in the event of an electrical outage.

     BTW, I live in New York City and am lucky: In the wake of Hurricane Sandy I have electricity. Many of my friends don't. One friend who lives in Chappaqua (not far from Bill Clinton) not only doesn't expect to have electricity for up to 10 days (!!) but a tree slammed down hard on their home creating great damage. But at least only the house was severely damaged. if someone had been in the wrong place, he or she could have been severely injured, possibly fatally.

      We must all count our blessings.

Ginny Edmundson said:

Respironics Portable Battery pack.  Hope I don't have to try it out.  Right now no wind!  Maybe we will be lucky.  Snow flurries stopped for now, too. I had a mouth device specially made and it does not keep my tongue from falling back so was no help at all.  I even have trouble some nights with a horrid chin strap.  Using Pilairo mask now.  Some nights does well. others just does not feel comfortable at all.  It is rather hot when wearing around ones nose.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by K. S. on November 1, 2012 at 12:17am

My concern with buying a battery back-up is that when I need the battery will be dead. How many years can one reasonably anticipate the battery working? Can one buy a rechargeable battery designed for CPAP? I read lots of emails of stringing together marine batteries with the CPAP, but fear use with this equipment.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ZolliStar on November 1, 2012 at 12:32am

    If you read the FAQs at http://cpapcharge.com/  I think your questions will be answered. Also, feel free to e-mail or call them. They seem to know their stuff.

~  Z

K. S. said:

My concern with buying a battery back-up is that when I need the battery will be dead. How many years can one reasonably anticipate the battery working? Can one buy a rechargeable battery designed for CPAP? I read lots of emails of stringing together marine batteries with the CPAP, but fear use with this equipment.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ginny Edmundson on November 1, 2012 at 8:52am

This is a rechargable battery!

K. S. said:

My concern with buying a battery back-up is that when I need the battery will be dead. How many years can one reasonably anticipate the battery working? Can one buy a rechargeable battery designed for CPAP? I read lots of emails of stringing together marine batteries with the CPAP, but fear use with this equipment.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by K. S. on November 2, 2012 at 12:17am

This cpapcharge.com would last only 16 hours for me at best. To recharge, you must have your electricity back. How does this compare to buying a marine battery?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ZolliStar on November 2, 2012 at 1:07am

Maybe someone can tell us how it compares with a marine battery.

Note, however: For those who require higher pressures and/or humidity (especially high humidity), the cpapcharge.com battery won't last as long.

I bought a second battery. I would be interested in knowing about a marine battery, however. Maybe I'll buy one of those, too. I wouldn't mind having back-up for my back-up.  You might say that with sleep apnea, I'm a belt and suspenders kinda gal ;-).

K. S. said:

This cpapcharge.com would last only 16 hours for me at best. To recharge, you must have your electricity back. How does this compare to buying a marine battery?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Larsson on November 3, 2012 at 9:28pm

I've posted about this before but I'll copy the info again... maybe I should just create a website LOL!

I've been using a marine battery for backup and for camping for a few years now and it works great. Here's the info:

I experimented at home and the 100 amphour marine battery lasted about 2 weeks. Of course, how long it lasts depends on how long you sleep at night (about 6-7hours/nite for me) and pressure (6-16 for me) and of course the machine nd whether or not you use the humidifier.

The hook up is really simple, but knowing what parts to get can be difficult if you aren't familiar with electricity. You need:

1) a battery - a marine battery is best.... I have a sears middle of the road marine battery
2) A cable with clips to hook up to the battery. Red goes on + and black goes on - The other end has a plugin for a standard car cigarette lighter connector.
3) A cable to hookup the CPAP to a cigarette lighter plug. This cable is CPAP specific.

That's the hookup..... simple right?

Then all you need is a charger to charge up the battery once in a while.

However, if your CPAP can't run directly on 12v, then you'll need to add an inverter into the above hookup to convert the 12v from the battery to 120v for the CPAP. Here's a website that shows an example of this:

http://cchipman.com/cpap_on_batteries.htm

You should expect to have to replace your battery every few years ... (4? 5? 6?). You should use it occasionally both to test the configuration and to keep your battery up to snuff. There are lots of websites with advice for caring for batteries to make them last longer.

You can use smaller batteries or larger ones depending on portability/cost desired. The key thing to look for is the AmpHour rating (Ah). The bigger the better. Also of course, make sure it's 12v. There are lots of 6v batteries and 24v and higher are common for use in solar systems.

In theory, one could even hook up 8 D batteries in series to get 12 volts and have a 12 amphour battery which should last a night or so.....I've never tried it myself.

.... and here's some more info:

Here's where I got the DC power cord for my machine:

http://www.directhomemedical.com/1001956-dc-power-cord-cpap.html

Of course, you'll need to search around to get the correct cord for your machine.

Here is an example of the battery clips you would need:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3889591#

Enercell™ 12V/10A Vehicle Adapter Socket with Battery Clips

And you can get charger just about anywhere. Of course, UNPLUG your PAP while charging or you might fry your machine.

The links all still work.

Good luck!

Chris

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Larsson on November 3, 2012 at 9:41pm

I don't see any details on that website but based on their duration estimates I'd say that it has a roughly 10 amphour capacity. The marine battery I have is about 100 amphour, so will last about 10 times as long. Of course the cpap battery is a heckofalot more portable. I don't think you want to take a marine battery onto the plane with you :)

Chris

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page