Poll: How Prepared Are You Regarding A Cpap Backup Plan

Hi All

After over a year on the cpap machine, I have finally got my cpap backup plan in place.

For me, having a good cpap backup plan means two things. First of all it means that if something goes wrong with my primary cpap system, then I can immediately bring in my backup gear to replace it. Having a night without therapy is therefore very unlikely. Secondly, it gives me a capacity to help others.

In real terms this means I have -

2 Auto Sandman machines
10 full face masks
1 oximeter
1 x 600amp and 1 x 900amp power supply

All backup cpap equipment has been bought through CpapAuction or from Forum members.

As I do not use my oximeter every night, but mainly for napping in safety, I have not bought another oximeter. But it is easier to lend out, in the first instance, than the complete machine/mask. However, I am prepared to lend out my backup machine/mask if that would be helpful. Both the 600amp and the 900amp power supply will easily get me through a night on the machine when the power fails.

The idea of the poll is to bring the concept of backup to a higher level of Forum awareness. I did not just go out and buy a second machine or more masks, I had to plan and save to do this. So I hope you do the poll, increase your own awareness of the concept of backup, and help everybody get an idea of how Forum members are dealing with this issue.

And finally, I have peace of mind in relation to at least one of my medical problems. It's nice to control what I can, even though I have to grudgingly accept what I cannot.

cheers

Mars

and for those who like their backup plan to be more visual -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAyzwSZ2o48

Have an unopened complete duplicate mask, unopened hose, and assorted sized pillows from orininal current mask set aside.

Just purchased and trialing my 266 cpap lithium battery for power outages, travel, camping....(loving it!!!!)

I do *not* have a back-up machine....but I do travel with my script so I could find a DME and rent if necessary. My DME might ship one if I were away, but that is not fast enough.....

The first opportunity to get another machine covered by insurance I will do that so I have the 2. RIght now I am finally purchasing other medical needs, and no cash to throw at the auction....

With my battery power, I am feeling mch more secure and flexible than I was before.....

Baby steps.....

J

mars wrote:
1 x 600amp and 1 x 900amp power supply

Both the 600amp and the 900amp power supply will easily get me through a night on the machine when the power fails.

Can you help me understand those "amp" numbers? 600amps and 900amps really don't make sense unless you're arc-welding...

Do you mean 600 and 900 amp-hours (still huge, like 7-15 car batteries)?
or 600-900 VA as a UPS?
or 600 to 900 ma?

Need some help here.

S/T

I'm planning on a new machine later this year when my works insurance kicks in, then I'll use this current one for backup & travel.

I have my old Swift II mask as backup, however I'll be getting another FX with insurance as well.

With regards to backup power supply I have a generator with transfer switch hookup so I'm never without power. Should I have a catastrophic failure with my backup power I also have a power inverter in my pickup to which I could run a 100 foot extension cord to power the cpap machine.

Well let's see...I have several machines as back up.
My original Remstar plus machine.......to be used only if all else fail.
3 Bi-Pap Auto's
3 Humidifiers
3 Surge protectors & Extension Cords.
3 12vdc plugs
3+ Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillow masks. Old ones.
3 for sure unopened Mirage Swift Nasal Pillow masks
Several old masks
2 Opti-Life Nasal Pillow masks.
3 Hoses & 3 spare hoses still in the bag.

Each machine has a Medical Device luggage tag attached to the bag.

I have one broken machine with all of the supplies in it's bag, cords, mask, tubing etc. etc.

SleepyTiger wrote:
Do you mean 600 and 900 amp-hours (still huge, like 7-15 car batteries)?
or 600-900 VA as a UPS?
or 600 to 900 ma?

Need some help here.

S/T

Hi SleepyTiger

The box says - 900amp pwer supply 12 volt 17 amp hour.

I keep the 600amp power supply in my car, but on a cold windy night when the power is liable to fail due to trees dropping onto power lines the thought of going out into the freezing cold wind half-asleep led me to get a second power supply that I could keep in my unit.

I had a long conversation with the owner of the car accessories shop about this, and all I basically understood was that the 900amp would easily get me through the night, and probably longer. There have been a few excellent threads about this subject, but usually a bit too technical for me.

I have tested the power supply, and it works fine. I can also have it plugged in whilst the machine runs off the mains supply, and it will start up if the mains goes off.

The model I have is at http://www.vektools.com.au/projecta-900 ... -7496.html

So as far as I can figure out the 900amp indicates how much charge it holds, then I have to figure out how much charge my machine uses per hour to get how long the power supply will last before being totally discharged.

Hope this makes sense, but I am open to expert elucidation.

cheers

Mars

Having been without a CPAP when my 10 year old one died, I decided that the second thing after geting a replacement was getting a complete backup unit.
I kept an eye on craigslist and found one with less than 200 hr. on it.

Great poll, Mars!

I recently had a house guest, who forgot his cpap at home. I was able to lend him my back-up S8 AutoSet II and mask.

I don't have a power back-up system on place yet, but have pretty stable power where I am. Have had only 1 power outage lasting more than a few minutes, in the past 9 months, and it was only for 1 hour. I got up and had a cup of herbal tea.

Tip: I started a thread on this awhile back--it's a good idea to run your back-up xpap every few months, to keep everything moving and lubricated.

I have a backup CPAP machine, two backup humidifiers, many masks, and an oximeter, but I do not have a backup power supply. Like Katie, our power here is very stable. Severe storms are extremely rare where I live. If power were to go out for a few hours, that would be no big deal.

great poll!

I have one machine, one nasal pillow mask, and a back up full life mask. Im going to get a script from my doctor so I can get another
nasal pillow mask. We lose power a lot where I live because our power lines are so old, the transformers keep blowing up,a nd if the wind blows
something always happens, with a line snapping and falling on a tree.. We have had several fires in the yard started that way, one was next
to a propane tank..

We dont have a back up power plan because all i ever needed were a bunch of candles before I found out I had OSA a few months ago.
My neighbor has a generator, because he doesnt like to be without power.. I could knock on his door..

I dont have a back up machine yet, I was thinking of getting a little travel machine as a back up, or maybe I could find one on craigs list
or at a garage sale..

Certainly something to think about! I know I have my "earthquake bins" ready, so I should be ready for an apap emergency too!

2 xPAPs
3 hoses
3 Hybrids, 3 OptiLifes if all Hybrids 'die'
1 power outage alarm that get checked weekly as I do not wake up when the power goes out...slept 1 hr 15 mins trying to breathe thru exhaust vents on my pillow mask until my gasping & huge chest movements woke me up...why didn't I just open my mouth and breathe???maybe my brain had learned not to breathe thru mouth with a pillow mask??? At any rate, the power outage alarm reliably wakes me up with flashing lights and a beeping alarm, so I do wake up immediately.

No backup power yet...haven't gotten the funds for it yet. Will go to hotel that has power or to a friend's with power & likely end up sleeping on couch (ugh).

Being new to CPAP I was thinking about this over the weekend. What will i do in the case of a short, or long term power failure. Can I go a few nights if my machine pukes. I think I'll be watching Craigs list and Cpapauction for a backup machine and work out some kind of power solution to get me through one night.

I have one machine that's 3-1/2 years old. I have backups to my Hybrid (including old seals that I could use if I had to) and a UMFF. I use a heated hose and don't have a back-up heated hose, but I do have a regular hose I could use if something happens to the heated one. No backup power supply. My power goes off so seldom that I'll just sleep sitting up if there's a power outage that lasts all night. In the 3-1/2 years I've been on CPAP, there has never been a power outage at night.

Would love to have a backup machine, but don't have insurance and can't afford anything out of pocket right now.

I have a somnoguard mouthpiece, a boil and bite from Canada that I think is pretty good, and I could sleep sitting up, or propped up on a chaise lounge. I am in hurricane country though it's been years since the power was out more than a day or two. Can't afford a back up machine, though a more expensive wired in natural gas generator would be a good thing to have. Don't want to have to deal with gasoline.
My machine is not even a year old, an S8 series ResMed, I don't think it will crap out on me.

I was pretty excited this past week to finally purchase a backup machine. Since I need a Bi-Pap AutoSV, which is very expensive, and since my insurance does not provide for replacement-anything, I needed to find one eventually. Since my current machine is only 13 months old and has a bit over 3000 hours on it, I had time. I found a "used" AutoSV. It is barely-used - it has only 1.6 hours on it. That's right - 1.6 hours! It should arrive in 3 days.

The sad part is that I bought it from a friend of the original owner - who recently died. I don't know if his refusal to use his machine contributed to his death, but at least I now know that I can make use of it to prolong my own life.

Now I can relax and save my money for other things.

Tony