Using 12V car jump battery (power pack) with CPAP?

[kayfouroh]

I just pick this up this car jump starter & 12V power source:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CL1OPC


Is it possible to pick up a power inverter to run my CPAP? After hurricane Sandy I was left without my CPAP for almost two weeks and would like to dual purpose this power pack (which is really just a 12V battery in a case) as both an emergency battery pack for my car as well as for the CPAP.

[cosmo]

Get a converter, more power efficiency.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/DC-Con ... hines.html

That Costco battery jump starter will only give you a few days. It has an 18ah rating.

I would also invest in a deep cycle battery/charger setup. You'll get over 100ah from a $100 battery.

[idamtnboy]

As cosmo says. That 18ah battery won't make it more than about one night, and that's if you're not using the humidifier. I find it hard to believe they use that small a battery in a jump starter, but I guess it works. That is, if your car starts within about 30 seconds! If it were me, I'd return it to Costco, but you do what you're comfortable doing.

A deep cycle 100+ ah is your best bet. You can use that to jump start a car also. This issue has been discussed quite a lot in the past couple of years. A search on battery backup should find the discussions.

[Swannie242]

I used a Schumaker model SJ1 auto jumper/power supply. First night my cpap used only 15% power, no humidifier, no heated hose. Second night I turned on humidifier, setting 2. It used 25% of power. Haven't turned on heated hose yet but I would bet I could get two nights out of it. For camping this is excellent. Also used it to charge three cell phones and pump up my daughters tire. Very impressed.

[amadeusmyeye]

Dear Swannie242,

I'm thinking of giving the Shumacher SJ1 a try. I'm a novice in my understanding of electrical current, etc., so I'm concerned that a power station like this could fry my Phillips Respironics Dream Station Auto BiPap. Can you share your thoughts on this? Don't worry, I know that you are in no way responsible for any risks that I may take with my bipap machine.

Thanks,
Amadeusmyeye

[Holden4th]

The jump starter battery is for CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) and is designed to give a nice big hit to your starter motor. Useless for anything else.

Already mentioned is AH (amp hours) and these are best got from a deep cycle battery such as a gel (the type you find running golf buggies) or better still an AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat). These will give you a much longer running period and the higher the amp hours the longer it will run. I can run my Waeco car fridge freezer continuously for about 24 hours on a Waeco RAPS 36AH battery and I suspect that my 40L fridge will pull more power than a CPAP machine though I could be wrong here. You will need an inverter to change the voltage from 12 volts to 110/240. Of course you will need a battery charger - 7 stage is best - to replenish what you use.

Any camping store can supply all three.

A lengthy power blackout is not good for us CPAP users so a back up is always a good idea.

[CapnLoki]

Dear Swannie242,

I'm thinking of giving the Shumacher SJ1 a try. I'm a novice in my understanding of electrical current, etc., so I'm concerned that a power station like this could fry my Phillips Respironics Dream Station Auto BiPap. Can you share your thoughts on this? Don't worry, I know that you are in no way responsible for any risks that I may take with my bipap machine.

Thanks,
Amadeusmyeye

There should be no problem running the Respironics from the Shumacher, though you probably need to get the 12V adapter cable for the pump that will allow you to run from any "cigarette lighter" socket. If you already have the jump-starter (or really want one) that's OK. The issue is that the battery is only about 18 Amp-hours (a guess, I couldn't find the specs) while the same type battery but twice as powerful can be had for about $65, plus about $35 for a charger and socket. Assembly is about 10 minutes, In other words, you get half the juice for the "all in one" convenience. 18 AH is not enough to go the full night if you use humidity, while the larger 35AH battery will handle it (depending on settings) and go 4-5 nights without humidity.

see the last post in this thread:
viewtopic.php?t=102775

[CapnLoki]

The jump starter battery is for CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) and is designed to give a nice big hit to your starter motor. Useless for anything else.

Already mentioned is AH (amp hours) and these are best got from a deep cycle battery such as a gel (the type you find running golf buggies) or better still an AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat). These will give you a much longer running period and the higher the amp hours the longer it will run. I can run my Waeco car fridge freezer continuously for about 24 hours on a Waeco RAPS 36AH battery and I suspect that my 40L fridge will pull more power than a CPAP machine though I could be wrong here. You will need an inverter to change the voltage from 12 volts to 110/240. Of course you will need a battery charger - 7 stage is best - to replenish what you use.

Any camping store can supply all three.

A lengthy power blackout is not good for us CPAP users so a back up is always a good idea.

I think that the jump starter uses the same style deep cycle AGM battery as the scooter battery I recommend, but only is 18 to 20 Amp-hours. An inverter is not needed (or desired) because the poster can run directly from 12V. And while the "7-cycle" chargers have a few nice features, a basic BatteryTender for $25 will keep a small battery healthy for years.

The cpap at the highest setting and full humidity will use about as much as the fridge on an average day.

[avi123]

I looked at Sears DieHard Platinum 1150 Amp Jump Starter with Power Inverter and Air Compressor 71988 which has a Built-in 400-watt power inverter for operating 110VAC household electrical devices off the grid , but there is a cooling fan inside which makes noise. I can't sleep with such noise. They don't tell you about this noise.

[Pap-Daddy]

I think it is the inverter that uses a fan. If you just use the 12V you won't have that problem and the battery will last longer.

[palerider]

I think it is the inverter that uses a fan. If you just use the 12V you won't have that problem and the battery will last longer.

+1

[amenite]

I think it is the inverter that uses a fan. If you just use the 12V you won't have that problem and the battery will last longer.

It's almost certainly the inverter that activates the fan, same thing with my Wagan jump starter (link below). That's why I connect it using DC + cigarette lighter adapter - no noise and more efficient. My Respironics DS560 runs on 12V so no inverter needed. I've never used it more than one night without some type of topping off though and always without humidifier. When out in the field I top it off using a 27 Watt solar panel.

I've used this battery in the past mainly because I owned it prior to my CPAP use. I have some alternates now for backup power, I wouldn't rely on just this thing for backup since with any battery they age, wear out, and can be dead when you least expect it.

https://www.amazon.com/Wagan-400-Watt-S ... B000WJEPCI

[Pap-Daddy]

I have some alternates now for backup power, I wouldn't rely on just this thing for backup since with any battery they age, wear out, and can be dead when you least expect it.

Agreed you should have more than one battery backup (and cpap) for extended power outages so you can still use one while another (1 or 2) charge up fully. You may be surprised at just how long it takes for a battery to fully charge when it gets depleted.

[SleepyEyes21]

Dear Swannie242,

I'm thinking of giving the Shumacher SJ1 a try. I'm a novice in my understanding of electrical current, etc., so I'm concerned that a power station like this could fry my Phillips Respironics Dream Station Auto BiPap. Can you share your thoughts on this? Don't worry, I know that you are in no way responsible for any risks that I may take with my bipap machine.

Thanks,
Amadeusmyeye

There should be no problem running the Respironics from the Shumacher, though you probably need to get the 12V adapter cable for the pump that will allow you to run from any "cigarette lighter" socket. If you already have the jump-starter (or really want one) that's OK. The issue is that the battery is only about 18 Amp-hours (a guess, I couldn't find the specs) while the same type battery but twice as powerful can be had for about $65, plus about $35 for a charger and socket. Assembly is about 10 minutes, In other words, you get half the juice for the "all in one" convenience. 18 AH is not enough to go the full night if you use humidity, while the larger 35AH battery will handle it (depending on settings) and go 4-5 nights without humidity.

see the last post in this thread:
viewtopic.php?t=102775

Hi CapnLoki, I live on the east coast of Florida and we lost power for two weeks in 2004 when all the last big set of hurricanes came through. Fortunately, this was pre-cpap years for me, however I am preparing now that I need to. I did read your last post in this thread. I currently have a PR System One Auto 560P; titration averages at 8. I do not use the heated humidifier in summer months. Assuming I sleep an average of 8 hours per night, my questions are:

1. If I were to purchase the scooter size battery, they need electricity for recharge, correct? And they only last for 1-2 nights?

2. How long/ how many nights would a deep cycle marine battery last, and is there a particular size/ type/brand you would recommend?

3. Can a deep cycle battery be recharged from a car battery or how are they recharged?

4. I don't have the 12 volt connector for my PR yet, so what else would I need to purchase and where can I get it? (hardware store vs. camping store, etc.)

Thank you!

[klv329]

yeah, what battery to get? Now that my 105AH AGM failed, time for another or maybe a high AH and a lower ( and lighter) AH AGM.

I've been looking at some of these http://www.optimabatteries.com blue and yellow top AGMs:

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/products/bluetop



Blue Top
D27M 8027-127 66AH
D31M 8052-161 75AH (on sale at pepboys.com at 35% off, but that's still about $228)

YellowTop
D31A 8051-160 75 AH
D31T 8050-160 75AH
D35 8040-218 48AH

The higher AH ones are pretty heavy at about 60 lbs, the smaller AH ones lighter and more manageable to carry about.

I wonder if there is really a difference between aGM brands? Seems I heard that a lot of them come from Johnson Controls?

The higher AH AGMs can be fairly expensive. Maybe these batteries are only as good as their replacement warranties.

For a tender, I am using a Beltran Battery Tender Plus from wallwart for about $25. Seems to work.

Other than power outage concerns, 2 co-workers had their electronics zapped from lightning strikes so far this season. I assume the battery would be damaged, too, if it is plugged in with a tender in such a situation?

Thanks,