Masks that reduce needs for humidifier?

I am wondering if there are masks out there that are easier to use without humidification for a few days. I know that for me nasal cushion masks that insert in your nose need more humidification than other masks because the inside of my nose gets chafed otherwise. Here is some background about why I'm asking this question:

For a long time now I've been trying to figure out an off-the-grid solution for powering my CPAP. Two reasons for that: 1) I need to be prepared in case of a power outage, especially one that lasts several days. 2) I'd like to go camping again.

This has proven to be a very difficult problem to solve. Plug and play batteries (power stations) tend to be really expensive and, besides that I use a humidifier on a high settings, so the number of watts the battery needs to provide for even one night of sleeping off the grid is a lot. I would have to spend something like $700 or $1000 for a powerful enough power station. Then there's the question of how to recharge it each day.

On the other hand there's the homemade solution of modifying a deep cycle battery. But all the instructions I've read about that on this forum are really in no way meant for beginners who aren't handy and don't know a lot about electricity. We just don't understand what exactly needs to be done and it's not particularly safe for us just to try because, you know, the battery could explode. Plus I think that level of power would require several deep cycle batteries and is likely to be very heavy. (And there is still the recharging question.

Now, it's looking like I may be able to address the off-the-grid-while-at-home problem by installing solar panels on my house. Checking that out now. But I still do want to go camping. Don't want to spend thousands of dollars on it though. Camping would be a lot more feasible if I could sleep for a few days without humidification, because then I could buy a much more modest battery to power my CPAP. But with my current mask that would just result in me waking up three hours into my sleep with pain in my nose.

It occurred to me though that maybe there is a mask out there somewhere that I can use wihtout much humidification, at least for a few days. Maybe a nasal mask? I know my Wisp needed a lot less humidification than my Dreamwear does.

Would love to hear from folks who needed humidification with one mask, but not with another.

Have you looked into a resmed mini apap machine. They do have tube inserts called Humidx plus that kinda recycle your own humidity. The power consumption is quite low that you can run it off of a deep cycle with converter. I also like a lot of humidity and have used this for travelling, not ideal but better than nothing.

roadcycler wrote: ↑

Sun May 31, 2020 7:00 am

Have you looked into a resmed mini apap machine. They do have tube inserts called Humidx plus that kinda recycle your own humidity. The power consumption is quite low that you can run it off of a deep cycle with converter. I also like a lot of humidity and have used this for travelling, not ideal but better than nothing.

I remember once trying that attachment that recycles your own humidity. I tried it just with my regular CPAP. I didn't really notice a difference from no humidification. I think it still depends on the mask you're using. The two masks I've used most have been the Wisp and the Dreamwear (nose pillows). In the case of the Wisp there's a length of small tubing that runs from the mask to the main hose. It's a little bit on the long side. In the case of the Dreamear, the frame is hollow allowing air to pass through from where it enters at the top of the head to the pillows in your nose. So, that effectively makes the frame into a kind of additional tubing. Also fairly long. I think in both of those cases the humidx wouldn't be that effective because it wouldn't be near my face. So, which mask to use still matters.

jpek wrote: ↑

Sun May 31, 2020 6:21 am

On the other hand there's the homemade solution of modifying a deep cycle battery. But all the instructions I've read about that on this forum are really in no way meant for beginners who aren't handy and don't know a lot about electricity. We just don't understand what exactly needs to be done and it's not particularly safe for us just to try because, you know, the battery could explode. Plus I think that level of power would require several deep cycle batteries and is likely to be very heavy. (And there is still the recharging question.

Take a look at this instructional video, really simplifies the process of creating a battery box.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tf3fngKA-c

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Sun May 31, 2020 8:19 am

jpek wrote: ↑

Sun May 31, 2020 6:21 am

On the other hand there's the homemade solution of modifying a deep cycle battery. But all the instructions I've read about that on this forum are really in no way meant for beginners who aren't handy and don't know a lot about electricity. We just don't understand what exactly needs to be done and it's not particularly safe for us just to try because, you know, the battery could explode. Plus I think that level of power would require several deep cycle batteries and is likely to be very heavy. (And there is still the recharging question.

Take a look at this instructional video, really simplifies the process of creating a battery box.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tf3fngKA-c

I know that video. It doesn't really help me select the right battery (tipoff #1 is that he says to select a car battery, but that doesn't work well for a CPAP) or how to string multiple batteries together. Plus he goes through the whole part about what to connect to what really fast. I wouldn't want to do it wrong and blow up the joint.

jpek wrote: ↑

Sun May 31, 2020 6:21 am

On the other hand there's the homemade solution of modifying a deep cycle battery.

No one should *EVER* "modify" a deep cycle battery.

jpek wrote: ↑

Sun May 31, 2020 6:21 am

But all the instructions I've read about that on this forum are really in no way meant for beginners who aren't handy and don't know a lot about electricity. We just don't understand what exactly needs to be done

It's *exceedingly* simple:

• Buy 35ah mobility scooter battery
• buy 12v adapter for your cpap
• clip 12v adapter to battery
• go to sleep

When you get home, put the battery on a float charger so that it's ready for next time.
Anything 'fancier' than that is purely up to your designs.

jpek wrote: ↑

Sun May 31, 2020 6:21 am

and it's not particularly safe for us just to try because, you know, the battery could explode.

You car COULD explode, your microwave COULD cook your face, your gas furnace COULD blow up your house, your water heater COULD destroy your house.

A mobility scooter battery is at least as safe, (and in some cases safer) than all these things.

I used one of those HumidX inserts on an overnight flight from SFO to Auckland. It did the job but I don't know how often you need to replace those things if I were to use them at home.