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05-10-2020, 02:18 PM
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#1
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Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Clark, South Dakota
Posts: 35
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Traveling with CPAP
Hi, I hope I am in right place. Pretty new here.
It thread I found regarding my question is over 2 years old. So can't post to it.
My husband and I both use CPAP's. I am a bit dense and didn't understand what they meant in the old thread.
Can we just plug them in. They also were talking about 12v. Isn't that a battery.
Plus my husband needs a oxygen concentrator. In the thread they did say to not to use the water humidifier. I think lol. Told you I was dense.
This will be our first RV experience and at the moment I am so overwhelmed not sure what I am doing next.
Thank you for any help
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05-10-2020, 03:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 34,183
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Welcome to iRV2.
Mostly the issue with CPAPs , comes down to what to do when boondocking .
If your travels involve staying in an RV park with power every night , your good already.
When stopping at a rest area or other spot with no power , then steps to supply power from your RV battery need to be taken .
My DW, has had three CPAPs over the years , all had a transformer in the power cord , two operated on power reduced in the transformer to 12 volts the third was 24 volts. Info is in small print on the transformer.
For the two 12 volt units we were able to purchase cables that allowed us to connect to power at the bedroom lights , buy installing a power socket.
The 24 volt unit , I had to wire an outlet near the bed back to my coaches inverter ( that inverter converts 12 volt battery power to 120 volt alternating current. )
The humidifier function on a CPAP uses a lot of power so can vastly reduce the time that a 12 volt power supply can keep the unit running , ( running direct or through inverter )
So before giving too much info that you can't use ; I'll have to ask if you do spend nights in your RV when you're not connected to city power?
If you do spend nights without power , does your RV have ; multiple batteries to supply 12 volt power ? Or an inverter to supply 120 volt power to outlets by the bed ?
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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05-10-2020, 03:25 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Golden Valley, AZ
Posts: 84
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cpap
My wife would not travel with me in the rv unless I had my cpap on to sleep! I have an older model that only has a 110v cord and no humidifier. I've had no luck with the 12v conversion idea for this unit which I figure has the transformer built in. We just traded our gas rv for a older DP which has a residential refrigerator. The batteries aren't very new and work fine except the inverter sucks them dry over night. We boondock alot and so we have been using the generator (onan 8k) overnight. It seems to consume less fuel than our old gas onan did so given the cost of replacement batteries I think we will be doing this for awhile. If it wasn't for the fridge, I'd get a small gas generator like a honda 2k and run a extension cord for the cpap overnight. Good luck hope you solve your issue.
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05-10-2020, 03:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 599
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SereneLife Portable Generator, 155Wh Power Station, Quiet Gas Free Power Inverter, CPAP Battery Pack, Charged by Solar Panel/Wall Outlet/Car with 110V AC Outlet,3 DC 12V,3 USB Port https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BDZPKJH..._rzgUEbSQ8J4DV. This should get you thru the night and recharge it each day with driving, generator or shore power
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2013 Coach House 261XL QD Banks
SafetyPlus steering, Centramatic, TSTint TPMS, Dish
Sacamento, CA
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05-10-2020, 04:33 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Springfield, IL
Posts: 1,070
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Senny,
You didn't say whether you have a motorhome, 5th Wheel or Travel Trailer. With a MH you can use the generator to provide AC power or plug into Shore Power in the campground. If you have an inverter it will convert your house batteries to AC but you need to keep an eye on the batteries as they can run down quickly.
With an inverter you can just plug in while driving as the engine alternator keeps charging the batteries so you'll have 110v needed. When you shut the engine off the inverter will draw directly from the batteries.
You should have not problem as long as you make sure to keep your house batteries charged up. If boondocking run your generator a couple of hours in the morning for coffee and toaster which will charge the batteries, at meal time if you are going to use the microwave and then a couple of hours in the evening s you use the microwave, watch TV, etc.
Hope this helps you understand the process a little better.
When you have questions feel free to ask them here. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask.
Welcome to the community.
Drive Safe - Richard
__________________
2011 Itasca Ellipse 42QD; 2012 Buick La Crosse; Retired US Army MSG (20 years AFS); Retired! Retired!
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05-10-2020, 07:35 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Marysville, WA
Posts: 277
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My wife and I both use CPAP machines and are both 12 volt units that have a 110 volt household adaptors. I was able to get 12 volt wiring kits and plumbed them into the 12 volt system in the bedroom. This setup works much better for us than using the 110 volt option. Reason is that connected to 12 volt I can shut down the inverter and save power. Even with nothing on the inverter uses power. The other bonus is that if the a/c power goes out the CPAP's on the 12 volt just keep running. I have slept through an outage before. The only way I knew it was the clock on the microwave was flashing!
My battery system is 4 6 volt GC batteries using 3 150 watt solar panels.
__________________
Larry & Sherry
w/Bug the Beagle
98 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 35WDS (Maybelline)/ 5.9 Cummins ISB / Allison / 2019 Chevrolet Equinox / Demco Commander 2 / Air Force One
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05-10-2020, 07:50 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Hoodsport Wa
Posts: 3,373
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I purchased a little cheepie 300w PSW inverter for the bedroom, dedicated for my cpap. Very efficient, only draws 25 watts with my Resmed, humidifier and heated hose turned off. Can run this setup for at least a week on one grp27 AGM battery while boondocking. Keeps the Freedom inverter turned off all night this way, but we have propane fridge/heat/h2o.
__________________
2000 Alpine 36 FDS #74058
"Go fast enough to get there, but slow enough to see”
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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05-10-2020, 08:30 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,190
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CPAP, BIPAP, Oxygen
The OP mentioned that an oxygen concentrator was needed as well as the CPAP/BIPAP machine. The CPAP/BIPAP equipment must have a continuous flow O2 concentrator. A pulse flow O2 machine won't work. I need both my BIPAP machine and my 02 concentrator at night. My O2 concentraor has 2 batteries, but even so, those batteries won't last more than 5-6 hours. My BIPAP can work off of 12v power and there are also 12v power supplies available that claim to run the BIPAP for more than 12 hours straight. The real power-hungry item is the O2 concentrator. My coach does not have an inverter. Getting an inverter plus golf cart batteries is an expensive proposition and maintaining those batteries is also a problem. The batteries will need replacement every 2 or 3 years and then there's the constant of needing to add distilled water all the time.
Thus far, either I am on shore power at night or I run the generator. The genny uses about one gallon per hour of diesel. In the summer, the genny is a necessity anway to run the air while boondocking, i.e. when there's no access to shore power. But some state and all federal campgrounds forbid generator use due to noise restrictions, so beware. But I've used the generator at night at such places as a Love's truck stop and Walmarts to name just two. I've also boondocked at a campground on the Natchez Trace where I was the only camper and ran the genny all night.
A newer MH might have a good inverter with adequate batteries and even solar power. But you would still have to rig your CPAP/BIPAP and 02 equipment to run off of 12v. My 02 concentrator has a 12v cigarette plug attachment to run off of the car battery while driving a car. I found this not to work well. The lighter plug would get too hot to touch due to the high current draw and the 02 machine eventually would start throwing error codes for low power. Bottom line I guess is use either the genny or shore power.
__________________
Elbridge Price, 1998 Dutch Star Diesel Pusher
Cummins 6.8.3 mechanical injectors, Spartan Chassis
2016 Toyota Prius; Acme EZE Tow Dolly
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05-12-2020, 01:43 PM
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#9
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Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Clark, South Dakota
Posts: 35
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Thank you everyone, You all are great. I don't really understand it all when you are inverting and stuff. But will try to find out for sure.
We have a 1993 Allegro Bay. So it is 27 years old. lol But in good shape we hope. We have only drove it home in a snow storm last fall/winter. Parked at Sons place and drove it back into town.
We will probably try and stay at RV parks tho I would like to boondock.
DH may have to forget about his oxygen  not really but I may have more questions as we go.
Alpine36 mentioned this 300w PSW inverter. Not sure what that is.
Thank you everyone. I will reread it all and try to figure it all out.
You are are great. Thank you again.
__________________
1993 Tiffin, Allegro Bay 34 ft. Diesel Pusher
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05-12-2020, 02:05 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Hoodsport Wa
Posts: 3,373
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Senny
Thank you everyone, You all are great. I don't really understand it all when you are inverting and stuff. But will try to find out for sure.
We have a 1993 Allegro Bay. So it is 27 years old. lol But in good shape we hope. We have only drove it home in a snow storm last fall/winter. Parked at Sons place and drove it back into town.
We will probably try and stay at RV parks tho I would like to boondock.
DH may have to forget about his oxygen  not really but I may have more questions as we go.
Alpine36 mentioned this 300w PSW inverter. Not sure what that is.
Thank you everyone. I will reread it all and try to figure it all out.
You are are great. Thank you again.
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Sorry about the acronym, PSW is a pure sine wave 12vdc to 120vac power inverter. Simply clamp it onto your 12 volt battery and you have 120 volts of power like your home wall outlet.
Pure sine wave inverters are safe to use on expensive electrical components. Here's a link to the one I bought for my CPAP when we camp without any shore power. It was one third the price of a Resmed 12 volt adapter.
https://www.amazon.com/Inverter-Scre...9309951&sr=8-7
__________________
2000 Alpine 36 FDS #74058
"Go fast enough to get there, but slow enough to see”
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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05-12-2020, 02:23 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chesapeake, VA.
Posts: 807
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I guess because I have a newer rv it has outlets in the bedroom for 110 volt power. I do not boondock so I am always plugged in. I have the resmed with heated tank and hose and a so clean. Never had a problem. I heard there is adapters for 12 volt power available for purchase but never needed it.
__________________
USN 1980-2004
2017 Sunseeker GTS 2800
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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05-12-2020, 05:15 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 13
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Most CPAPs run off either 12 or 24 volts. When plugged in the power adapter drops the 120ac outlet voltage to the appropriate 12 or 24 volts. The label on the adapter will give you this information.
You can run one DC current quite easily however you need a bit of electrical knowledge on how to do this. There are many CPAP forums out there with entire sections on this sort of thing.
I use a CPAP, I purchased a travel CPAP Resmed Airmini and a "Portable Outlet" (brand name). I get about 2 nights of use then recharge. I am not plugging these companies. I am just giving examples of what is out there.
Of course if you know an electrical whiz kid just ask them to hook you up.
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05-12-2020, 05:45 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Central Indiana
Posts: 1,422
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I have had both ResMed 24 volt and a Phillips 12 volt CPAP machines. I wired a 12 volt dc outlet similar to a cigarette lighter outlet. I bought a ResMed power supply the changed 13 volt FC to 24 volt DC. For the Phillips I bought a power cord to connect. Both work with out any problem. I do turn off the inverter if boondocking. In the morning I start the generator and turn on my residential refrigerator. When I depart I turn iff the generator. The inverter handles the refrigerator as we travel.
For what it is worth, when I get another CPAP machine I’ll go back to ResMed. Hate the Phillips. I’ll not detail here.
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05-12-2020, 06:05 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,190
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An inverter takes 12v input and changes to 120v output. Sounds great, but your 12v battery will go dead fast as it feeds a 120v output. That's why you would need two or three 12v batteries.
__________________
Elbridge Price, 1998 Dutch Star Diesel Pusher
Cummins 6.8.3 mechanical injectors, Spartan Chassis
2016 Toyota Prius; Acme EZE Tow Dolly
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