Camping trips can be a challenge for those with sleep apnea because not all campgrounds have electrical connections. This takes many CPAP users away from the camping and home outdoor experience knowing that their machines need power at all times. CPAP solar generator is a good choice.
Use CPAP batteries for your CPAP machine and you’ll never get quality sleep outside again! I’m going to cover my top picks for CPAP battery packs so that anyone reading this can find the perfect solution for their next nature trip…
Camping with CPAP therapy is not only possible, but easier than ever. Campers and backpackers have many options for CPAP therapy thanks to lightweight CPAP devices, portable power sources and a wide variety of power converters.
It is strongly recommended that you carry your CPAP therapy with you to ensure that you continue your sleep apnea treatment. Simply deciding to skip treatment for a few nights is never a good idea. This may mean that your progress in beating sleep apnea is going backwards. It may also encourage bad habits that go untreated in some cases.
So, what’s the secret to camping with CPAP? In fact, it’s no secret at all. Over the years, technological advancements from CPAP device manufacturers such as ResMed have made it easy to carry your CPAP device wherever you decide to go, including outdoor excursions.
Camping with CPAP: Plug in
Of course, the fundamental question when camping with CPAP therapy is whether you have access to electricity. Most national and state parks in the US offer powered campgrounds, which means your main concern is just traveling with your CPAP machine.
As we discussed in our CPAP travel blog post, no special CPAP machine is required when traveling with CPAP therapy. Most modern CPAP devices are portable and streamlined, designed to be as easy to use on the go as at home – especially the sleek and lightweight AirMini™ AutoSet machines.
All ResMed CPAP machines automatically adjust to the specific power source you find around the world. Will your camping adventure take you to Europe, Australia or South America? No problem – as long as you can plug in to a local power source, your ResMed device will do the rest.
Camping with CPAP: Unplugged
Then again, as many diehard campers are quick to point out, true camping—that is, truly “roughly”—means cutting off your own power supply entirely.
There are two main options for addressing these “unplugged” CPAP and camping situations. You can use an adapter to plug in the vehicle battery, or purchase a portable power source for your CPAP machine. (That’s assuming you’re not interested in buying and carrying your own generator with you.)
All ResMed’s S9 and S8™ CPAP machines operate safely using inverters and converters, allowing you to power your CPAP machine from a 12V or 24V DC source in a car, boat or other battery powered vehicle. These converters are available from CPAP retailers; get more information on ResMed’s CPAP accessories page.
Better than using a power converter is to carry your own portable power source with you. The ResMed Power Station II is designed to power your CPAP when mains power is unavailable. Lightweight, compact and easy to carry with your CPAP machine and mask, it’s designed for use while flying – but can also be used anywhere else where a portable power source is required. In other words, it’s the perfect solution for camping with CPAP without electricity.
So, don’t give up on your next camping trip because of CPAP – and more importantly, don’t give up your CPAP therapy while camping! If you are looking for the best option for camping with CPAP, or even traveling with CPAP in general, contact your medical equipment supplier today for the Power Station II and other ResMed accessories.
How to Power Your CPAP Machine While Camping
If you rely on your CPAP machine for a restful night’s sleep, backup power is essential in the event of a power outage or traveling. With today’s many options, there’s no reason to worry about not getting a good night’s sleep due to a power outage during your weekend adventure. If you want to go camping, there are some portable power options to keep your CPAP machine powered up. you can:
- Visit a campground with an electrical connection
- Power your CPAP with your car battery
- or use a portable power station
Some campgrounds offer electricity in both tent and RV spaces, however, this comes at a premium, limits your options, and doesn’t guarantee you won’t experience power surges or power outages. You can also use your car battery to power your CPAP, but doing so may require a special adapter and may cause you to drain the entire vehicle, leaving you camping for much longer than you expect. In both cases, you’re also always limited to camping, as long as your extension cord is reachable from your car or campsite’s electrical outlet.
For all these reasons, the best CPAP battery option for powering your CPAP machine while camping is to use a portable power station. Portable power stations can provide silent power, limited to the distance you are willing to carry. Well known as solar generators, they are great as cpap batteries for camping because they can be charged from a solar panel and/or an AC outlet, and with a battery large enough, they can power more than just your CPAP machine.
According to most CPAP machine websites, CPAP machines average between 30-60 watts and require an inverter of at least 175 watts, but it’s best to check if your specific unit has that number.
Tips for running CPAP on battery
But first, there are two main tricks to reduce the power consumption of a nightly CPAP machine:
Remove Any Humidifiers
If possible, remove or disable the humidifier portion of the CPAP. This draws the most power out of your system, so if possible, avoid using one at all costs!
Use DC power
Find a DC adapter for your device that plugs into the 12-volt cigarette lighter port. Using the DC output on a battery generator will draw less power than an AC outlet, and you’ll get more time out of the battery pack.
With a CPAP like the Resmed10, the humidifier is off, the climate line hose reaches 74°F, and the airplane mode is on, the portable CPAP battery will draw about 8 watts of power. So on a smaller CPAP battery like the Jackery 160, you can sleep through the night, but may need to be recharged daily. Larger battery packs like the Jackery 300 or Anker Powerhouse II can let you sleep 3-5 nights with CPAP between charges.
CPAP machines and compatible batteries
These portable batteries work with popular CPAP devices like the ResMed AirSense 10 CPAP, Philips Respironics DreamStation Go, and Z2 Auto Travel CPAP machines, but you may need a special power adapter to connect the CPAP to the 12v cigarette output on the battery pack. You can use an AC outlet on each portable battery, but running on 12V DC will make your CPAP battery last longer.
How to choose a backup power supply for CPAP when camping and traveling, this question, I will discuss with you in the next article.