CPAP First Time Camping

You didn't mention replacing the filter. I assume you did when you cleaned the machine but thought I'd make sure.

You can leave the humidifier at home when camping, one less thing to worry about. i use mine with a standard hose plugged directly into the port on the pump side and leave the heated hose at home with the humidifier, don't really need it in the summer anyway. You may have to pay full price for the standard hose depending on your insurance.

 

Re: CPAP First Time Camping

I can't say I notice camp fire smoke in mine from camping, but I also have multiple cpaps. I have been on one for years and travel a lot and got tired of always tearing mine down from home so I bought a second one from ebay. I don't use the humidifier either for camping. Too much of a hassle and usually humid enough where I am at lol.
I do agree with you though when you have gone so long not realizing you had the problem and it is like instant energy. I felt like a new person.

I do have to say I had a new experience last week. We too always camp with electricity because of this and using ac. A bad storm came through and knocked out power to the camp ground at about mid night or 1 am. Was out almost 3 hours. I tried to sleep but couldn't. I am so dependant on my machine.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 5

 

I was on cpap through two machines before I got the humidifier. Didn't like it at first, I thought it smelled. Now I consider it somewhat of a luxury, especially in winter.

If you get the Resmed 12 volt cord and hook it up to your trailer battery you will sleep right through power outages. You always camp with shore power so the converter will keep the battery charged. I got mine through cpap.com. Also a good source for the standard line if you want it.

 

Suggestions? Go online and order the 12vdc adapter for your machine. It will allow you to camp without shore power.

 

My wife and I use CPAPs and since we prefer Provincial campsites and only 2 have power so we mostly dry camp. This created a big problem for us so this is what I did. I bought a AGM group 31 RV battery, 400 watt inverter and initially was charging it every couple days with my generator but I have now bought a suit case 120 watt solar panel made by Go Power on Amazon. Yes I spent a lot of money but it works for us and does operate two CPAPs with no problems.

 

My CPAP is actually a 12vdc system. The adapter converts the house power down to 12vdc. So, I just installed a few 12v "cigarette lighter" ports in my PUP and I plug directly into that. My last time out, plugged into shore power, my converter stopped converting and my battery drained down to where my CPAP refused to run

As far as smoke goes, I noticed when I got home that camping came home with me! Kind of enjoyed it for a change. It cleared up in a couple of nights. I don't use a humidifier. I put up with a slight bloody nose for about a week when I started and then I was good.

I used a mask for the first year or so then switched to nasal pillows. They take a little getting used to but I like them a lot better. They give you a chin strap to keep your mouth shut but I don't need it.

 

Hi I'm Jim and I'm on a cpap also. I have the resmed with a humidifier. That water tank is so small that it was always dry in the morning. I stopped using it some after getting it. Now I put a piece of hard candy or cough drop in my mouth when I go to sleep. This helps make my mouth stay closed and most mornings I wake up with a little piece still working. And as far as camp fire smells in the machine I'm good with it as it seems to feel like I'm still camping.

 

I have the newer ResMed model Airsence10 and it is 24 volts DC.

 

I recently bought a HDM Z1 with a battery pack. Expensive but it makes traveling with a CPAP much easier. I use it with the battery pack at night and then just charge the battery during the day. That keeps me untethered from the outlet, which is nice.

 

I use a battery jumper box for my CPAP 12V power. I charge it when I am out driving or if I am not driving I have left it in the restroom with a note on it that says it is for a medical device. I have also asked to have the campground host to plug in to their 110 and have never been refused.

Having a CPAP has never stopped me from camping in my pup.

 

Did you clean or replace the little filter under the side cover? I have yet to take my machine camping and also like the campfire.

 

I have had a cpap for 14 years, and am completely addicted to it. Mine too carries the smell from the previous night; camper, hotel, my house.

I have a diehard portable battery, from tent camping, that I use during power outages.

When backcountry backpacking, I take sleeping pills and use nose strips. None of it works, and nights are miserable. Their is a small device being developed called air ring. I hope it gets approved soon, and works.

 

Just curious what size jumper box you have. Mine isn't expensive so perhaps yours is more powerful. When camping with my dad last year, I considered that option but his CPAP is very power hungry, even using the 12volt cord instead of the 110v. My jumper box wouldn't get him through the night. My camper battery with just shy of 100 AH, could only go one night without running it too low, if the furnace was running. On the plus side, the solar can recharge things fairly quickly.

 

Sorry for the delay. I use a DieHard 1150 Portable Power pack, I use it with a Respironics System one with a direct 12V cord. I can get 2 to 3 nights without problem. I do however recharge it whenever it is getting lower. Whenever I am going to be driving I take it in the car and get it charged. Hope that helped. I will be replacing the battery since it is now 3 years old.

 

We picked up a PUP last fall and our first trip out with the CPAP was a comedy of errors. I have a Philips Respironics System One CPAP with the humidifier.

We were camping at the closest State Park campground without reservations. When we arrived, the electric sites were full so we were going to be running on battery power.

I had a small 100 watt inverter that I tried to run the CPAP with. The draw from the humidifier was too great, and it would overload the the inverter as soon as it fired up. What I didn't realize at the time was that the tank is removable, and once removed would run just fine off the inverter. More about that later.

I ended up going to the bathroom building and plugging the unit in and shutting off the humidifier with the control panel. I was then able to run the CPAP off the inverter. This worked just fine or most of the night until I got up to go to the bathroom. I shut off the CPAP when I went outside, and when I turned it back on, I accidentally bumped the tank heater button. The added draw made the inverter shut down right away and I couldn't get it to run long enough to enter the menu to program turn off the heater. I went the rest of the night without the CPAP (and lived).

Like someone else said, the CPAP runs off 12 volt power. It was very inefficient to use the PUP battery to power the inverter, which powered the CPAP power supply which brought it back down to 12 volts.

When I got home I learned that I can remove the water tank/humidifier. This greatly reduces the power needed to run the CPAP. I also picked up a 12 volt cigarette lighter plug for the CPAP so I can power directly from the PUP battery.

It's still winter here in WI, but I'm looking forward to our first trip of the season and testing the CPAP setup.

Lessons learned:
1. Remove water tank.
2. Use 12 volt cig lighter plug
3. Get a bigger inverter.

I haven't enjoyed the smokey CPAP yet, but it sounds pretty nice right about now