Guide for CPAP users

We recognize that some PSG attendees use CPAP machines, and that powering those devices is an important part of getting good rest. This guide will help you navigate your options.

Disclaimer: If in doubt, check with your CPAP manufacturer or your medical equipment supplier. And test everything before you leave home.

Battery Options

Whether you're camping in a larger unit like an RV or you just don't want to be tied down to the Disability Camp area, a battery-powered solution may be right for you.

The typical CPAP unit without a humidifier draws around 25 watts, and a humidifier & heated tube increases that to around 80 watts.  So, the first thing to consider when camping with a CPAP is to jettison the humidifier.  Missouri in June tends to be hot and humid, so this may not pose a problem for you.

Options are available from your CPAP manufacturer, and also using inverters and/or lithium-ion battery packs.

How Much Battery Do I Need?

Batteries are rated in amp-hours (Ah): for example, a 10Ah battery will supply 10 amps for one hour, or one amp for ten hours.  So let's do some rough math:

• A CPAP machine which needs 25 watts will, if powered by a 12-volt supply, need just over 2 amps.  Let's round that up to 2.5 amps to account for power loss in the converter.
• Let's assume you get 8 hours of sleep every night, so 8 x 2.5 = 20Ah needed to get you through the night.  If you're running a humidifier, bump that up to 55Ah.

How Do I Charge My Battery?

There will be power available at most pavilions, and you can carry your battery there daily for charging.  If you do that, make sure to bring a battery charger!  A 10-amp charger like this one will top off one night's worth of use in about three hours.

Solar charging is also an option, though you do need to take care to buy a large enough one.  A 100-watt panel and a controller will, for about $150 and a little wiring, get you through both sunny and cloudy days.  The little 10-watt panels sold for charging cellphones and the like will never keep up, even under optimal conditions.