How to use an inverter to power a CPAP machine while camping can be tricky and stressful no doubt. Creating a power system already requires very precise math but when someone’s life may be at stake, those calculations call for even more attention to detail.

The best advice AIMS Power can provide when creating a power system for a CPAP machine is: always overcompensate.

CPAP machines save lives, and AIMS Power inverters make it easy to use in places without standard power.

EXAMPLE:

S9 VPAP™ Auto BiLevel Machine

This CPAP machine’s max consumption is 110 watts, and it needs to run continuously for seven hours every night for one week.

AIMS Power recommends our 300 watt 12 volt pure sine inverter for this CPAP machine.

In order to figure out how much battery power is needed to keep the CPAP running for that amount of time, finding the required amps per hour is necessary. To do this you divide the CPAP machine’s max consumption (110 watts) by the voltage of your batteries (12 volts).  Buy a battery bank from AIMS Power here.

110/12 = 9.2

So in this case, the CPAP machine requires 9.2 amps per hours.

This is where the overcompensating begins.

It would seemingly make sense to multiply the total number of hours sleeping per day (seven) by the amps used per hour in order to figure out the total amp hours needed to use the CPAP machine through the night. However, you actually want to multiply the required amps per hour by twice the amount of time sleeping, just to be safe.

9.2 x 14 = 128.2 total amp hours

The battery bank needs to be at least 128.2 amps to prevent overdischarge.

The overcompensation continues because batteries need to run at 30-50 percent of their actual capacity in order to maintain optimum efficiency and stability.

For that reason, using one 200 amp hour battery bank would be sufficient for this inverter application.

The batteries will also need to be recharged after the first night of use, and there are a number of ways that can be accomplished.

AIMS Power recommends two 120 volt solar panels and a solar charge controller to charge the batteries, but you can also use a generator or jumper cables from your car.

The biggest downfalls to the latter two options are that they’re both noisy and use a lot of gas. Another downfall to using a car’s standard charging system (12 volts) with jumper cables is that it can take a very long time to fully charge the batteries from dead.

CPAP users should be able to go camping, too, without having to worry about anything, let alone if they can trust their power system and inverter to keep them breathing properly at night.

Camping is a time for complete relaxation, and AIMS Power inverters truthfully help make that a reality for CPAP users.

There are several different types of CPAP machines which require different specifications and/or a pure sine inverter as opposed to a modified sine inverter. AIMS Power has tested many CPAP machines with our inverters, you can read them below.

CPAP machine tests: How to Choose a Power Inverter for a REMstar CPAP or ResMED CPAP

How to Choose a Power inverter for your DeVilbiss CPAP System

Power Inverter for Fisher & Paykel CPAP system

Choosing a Power Inverter for ResMed S9 CPAP

400 watt AIMS inverter to power your ResMed S9 CPAP Machine.

*Editor’s note: this is a guest post from AIMS power, which is The Inverter Store‘s sole supplier of inverter technology, solar panels and accessories. 

AIMS Power tips its cap to environmentally conscious artists who run Burning Man and many other massive art festivals.

As an industry leader in solar power inverters, AIMS proudly supports this movement to use entirely renewable energy resources for events that sometimes cater to 50,000 people or more. It would be a noteworthy accomplishment to achieve without a doubt, and we’d like to help accomplish that goal.

Powering an art project with our solar panels is a perfect solution for artists looking to make an environmental statement, and we’ll help anyone design the perfect system for any art project no matter how big or small.

An artist at the forefront of these ideas is James Horkan, also known as Irish, who led the Burning Man temple build in 2011 and says the project was determined to be the largest temporary art structure ever created.

Burning Man Temple of Transition 2011 — photo by Victor Grigas

The temple didn’t require much power to function, but Horkan’s next project — what he is calling the Burning Man Control Tower — will feature ridiculous amounts of lasers, pyrotechnics and LED lights that he plans to power, at least somewhat, with an off grid solar inverter.

“We want every system that we have to run on solar, but we are considering making an ecological point by putting some visible solar panels on the art to at least power some aspect of it,” said Horkan, who also founded the International Arts Mega Crew. “There’s been a move at Burning Man and all art festivals to get everyone onto renewable energy so visible solar panels are a good way of making this point in public.”

Generating, converting and distributing power in the middle of the Black Rock Desert may sound difficult, but our engineers will make the process as smooth as possible so you can stay focused on the more creative elements of your project.

AIMS Power also has all the accessories you’ll need to complete a power system including cables, fuse kits, racks, mounts and more.

A blown inverter on day two of Burning Man or any festival would be a complete disaster so even if you just need a little guidance using your own equipment, give AIMS Power a call. Just tell us what you’d like to power, and we’ll make sure you have the right set up!

To read more about emergency preparedness click here to view our Hurricane Sandy Preparedness page.

The AIMS 2000 Watt Low Frequency Pure Sine Inverter Charger is an industrial and marine grade inverter. The internal circuitry and boards are coated with a water resistant material, protecting the Power inverter Charger from water vapor and condensation.

To be used in conjunction with your emergency battery backup system, this Inverter Charger works great with Deep Cycle Marine Batteries or even a car battery. The 2000 Watt Low Frequency Power Inverter also charges your battery system when you have an AC source of power hooked up to it.

The Low Frequency Pure Sine Wave (Or True Sine Wave) is some of the cleanest, most reliable power you can get from an inverter. This keeps your sensitive electronics from going haywire when you need them the most, making it effective in unreliable power grid systems like you find in Africa, South East Asia and the Caribbean. If the grid system does go down, this power inverter has a built in transfer switch that will provide a seamless power transition to your battery backup.

This Inverter Charger can be used overseas in those countries where a 120 volt 50 hz system is required with it’s auto-frequency detect. This means that it will be able to be used in both North America and other countries fitting the voltage requirements. This inverter is perfect for your home, RV, Camper, Camp site, Car, Truck or SUV or anywhere else you might think of.

The amount of emergency power you have available will depend on the size of your battery bank, as well as how often your sump pump cycles on and off.  We recommend you use deep cycle marine batteries to build your battery bank.  Generally, 1 or 2 AGM sealed lead acid 100 amp hour batteries would be the minimum you would want to use.  In terms of backup power, you will never have too much power.  In a big storm, like Hurricane Irene in 2011, people were without power for many days in some heavily populated areas.  Having extra emergency backup power will prevent serious damage to your home during a hurricane or tropical storm.

The inverter will need to be connected to the battery bank using 1/0 AWG UL listed cables.  Theinverterstore.com recommends always using a inline fuse kit within 12 inches of the battery bank on the positive terminal to prevent a battery fire caused by a ground fault.  When the AC power goes out, this inverter/charger will automatically switch over to run off the batteries.  Eliminating the need to wake up in the middle of the night and start your noisy generator.

The size of your battery bank will depend on how much emergency backup power you want to provide your sump pump system.  We recommend that you use deep cycle batteries, which you can find on our site.  Generally, 1 or 2 AGM sealed lead acid 100 amp hour batteries would be the minimum battery bank you would want to install.  Keep in mind that a couple of extra batteries could save your home from major damage during a storm, so do not be afraid to have more power than you think you need.  You will be much more comfortable in a hurricane or storm knowing you have this extra power on standby.

The inverter will need to be connected to the battery bank using #4 AWG UL listed cables.  The Inverter Store recommends always using an inline fuse kit within 12 inches of the battery bank on the positive terminal.  A fuse kit prevents a battery fire caused by a ground fault.  When the AC power goes out, this inverter/charger will automatically switch over to run off the batteries.  Eliminating the need to wake up in the middle of the night and start your noisy generator.

From our experience, 1/3 hp sump pumps and below can be ran with our AIMS Power 1500 watt power inverter with charger and built-in transfer switch.  For higher capacity pumps like a 1/2 hp sump pump you should use AIMS Power 3000 watt power inverter with charger and built-in transfer switch.

The sump pump is first connected to the power inverter.  The inverter is connected to both your battery bank and city power.  As an added benefit to this, the incoming AC power will charge and maintain the battery(s) for you.  The sump pump is run off of AC power directly through the power inverter/charger. When AC power is lost the inverter will automatically transfer to the battery bank.

An automatic sump pump back up system, like the one offered by theinverterstore.com, gives the customer piece of mind.  Back up sump pump systems ensure that the pump will have constant power supply whether you are home or away.  As you already know hurricanes, tropical storms and other heavy rain can deliver a lot of water to your sump.  Investing in an inverter/charger with transfer switch is better than repairing a basement from flood damage during a hurricane or heavy storm.

For more specific details about choosing an inverter for a 1/3 horsepower sump pump, please read this inverter blog update.

For more specific details about choosing an inverter for a 1/2 horsepower sump pump, please read this inverter blog update.

The AIMS Power can-size 150 watt power inverter is designed to fit into any cup holder that will hold a standard size soda can. This inverter is designed so it doesn’t roll around in your car and fits perfectly in your cup holder so you can charge equipment such as laptops, MP3 players, games, cellular phones, cameras or any electronics that require 120 watts or less.

The AIMS Compact 150 Watt power inverter, perfect for the truck, boat or RV. Please visit our website to see more of our products.

This 2000 Watt power inverter is perfect for use in a semi-truck. Many trucking companies around the globe are currently using the AIMS 2000 Watt modified sine power inverter to power microwaves, refrigerators and tv’s in the sleeper cab’s of their entire fleet. This inverter is built tough and can handle many different power applications. Including small off-grid cabins and many tools on the job site.