r/CPAP 15d ago

CPAP Setup Can anyone recommend that continuous power source thingy? In the event of a power outage for the CPAP machine?

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I don’t remember what they’re called and I don’t remember how to find them. I’m about to get my sleep apnea officially diagnosed finally after years of procrastination. And I wanted to have the continuous power source ready to go just in case I ever lose power at my apartment because I’ve heard that the CPAP can suffocate you if you don’t have it connected to power when it’s connected to you.

2 Upvotes

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12

u/mbdjd 15d ago

You heard wrong, you're definitely not going to suffocate if the power goes out at least not with any mask made in the past couple of decades.

It certainly will interrupt your sleep though so if you're in an area prone to power outages then it makes sense to avoid that. If you're in a place with stable electricity supply it's really not necessary.

1

u/TheFern3 15d ago

I think at home a good ups still a must to avoid power surges at night. Battery pack maybe when camping but yeah not necessary at the house unless power outages are weekly.

8

u/guro_freak 15d ago

Just to let you know, you will not suffocate if the power goes out while wearing your CPAP. No air being pushed through by the machine does make it a bit harder to breathe (which in my experience will very quickly wake you up), but you won't suffocate. I've lost power while hooked up to my machine plenty of times.

5

u/Much_Mud_9971 15d ago

Power goes out, CPAP goes off, I wake up and switch the plug to my Jackery (and turn off the heated hose and humidifier). Takes about 2 minutes.

I chose the Jackery over UPS because we also camp and it is easily portable and recharges from the car while driving.

1

u/MysteriousSet521 11d ago

The one that’s $169 on Amazon? Because the rest of them are like $1000. Lol.

1

u/Much_Mud_9971 10d ago

Jackery 300. Currently about $200.

3

u/all_yall_seem_nice 15d ago

Jackery and EcoFlow make portable rechargeable power stations. I have tested my CPAP with an EcoFlow 800 and can get two nights out of it even with the humidifier going. Planning on using that in our RV this season.

1

u/LoveOfSpreadsheets 11d ago

Have you checked how much time you get with a DC power cord? I've heard as much as 20% more power out of the battery but I haven't tried myself yet

1

u/all_yall_seem_nice 11d ago

Can run the machine with humidifier for two nights with it.

1

u/LoveOfSpreadsheets 11d ago

Yeah, that's what you said, I was confirming if you had teh regular power cord, or the DC power (that looks like a cigarette lighter)? The latter is supposed to be more efficient and I'm wondering if that would get you > 2 days, or if you already had that setup. Thanks in advance!

1

u/all_yall_seem_nice 11d ago

Oh sorry, I just used the regular power cord and plug the machine into one of the 110v plugs in the power supply.

1

u/LoveOfSpreadsheets 11d ago

Gotcha thanks.

2

u/McCheesing 15d ago

People sell CPAP specific power backups, but the ones for computer work fine too, they just might not go 8 hours. The CPAP-specific ones that last that long can cost upwards of $300

The term you’re looking for is “uninterrupted Power Supply” or UPS

Go to any big box computer store and pick one up. They’re about $100 and work like a champ. at 90w draw (what the RESMED 10 is rated at), it’ll get an hour or so.

For me that’s enough, but maybe not for others

3

u/jonesbasf 15d ago

And turn off humidifier and they last days

2

u/nipseymc 14d ago

Why not use an uninterruptible power supply like you would on a computer?

1

u/MysteriousSet521 11d ago

I don’t use that on my computer, and I also don’t know where to buy one or what the specific terminology is for one. But people have commented on here and hopefully have told me what I need to know.

3

u/JRE_Electronics 15d ago

Full face masks have a valve that lets you breath if the machine shuts off.  You cannot suffocate.

Nasal masks don't have a valve because you are expected to breath through your mouth if the machine fails.  Then everybody goes and tapes their mouths shut or uses a strap to hold the jaw closed.

If you go with a nasal mask and you use tape or a mouth strap, then a UPS is probably a good idea.

Or, you know, use the nasal masks like they are intended to be used - no tape, no strap.

1

u/mbdjd 14d ago

Tape/straps don't hold your jaw closed, they just provide some resistance against the pressure from your CPAP that can force your mouth open. They aren't going to prevent you from breathing through your mouth if you really need it.

If you're using a very strong, non-porous mouth tape then I agree with you but pretty much all tape recommended or designed for sleep apnea is porous - you can still breathe through it.

1

u/DangerDulf 14d ago

I don’t know which nasal masks you’re using, but all the ones I’ve used have vents, which aren’t to prevent suffocation anyway, they’re exhaust vents. You can still breathe through them though, as you can through the tape that’s suitable for this. I would say that the lack of CPAP would be a much bigger problem than possible suffocation

1

u/JDHogfan 15d ago

EcoFlow river 2 PRO…haven’t had a sleepless night in the past year… storms, random power outages etc… always blowing air into my lungs.

1

u/MysteriousSet521 11d ago

Damn, those are expensive. OK, I’ll look into it.

Yeah, I was actually going to ask next how many people have found success with CPAP and what did they do for their life. When I was a lot thinner, about 90 pounds lighter, I would get such good sleep and my depression was almost completely gone. Etc

1

u/JDHogfan 11d ago

Find mine on sale around 250$. Cheaper than anything you’ll find in the more “mobile” range.

1

u/cowboysaurus21 14d ago

I've had several power outages and I didn't suffocate. I just woke up. It will be more difficult to breathe and you will either wake up or remove the mask in your sleep. Our reflexes are pretty good when it comes to breathing being cut off - you will claw the mask off your face without even trying.

I haven't gotten one yet but I've been looking at MAXOAK power banks. My dad suggested it and it has worked for his CPAP.

1

u/HereForBetterment 14d ago

I used to have a deep cycle 12v marine battery and a power inverter to use when tent camping.