Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - C-pap and the DALMAC

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the6abds
08-14-08, 02:40 AM
I am back for some more trusty advice from yall. I am doing the DALMAC at the end of this month. It is a four day event that requires some sleeping in tents in a number of public school yards. (i.e. no electric). I use a c-pap machine and really miss it for those 3 nights. Has anyone else faced this and do yall have any good ideas. I have been told to buy an inverter and hook it up to the car. Any other suggestions?

tomdaniels
08-14-08, 06:55 AM
I took my cpap on RAGBRAI. My CPAP (a Respironics) has a 12 volt input so it is a relatively simple thing to hack together a long cable for a cigarette lighter. All of the stuff is available at Radio Shack.
This is much more efficient than an inverter. If you only use the CPAP and no heat or humidity, the draw will probably be less than .5 amps. A car battery can handle that no problem for 8 hours. I've done it many times. The alternative is a deep cycle battery that you charge in a car during the day and then put just outside your tent.
jimjohnsonse
08-15-08, 08:27 PM
I have a Good Night C-Pap. It is small, comes with a cigarette lighter plug and never runs my battery all the way down over night. I also have a small car jumper that has a cigarette lighter plug. I believe that this will last alnight also.

tomdaniels
08-16-08, 10:06 PM
The problem with the car jumper battery that I used once was that it took 8 hrs minimum or so to charge in the car. (500mA charger) That's workable, but with inefficiencies might stretch it. The one I used ended up crapping out 1/2 way through the 2nd night so long daytime charging is the ticket!
TexasBubba
08-16-08, 10:20 PM
Just bought a marine battery to use with my Goodnight 420 at the Hotter 'n Hell next weekend. I've used the battery method quite a few times for camping and it works just like at home.

Don't worry about running it off of you car... go buy a deep cycle marine battery and it'll last all night for a couple nights. $45 at WallyWorld will get you a good enough batter. Then just get the adapter that has the cigarette lighter female and clips on the other end.

I looked at the inverter option... it's not as efficient, so you'll use more of the battery. It'll work, but you'll run the battery lower.