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cpap machine charging from Prius in campground?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jendbbay, Jun 20, 2010.

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  1. jendbbay

    jendbbay Member

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    So my husband uses a cpap machine, we are campers, we own a Prius. This will be our first Summer camping with the machine. He thinks it will be okay to leave the car in the On position, not the accessory, but ON, and to connect up some adaptor to some extension cable and run it to the machine in the tent. He says he recalls that I said that you all said that using On is okay, but using Accessory isn't for this purpose. Obviously, we don't want to damage either of the batteries. He is hoping the gas engine will run once in a while to recharge the little, regular car battery, and that the other battery will be essentially out of the loop.

    I have no idea whether this is true, and can't recall what, if anything, I learned about use of the On position for this purpose.

    My family desperately needs a vacation. We will be up at Tuolumne at 8700 feet -- our favorite spot -- and will be careful to locate the car as far from other tents as possible. After all, there are actual generators running for hours at a time, so we don't really expect this to be a huge issue.
     
    #1 jendbbay, Jun 20, 2010
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    don't have an answer, sorry, but was wondering what a cpap machine is?
     
    #2 bisco, Jun 20, 2010
  3. jendbbay

    jendbbay Member

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    Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (forces him to take in regular oxygen in order to overcome obstructive sleep apnea) Its a small machine that makes no significant noise, but runs off 3.6 Amp's with humidifier, and 1 without the humidifier. He thinks he needs the humidifier at least some of the time.
     
    #3 jendbbay, Jun 20, 2010
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  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    CPAP = Continuous Positive Airway Pressure--It's a machine to help reduce sleep apnea symptoms and snoring in the civilian realm, it has other uses in the hospital.

    OP--Running the CPAP off of the Prius shouldn't be a problem. It'll trash you're fuel economy leaving the car in ON all night, but it'll work. Is there a 12v adapter for your machine or will you need an inverter? If an inverter what wattage does the CPAP run on? Just make sure your inverter is large enough for the CPAP--you might even want something a bit bigger than absolutely necessary so you can use it to charge your laptop and other electrical items at the same time.
     
    #4 efusco, Jun 20, 2010
  5. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    If that 3.6 Amp need is for 120V, than no inverter plugged into the 12V accessory socket will work safely, as it will exceed the socket rating and should blow the fuse. The inverter would have to be connected to the 12V battery or internal 12V rail through a new fuse (or circuit breaker) and wiring.

    The 1 amp setting might work directly through the 12V socket. Or it might not, it is too close to the limit to call.
     
    #5 fuzzy1, Jun 20, 2010
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  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    To be precise, it will be OK for you to leave the Prius READY while this CPAP machine is hooked up to draw 12VDC. The 12V battery will be kept charged up by the traction battery and DC/DC converter; and the gasoline engine will periodically run to keep the traction battery at three blue bars or better. Hence, as you indicated, the Prius needs to be downwind of your tents to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

    It will not be OK for you to set the Prius ACC-ON (where the MFD is on, instrument panel warning lights are off, and you can play the stereo) or IG-ON (where the instrument panel warning lights are on, you can raise and lower the windows, but the car is not READY.)

    Good luck and enjoy your vacation.
     
    #6 Patrick Wong, Jun 20, 2010
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  7. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Excellent points by Fuzzy and Patrick. Several people have connected larger inverters to their Prius, wired directly to the 12v battery...1000 watts. It sounds like you may need something that size. It'll be handy in camp for lots of things...TV!?
     
    #7 efusco, Jun 20, 2010
  8. chuckknight

    chuckknight New Member

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    Why not just use an inverter connected to a large car battery? That's what most UPS systems are, anyway...and it'd be completely portable, not requiring your car to be within earshot.
     
    #8 chuckknight, Jun 20, 2010
  9. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    Take a look at this document: http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/doc...battery_guide/19825_battery-guide_glo_eng.pdf .

    The CPAP machines mentioned in that document use from 150 to 500 watts of power. The smaller ones would clearly be ok to run directly from the power outlet in the car. The larger ones are getting rather iffy. It seems to depend alot on what setting you use on the machine.

    If your CPAP machine has a car power plug on it, just plug it into the car and see how often the car engine has to run. Put the car in Ready (ordinary driving) mode, but turn everything else off, particularly the air conditioning.
     
    #9 RobH, Jun 21, 2010
  10. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i see good points here.. and a lot of guessing

    i have a 1200 watt inverter connected directly to the 12v battery. i used my setup for construction purposes. (i don't really use it anymore)

    leave the car ON... as in.. engine running on. without pulling any real power, it burns a gallon every 10 hours or so. with your load it may be half of that. (1000 watts burn a gallon every two hour or so)

    connect the inverter strait to the stock 12v battery. use the mechanical key to lock the doors... ( so no one runs away with your car)

    as for the car... the engine keeps the hybrid battery charged, and the whole system works to keep the 12v in optimal range. if the car isn't ON.. then you'll kill your 12v.

    as RobH has said... turn EVERYTHING in the car OFF... radio, screen, a/c, lights.. etc.

    i guess patrick covered most of this too.... :)

    i wouldn't worry about carbon monoxide poisoning too much from the prius... simply point the exhaust away from your tent.

    you can run an extension cord out of the hatch.. the hatch will close still...

    btw... do not try running this off of your 12v cigarette lighter.. you will more than likely blow a fuse.. as it's only rated at a hundred or two watts.
     
    #10 V8Cobrakid, Jun 21, 2010
  11. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Breathing may be more important than fuel economy, even to a Prius owner. :madgrin:
     
    #11 dogfriend, Jun 21, 2010
  12. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    If possible you should camp out in your backyard first to see how everything works.
     
    #12 andyprius, Jun 21, 2010
  13. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Or at least run the CPAP machine overnight, while the Prius is parked in your driveway. You don't want to find out that the electrical system can't support the machine when you are in the middle of nowhere. You may also want to buy some spare fuses from the Toyota dealership, and find out the location of the fuses protecting the 12V auxiliary power sockets.
     
    #13 Patrick Wong, Jun 21, 2010
  14. gatorglenn

    gatorglenn Member

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    I cannot answer your question about using a CPAP with your Prius, however I would suggest an alternative. I camp on motorcycle trips and I use a similar system as on this web site:

    Sorry but I cannot post a link due to me being new here. Or PM me for it.

    I use a deep cycle battery, Odyssey model #PC680, and I can get two nights on it. Maybe three. Of course you could charge the battery during the day if you have electricity available or possibly thru your Prius.

    I would not want to see you somehow screw up your battery system on your Prius if a fairly cheap alternative is available.

    Glenn
     
    #14 gatorglenn, Jun 21, 2010
  15. gatorglenn

    gatorglenn Member

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    Google " Camping with a CPAP - A Solution for Those Wanting to Camp "Off the Grid" " and that should take you to the web site.

    Glenn
     
    #15 gatorglenn, Jun 21, 2010
  16. jendbbay

    jendbbay Member

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    For years i have told my husband about how great this community is, but he's just been too busy driving the car back and forth to actually read about it. Finally you got his attention. he is reading all these messages and considering which option to take. Where can one purchase an inverter? He's considering this option. I'll make sure he properly thanks people, but he is off putting still more miles on the car.
     
    #16 jendbbay, Jun 21, 2010
  17. NoMoShocks

    NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer

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    There are lots of CPAP machines that run off 12 V car adaptors. If you don't have one, and your due for a new machine soon, consider getting one.
     
    #17 NoMoShocks, Jun 21, 2010
  18. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Inverters of one size or another seem to be widely available around here: auto parts stores, WalMart, Target, I would guess any store that sells sporting goods.
     
    #18 JimN, Jun 21, 2010
  19. Bob.H

    Bob.H Junior Member

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    Some primitive type camp grounds have sites with AC and running water for this sort of situation. Ask about it.

    Bob
     
    #19 Bob.H, Jun 21, 2010
  20. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    Harbor Freight has good prices
     
    #20 andyprius, Jun 21, 2010
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