back-up battery for cpap

My CPAP works on a 12V cig lighter type plug in the truck. I have read on a cpap forum that you can use one of those rechargable jump start batteries that have the 12v plugs on them.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=sKNOT4b1M8Hcggee7p2wAg&ved=0CJIBEPMCMAA

The battery back up they sell with the cpap cost a couple hundred bucks.

I would be concerned about a company wanting you to have that. Idling a truck with a cpap isn't just for the power needs. You can get hypothermia using one below 50F because of the volume of air being forced into your lungs..

 

The machine is pushing pressurized air into your lungs and constantly replacing it with new air. If that air is cold it does not have a chance to warm up that normal breathing would allow. I idle the truck and use my bunk heater controls to maintain a comfortable temp. At home our bedroom is colder and it takes a night to adjust.

I read the hypothermia warning when I was researching CPAPs several years ago when my doc wanted me to get tested.

Here is a link where I read about this: Truckerdad is a member here:

http://www.apneasupport.org/post-154820.html

 

That's kind of screwey. If the truck batteries won't run a CPAP you sure aren't going to drive it anywhere. Break downs should be spent in a hotel. I bring my 120 volt cord for that.

Also there are no DOT Regs for CPAP use. There is a medical review board that has made recommendations that companies are jumping on but there are no rules...yet.

 

If you get the 12V adapter for your CPAP you could probably run it longer. Most are made to run on DC power. That big brick on your power cord is inverting the AC to DC. An inverter in a truck is converting the power twice which wastes energy. Mine will run all night no problem with a 12 volt cooler running as well.