camping, sleep apnea, and cpap machines

Discussion in 'Driver Health' started by truckerdave1970, May 12, 2010.

  1. truckerdave1970

    truckerdave1970 On Probation

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    Dec 15, 2008
    Rochester, NY
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    Well, the camping trip was a huge success! We went to Monroe, MI. The weather was perfect! And most importantly, my cpap machine worked great!
    The first night I got about 7 hours of sleep before the battery level was too low so the machine cut off. I had the battery charging all day and the 2nd night it ran about 7.5 hours before cutting off.
    I bet if I had the DC power cord and could eliminate the inverter, I would have had more time but 7 hours is usually enough, besides the boys wont let you sleep much longer than that anyway!
    Now I have a backup plan for when we lose power at home this summer.
     
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  3. wsyrob

    wsyrob Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Cool. Any idea if the data card still recorded for compliance? I may get one of those batteries and use it right before I take my machine in to get my card read. I would hate to be using the battery then get the print outs and have them say 40% compliance. I hate idling the truck all the time on nice nights.
     
  4. truckerdave1970

    truckerdave1970 On Probation

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    As far as the data card goes, I have no idea. I have not downloaded mine since I left Schneider (3 years ago). I can tell you that while I drove for them, I would shut the truck down whenever I could while sleeping and never had a problem with the data card or using the cpap machine off the truck batteries all night.
    You should be able to use your machine all night off the truck batteries w/o idling, but I never used the humidifier and the cpap was the only thing running. (No cooler, TV, or computer)
     
  5. 52Degrees

    52Degrees Bobtail Member

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    Mar 17, 2010
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    Last time I went camping, I brought a 600 watt inverter and just connected it to the RV battery (deep cycle starting battery) in my 4x4 (I know... that's not REAL camping). Then I ran a long extension cord to my tent and connected the CPAP. I ran my machine with the humidifier all night and the truck started easily in the morning.
     
  6. truckerdad57

    truckerdad57 Light Load Member

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    Nov 29, 2008
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    The data card - compliance issues I have helped other drivers with have all been with trucks with optimized idle.

    With the truck turning on and off... with a CPAP running directly on 12-V the surges scrambled the compliance data.
     
  7. critterfitter

    critterfitter Bobtail Member

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    Jun 26, 2011
    winchendon ma.
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    I just checked on line an my cpap res med there is a lighter plug in device for powering up.
     
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