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Jholler View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: solar???
    Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 8:45am
That's a good point, if you have a heated humidifier your CPAP will draw a LOT more power than running without the humidifier.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Apr 2019 at 8:09pm
I have a Resmed Airsense and I purchased a 12 volt power supply for it and installed a 12 volt power outlet next to our bed.  If I run it without the vaporizer it doesn’t use that much power.

You might consider upgrading to two batteries; either Lithium or 6 Volt Golf Cart.  The second one will fit on the tongue.  You’ll probably have to replace your current battery as they have to be the same type and age.  Depending on your other power use, they would power the CPAP for the weekend

Beyond that, you could plug in a portable 100 Watt solar panel with integrated controller to your Zamp connector.  You will need a polarity reverser at the Zamp connector and MC4 connectors/adapters (some minor wiring required to install MC4 connectors).  

I can be more specific but I don’t want to get all techno weenie.  LOL



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Apr 2019 at 11:00am
I've never used a CPAP so don't know much about them.  What I do know, which comes from fixing a polarity problem in a friends, is that he has a CPAP machine that runs on 12vdc and plugs into a standard 12 "cigarette" lighter plug.  It has a little transformer to run on 120vac.  He uses it without problem in his RV (sadly not a Pod) all the time.  He has 2 6v golf cart batteries that power the RV.  One thing I discovered when I was trying to fix it was that it doesn't like to run when the generator is turned on.  There was too much electric noise for the sensitive electronics.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Apr 2019 at 10:58am
Certainly you don't need to buy any particular brand. 

But, it is good to be realisitic about what can be run from a small solar module. A 10 watt module will only produce about 0.5 amp under full sun conditions, or about 2-3 amphours a day on a good day. That likely won't even maintain an rPod's battery supplying the typical parasitic loads in the trailer over the long term. 

OTOH, if you start out with a fully charged battery and are conservative you can go many days without needing to recharge at all, in which case having a charging source while boondocking might be uneccesary. 

It depends on what you want to be able to run in your trailer,the led lights are usually the smallest load. The furnace, fantastic fan, TV, etc are much more significant. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Apr 2019 at 10:36am
Does not need to be $$Zamp$$$ I have a $20 10 watt solar I plug in and being conservative with lights we’ve boondocked over a week and kept a charge.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 1:30pm
You guys are so great; I feel really lucky to have such a source of information (with very patient delivery).  :)
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 12:49pm
Another option would be a transcend mini CPAP with a battery pack and foldable solar charger available on secondwindcpap.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 12:10pm
By "solar modules rated for 12V battery charging" I just meant that the voltage output of the solar modules needs to be correct for charging 12V batteries. There are solar modules available at lots of differenct voltages. The link I sent would be one for example that is set up for 12V.

The "solar generator" you sent is a combination of a battery and a dc to ac inverter so it can provide 120Vac to run things like the CPAP. Its a small battery though, only 288 watt hours compared to about 2000 watt hours if you have dual batteries on your rPod. I get your concern about keeping the power sources separate to start with so you don't run out of juice for the cpap. it provides you some flexibilty too. 

But, how long the little "solar generator" battery would run a cpap will depend on the cpap of course. If your two friends have the same cpap then the 2-3 days might be a good number but I, like GlueGuy, am a little skeptical as cpaps can use a lot of power. It apparently does have a cigarette lighter charger too so in a pinch you could run your tow vehicle and plug it in there to recharge a bit. 

As to your idea of using the same solar module kit to charge both the "solar generator" and the rPod batteries, I looked at the Amazon Q&A it is looks like the "solar generator" will take a 1V solar kit up to 100 watts. So, that should be possible if you make up the right connector to plug the solar modules into the solar generator. The solar generator manufacturer says it uses an MC4 connector so if you get the solar generator you should also get the "solar panel cable" kit that is listed. The solar kit that you can buy with the "sola sgenerator" is only 60 watts so a little on the small side for the rpod. 

if you do share a solar module kit between the rpod and the solar generator/ cpap then beware you will be reducing the amount of recharging each will get, so be judicious in how much power you use and/or keep your first trip or two with no hookups short so you don't run out of power.  



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 11:13am
Sorry. An inverter simply provides a two-prong normal electrical plug-in that is powered by your batteries. A solar generator is a battery and an inverter with a solar panel to charge the battery. While dry camping, your electrical outlets will not work unless you have an inverter to change battery (12v) to household current (120v). I was just suggesting that you could essentially use your entire camper as a "solar generator" by adding an inverter and a solar panel to the batteries you already have, instead of buying a separate unit.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 10:15am
Thanks again, to all of you.

I do not understand JHoller's replies. (Not sure what extension you are referring to and, honestly, am not sure what an inverter is or why you think I need one.)

I do know that the solar generator is not a generator at all (thus the quote marks). I resisted the urge to call it a battery in my post because that would have made confusion between it and the camper batteries in my questions and your replies. I have two camper batteries already a 6volt and a 12volt (I think, though I do not yet know what that means). Electricity, man. This stuff is tough.

I also know I *could* just charge the camper batteries and plug the CPAP in, but my travelling buddy is not as excited about dry camping as I am and the way to convince him is the secure a dedicated power source for the CPAP. That way while we are learning power management we are not risking that thing not running through the night (that particular battery pack and solar set up was recommended by someone who uses a CPAP and gets 2-3 nights from a charge.

Anyway...lots to think ab out and you guys have been generous and helpful.
Julie
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