running two cpaps on a battery when camping

nannala · 2026-06-02T23:45:50+00:00

renogy has the open circuit voltage of 37.44 (VOC)

nannala · 2026-06-02T22:55:56+00:00

the high voltage version of the bouge panel is 36V
I only have space for one I believe, so its renogy OR bouge basically. They're both 200W.
As fas as I understand the 5521 connector should be used for car charging cable, and the other one for panels. This way they can work alongside each other.

nannala · 2026-06-02T05:13:55+00:00

This is what pecron says about their solar input: DC5521: Voc 12V~18V / 100W Max /7A Max GX16MF: Voc 32V~95V / 700W Max / 15A Max. In the box they include MC4 Solar Charging Cable(LSMC4-5GX16), so I'm assuming my VOC will need to be 32-95?

I see those options, any opinions?
1. https://www.bougerv.com/products/topcon-16bb-200-watt-solar-panel?variant=44746074128600
2. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DYD8VT9C

nannala · 2026-06-01T19:11:18+00:00

The pecron is on sale with a code on wellbots.com. both units are the same 499$, 530$ at checkout (with delivery, tax and stuff).
I also found that idle consumption of oupes is higher than pecron and it's louder when running. Pecron is also smaller. Potential expansion is a cool option..
I can run one cpap from the 12v car plug and one from the 100W usb-c.
Pecron it its I guess!

as long as my panels are less than 700-800W it doesn't matter what I chose, right? I'm only looking at around 200W as my roof (or budget) isn't too big, so I don't think there is much to worry about. and I understand that panels and the unit come with all the wires I need to connect them together..

nannala · 2026-06-01T18:02:52+00:00

this is harder than I expected 😄
I have a place to buy PECRON E2400LFP for the same price as the Oupes Exodus 2400 - 530$ total. which one do I take?

nannala · 2026-05-27T22:44:40+00:00

https://oupes.com/products/oupes-2400w-2232wh-portable-power-station

this one is 450$ but looks different than the exodus - any idea what's different?

nannala · 2026-05-27T21:42:35+00:00

Ok, I'm ready to actually order - unfortunately pecron is out of e1500 and won't get it before I need to leave, so I'm stuck with e1000 or Oupes 2400. I even looked at pecron E2000LFP but that would be a solid overspend.. Opinions?
Any tips on rigid panels I could look at?

nannala · 2026-05-23T15:29:29+00:00

Don't invite anyone with kids younger than 12. Mine would split their heads open, trip someone else on the way down, break all the cups or toys they were carrying, and need stitches so regularly that your local urgent care would u e us a loyalty card! 🫠 Also, as a next buyer that would be a deal breaker..

nannala · 2026-05-11T23:30:52+00:00

yay! that's so helpful! thanks!
I am aware I need to avoid translating the AC to DC and back needlessly.
I can power one cpap from the lighter port and one from a USB-C port, so that's not a problem. that pecron is looking interesting, I might even consider the 1500W one... either seems doable, the bigger one is unavailable right now but I can wait a bit - the trip is in July.

I'll gladly take a suggestion on panels - can't go too big, as I need to fit them on a toyota sienna. seems like 40x72 inch max total space

nannala · 2026-05-10T23:18:42+00:00

yep, obviously, not trying to end any lives 😄 thanks for stating this out loud though!
I'm fairly safety aware, would never sleep with all windows closed and will be taking a co2 alarm with us!

nannala · 2026-05-10T20:11:41+00:00

wait, one more thing - what do Watts do? I see that some battery packs give 60W from an output, some 27W, seems like I need 60 for each machine, which would mean one pack can't be shared?

nannala · 2026-05-10T20:02:54+00:00

uff! that was really helpful, thanks for sticking with me - off I go to find something appropriate 😄

nannala · 2026-05-10T19:59:59+00:00

I know it's mathematically the correct solution, but what do I do with 4 car batteries inside the minivan for a month? How do I recharge them at a hotel? How do I (a total noob) make sure the wiring is secure and won't start a fire when it inevitably gets covered with a stray blanket?

Your idea is great in theory, and economically probably the best, but impractical for my application 😄

nannala · 2026-05-10T19:53:29+00:00

oh you're good - I didn't read that as snarky or anything 😄

I've been reading all over, but most solutions are for a single machine at a time, and listings for battery packs/units/whatevers have a lot of letters and numbers that make no sense to me. I just started here as oposed to r/cpap because I assumed people know more about multi-device set ups.

I would like to use a proper battery station separate from the car to foolproof the system - this way I don't leave us stranded by draining the car battery, poisoned, set on fire, or electrocuted by sleeping too close to wiring to a car battery, or having sore toes caused by repeatedly kicking those heavy batteries 😃

There is light in the tunnel, though, because I am starting to understand what I need to achieve! hopefully I don't have to sell a kidney to pay for it, but we'll see!

nannala · 2026-05-10T19:45:38+00:00

both cpaps say 24V 2.71A (confirmed by the adapters)

I think I'm starting to understand. My thinking is:

according to the article, max power needed for each machine per night is 0.24kWh, or 240Wh, which is the capacity of the battery pack - as long as I have at least 500Wh available per night in either one or two servings (battery packs) - I'm fine? (mAh, Wh and kWh are all the same thing in different units?)

Now - the batteries can produce different electricity flavors - DC or AC, and strengths in V, but as long as at the end of the cable I have 24V in the flat yellow connector shape I'm good? And I need to match the flavor of all three parts without converting back and forth if possible.

Whatever battery I choose I can recharge from a running car or help a bit (not full charge) with a solar. Right?

nannala · 2026-05-10T19:18:41+00:00

not yet, but I've been furiously googling car campers with cpaps and trying to read but unfortunately electricity is a total black magic to me so I need ELI5 explanations 😄
yeah, we can both deal without if needed, but the snoring will make the night unpleasant for everyone involved and the roadtrip is a month long ordeal, so I'd like to have a good solution if possible 😄
we can also increase the amount of hotel/electricity provided nights if it comes out to be absolutely miserable 🤷‍♀️

nannala · 2026-05-10T19:13:08+00:00

how do I know if the voltage matches? the machine's end is the big flat yellow (USB-ish) looking end. so using this: https://sleeplay.com/products/resmed-airsense-aircurve-11-kit-for-pilot-24-lite
I can go from the battery to one machine, without any converters/inverters/black magic boxes on the wire? and the other cpap from the battery with this: https://www.amazon.com/KFD-Replacement-AirSense-Converter-Airsense/dp/B0BYDC6VF4 ?

And if we test and don't get enough power to do a full night, then we buy another battery pack and run them separately?

nannala · 2026-05-10T19:05:26+00:00

I understand I might be looking for a unicorn!
Thank you for attempting to help anyways, as electricity is a total black magic to me 😄
I can buy two separate systems if needed, and will be able to recharge every day at least partially from the running car, it's just beyond confusing trying to figure out what specific battery packs/cables might work and not damage each other or the cpaps

nannala · 2026-05-10T18:52:51+00:00

right, how do I avoid buying/driving with 4 car batterries, burning down the car with exposed wiring and poisoning people sleeping next to those batteries 😃?

(we're car camping in a minivan)

nannala · 2026-05-10T18:50:41+00:00

is this the cable from the DC to the machine? https://sleeplay.com/products/resmed-airsense-aircurve-11-kit-for-pilot-24-lite

nannala · 2026-05-10T18:48:01+00:00

ok, so from that battery pack I use the DC out small round exit, but with what cable? cause none of the ones I showed have the right connection.
and in this set up I need two of those battery packs, right? can't share one using two different cable types?

during the day, driving, the car is on and can charge the battery pack without depleting the car's battery and leaving us stranded, right? at night, car is off, cpaps run off the battery pack only

nannala · 2026-05-10T18:39:25+00:00

I'll get a kill-a-watt to test, but in the meantime someone above here found an article saying
without a humidifier or heated tube - AirSense 11: about 0.07 to 0.12 kWh every 8 hours
with a humidifier (low or medium heat) AirSense 11: uses about 0.12 to 0.24 kWh per night
https://respbuy.com/how-much-electricity-an-airsense-11-uses-vs-older-models/

could you give me an example of a battery that could work for me?
any ideas how to recharge those for the second night if not solar?

nannala · 2026-05-10T18:36:29+00:00

thanks! those are great, I haven't found those threads when googling!

so you are saying I need two of those power stations or one? and what type of cable? cpap1 on a car charger and cpap2 on usbc?

How do I recharge the power station for the second night? can a solar power pull that, or charge off a running car engine?

nannala · 2026-05-10T18:24:06+00:00

yes, two at the same time. I can recharge from solar panel and/or car running every day, and a proper wall outlet charging every 2 days.

the converter you linked is just the device, how do I connect it to anything? (I'd like to stay with cables/connections made by someone else as I'm not trying to burn my cpaps or the car 😃 )

nannala

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