This article is based on personal experience – the only kind I have!  About 3 years ago,  my wife suggested I see a sleep specialist upon waking to my gasps for air in the middle of the night.  She had gotten used to my snoring somewhat, but the gasping was creepy she said.  After my sleep study I was diagnosed as having “severe” sleep apnea (67 apneas per hour.)

Since using my CPAP machine, my apnea’s have been eliminated, but given the machines dependence on AC power,  I have had to say goodbye to camping trips with friends my family.  As I was looking around on the Internet for updated CPAP info, I came across the subject of portable CPAP machines.  I never thought this was an option, but then I remembered being told that the technology was quickly expanding in this field given how common this  problem is.

What I found was that the company Puritan Bennett makes a small CPAP (GoodKnight 420s) that has an option for being DC powered.  I immediately thought of a car battery, but how would I wire it up and lug that heavy thing around?  So I then looked into an easier method for DC power.  About the only thing I could find was an Absorbed Glass Mat Concorde Battery PVX-1040T.  This AGM battery was twice as expensive as a car battery but it is sealed instead of vented, preventing any spillage of electrolyte fluid.  Unfortunately, this battery weighs around 65 pounds, but at least it offers an option.  To connect a GoodKnight 410s CPAP to the terminals of a battery, a special power cord needs to be ordered with the CPAP.  You will also need to buy some battery terminal adapters.  Hopefully soon as the technology advances, there will be a lighter weight option for portable CPAP machines.

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