Running a cpap on backup power
The short answer
A cpap uses about 30–100 watts while running . Over 8 hours it uses roughly 240–800 watt-hours.
Buy for the higher number in each range. 54 of the 58 products we track can run it. For example, the Zendure SuperBase V6400 would run it for 54.7–182.4 hours.
Sized in a full plan
This load is part of a plan we ran against every unit we track, with picks: Portable power for a CPAP machine: one night, and three.
The numbers behind that
The range covers machines with the humidifier off. With heat on, draw can exceed this range substantially.
What it draws while it is actually on.
How much of the hour it is actually drawing power. This is what turns running watts into energy.
Multiply the battery capacity you are considering by roughly 0.85 to compare like with like.
Plugs into an outlet
This appliance plugs into a normal socket, so a power station or a generator's outlet can run it directly.
Safety
This planner does not certify any system for medical use. If losing therapy overnight is a health risk, talk to your equipment supplier about a manufacturer-approved battery and tell your utility you need medical-priority restoration.
Medical device
This planner sizes equipment. It does not certify any system for medical use, and no result here should be treated as a guarantee of therapy through an outage.
Check this yourself
Read your specific machine's power supply rating. A heated humidifier and heated tubing can multiply consumption several times over, and many users run without them on battery.
What can run it
Sized for 8 hours of use during a 24-hour outage, using the higher end of the range.
| Product | Continuous | Surge | Runtime | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zendure SuperBase V6400 | 3,800W | 5,000W | 54.7–182.4h | Will work |
| Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus Portable Power Station | 7,200W | 14,400W | 42.8–142.8h | Will work |
| Zendure SuperBase V4600 | 3,800W | 5,000W | 39.2–130.6h | Will work |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station | 4,000W | 8,000W | 34.8–116.1h | Will work |
| Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 | 3,600W | 7,200W | 33.9–113.2h | Will work |
| Honda EU2200i Super Quiet Inverter Generator | 1,800W | 2,200W | fuel-dependent | Will work |
| Honda EU3000iS Inverter Generator | 2,800W | 3,000W | fuel-dependent | Will work |
| FIRMAN WH03242 Dual-Fuel Inverter | 3,200W | 4,000W | fuel-dependent | Will work |
What will not work, and why
1 of 58 products cannot run this.
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 Portable Power Station — 208Wh usable cannot cover a 24-hour outage for these loads, which need 240–800Wh. It would carry the plan for roughly 2.1h before recharging.