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How long will a car battery power a CPAP machine?

I’m going camping with my kids but I have sleep apnea and I need my CPAP machine. I was going to use my car to power it, but I wanted to make sure it would last all night and that my car would still start the next day first. If I use my car battery to power my CPAP machine, how long will the battery last?

avatar
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Assuming that your car battery is close to the average 65Ah capacity, expect it to power your CPAP machine for roughly six to eight hours before it
drains your battery
too much to start your car in the morning.
You may also need to use an inverter to connect your CPAP machine to your car, which will usually cost you between $50 and $60.
If you choose to power your CPAP machine with your car battery, your car could easily run your machine for 20 hours total. You just wouldn’t be able to start your car afterwards.
You’re not out of luck, though! Many campsites have electrical hookups for RVs. You can talk to the booking office for the campground you’ve chosen to make sure that you have access to an electrical outlet at your campsite. Alternatively, purchase a deep cycle battery to power your CPAP machine. This battery will easily power the machine overnight and costs as little as $30!
Since you’re taking the time to research your options for your camping trip, why not take a minute to research your car insurance options, too? Download the
Jerry
app and answer a few questions to see a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best car insurance policies from over 50 top providers.
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