Thunder Dan
Well-known member
I was thinking about what I really need. I will be urban stealth camping, and I can charge my laptop at work, and my phone too. The only thing I absolutely cannot go without is my CPAP machine. It runs on DC power, and I can get a cigarette lighter plug for it for about $15. 80 watts = 6.67 amps @ 12 volts. 8 hours a night = 54 amp hours. The cigarette lighter on my truck stays live even when the vehicle is completely turned off and the key is out of the ignition.
I know a starter battery is designed to deliver a lot of power for a short time, and a deep cycle battery is designed to deliver a lower amount of power over a longer period. But, is there a battery out there that will deliver enough to run my CPAP for 8 hours and still have enough juice to start the truck in the morning, and get charged up by my alternator? The alternator is either 105 or 145 amps, I am not sure. I will look at it when it is light outside.
But if there is a battery that can do that, it seems to me that would be the most simple thing, without even messing with solar. I imagine at some point in the future I will get solar anyway (after I save some money from not having a mortgage). But for now, is this something that sounds feasible?
I know a starter battery is designed to deliver a lot of power for a short time, and a deep cycle battery is designed to deliver a lower amount of power over a longer period. But, is there a battery out there that will deliver enough to run my CPAP for 8 hours and still have enough juice to start the truck in the morning, and get charged up by my alternator? The alternator is either 105 or 145 amps, I am not sure. I will look at it when it is light outside.
But if there is a battery that can do that, it seems to me that would be the most simple thing, without even messing with solar. I imagine at some point in the future I will get solar anyway (after I save some money from not having a mortgage). But for now, is this something that sounds feasible?