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What size power station runs a CPAP?
With the heated humidifier off, most modern CPAP machines average only 10 to 25W. That is roughly 150 to 300Wh per night once you include the power station's own overhead. A 300Wh unit covers one night. A 1,000Wh unit covers three or more.
| Setup | Approx. use per 8 hour night | 300Wh unit | 1,000Wh unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPAP, humidifier off | 150 to 300Wh | About 1 night | 3 to 5 nights |
| CPAP with heated humidifier and hose | 500 to 800Wh | Not enough | 1 to 1.5 nights |
The power brick on a CPAP shows its maximum draw, often 60 to 90W. Average draw through the night is far lower. ResMed publishes a battery guide with real figures for its machines, and other makers do the same. Use your own machine's numbers in the calculator.
Three ways to stretch runtime
- Turn off the heated humidifier and heated hose. Nothing else saves as much.
- Use a DC cable if your CPAP maker sells one. Running from the 12V car port skips the inverter and saves roughly 10 to 15%.
- Turn the power station's AC outlets off in the morning. An idle inverter slowly drains the battery all day.
Picks
- Camping or a one-night outage: Jackery Explorer 300 (light, 292Wh).
- Storm season, or you keep the humidifier on: BLUETTI AC180. Its UPS mode can switch over automatically if power drops while you sleep.
Your machine's real draw is on its power brick or in the manual. Ask your equipment provider or doctor before changing therapy settings. This page is general information, not medical advice.