Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We haven’t tested these products ourselves. Our recommendations come from manufacturer specs and the math shown on this page.

Medical note: This is general information about batteries and watt-hours, not medical advice. A CPAP is prescribed therapy. Before relying on any battery, read your device’s user manual, follow the manufacturer’s guidance on power sources, and talk with your doctor or equipment provider. Always have a backup plan if power runs out.

How Long Will a Power Station Run a CPAP?

Short answer: it depends mostly on whether the humidifier and heated tubing are on. A CPAP running without humidification uses a fraction of the power it uses with heat on. So the same station can last several nights or just one.

You can estimate your own number with a simple formula and one figure from your machine’s manual. This guide walks through that math. We haven’t measured any CPAP on a power station ourselves. Everything here comes from published manufacturer specs plus arithmetic, and we show each step so you can check it.

Step 1: Find Your CPAP’s Power Figure

Look in your device’s user manual, usually in the technical specifications near the back, or on the power supply label. You’re looking for a power consumption figure in watts.

For example, ResMed’s AirSense 11 user guide lists the following for its 65W power supply unit:

Two things are worth knowing about these numbers:

• They’re power-supply figures, not a promise of what your night will use. Your real draw depends on your pressure setting, your humidifier level, heated tubing, and room conditions. ResMed doesn’t publish a single “per night” figure that fits everyone, and neither do we.
• Using the typical figure for planning is conservative. If you plan around 56W and your setup uses less, you’ll have extra margin. That’s the direction you want to be wrong in.

If your machine is a different brand or model, use the figure in its manual. Don’t borrow another machine’s numbers.

Step 2: The Runtime Formula

Runtime (hours) = Battery Wh × Usable fraction × Efficiency ÷ CPAP watts

• Battery Wh: the rated capacity on the station’s spec sheet.
• Usable fraction: we use 0.9. Stations don’t usually deliver every rated watt-hour, and you won’t want to run to 0% on a night you need therapy.
• Efficiency: we use 0.8 for the AC outlet (power goes through the station’s inverter and then your CPAP’s own power brick) and 0.85 for a DC path. These are our planning assumptions, not manufacturer figures.

Worked example: AirSense 11 at the typical figure, AC outlet

Using a 512Wh station, like the Jackery Explorer 500 v2 (Jackery lists 512Wh LiFePO4 capacity):

1. 512Wh × 0.9 = 460.8Wh usable
2. 460.8Wh × 0.8 = ~369Wh delivered
3. 369Wh ÷ 56.1W = ~6.6 hours

That’s roughly one night if your setup really pulls the typical figure the whole time. It’s not much margin, which is why the humidifier question below matters.

Runtime table (planning estimates)

Same formula, AC outlet (0.8 efficiency), 0.9 usable. The “lower draw” column is an illustration of what happens when draw is cut in half, for example with humidification off. Check your own manual and settings for your real number.

These are arithmetic, not test results. Treat them as a starting point for your own check.

Why the Humidifier Changes Everything

Heated humidification and heated tubing work by warming water and air, and heating takes a lot of energy compared with running a small blower motor. That’s why the gap between “humidifier on” and “humidifier off” is so large on any battery.

If you’re thinking about turning humidification down or off for camping, ask your doctor or equipment provider first. Some people find therapy uncomfortable without humidity, and that’s a decision about your treatment, not about watt-hours. Your device manual explains how to use the machine without the water tub. The AirSense 11, for example, ships with a side cover for use without the humidifier tub, according to ResMed’s user guide.

AC Outlet vs. a DC Converter

Plugging your CPAP’s normal power brick into the station’s AC outlet is the simplest setup. It wastes some energy, though: the station converts its battery DC to AC, and then your CPAP brick converts it back to DC.

Some CPAPs have an official DC accessory. ResMed’s AirSense 11 user guide lists an Air11 DC/DC converter among its accessories, and ResMed’s battery guidance recommends DC-to-DC converters over DC-to-AC inverters where possible. A DC path can stretch runtime, but only use the manufacturer’s approved converter for your model, and follow its instructions for which port to plug it into. Don’t improvise cables or adapters for a medical device.

Inverter idle draw is a hidden cost. The AC inverter on a power station uses some power just by being switched on. Jackery’s FAQ for the Explorer 500 v2, for example, lists 12W standby consumption. Overnight that adds up, so switch off outlets you aren’t using.

Picking a Station for CPAP Camping

What matters, in order:

1. Enough capacity for your worst night plus margin. Plan from the figure in your manual, then add a buffer. If one night at your settings needs about 450Wh, a 500Wh station is cutting it close. A 1,000Wh-class unit gives a real margin.
2. A pure sine wave AC outlet. Medical device power supplies are designed for normal household power. The stations below list pure sine wave inverters.
3. A way to recharge during the day. Solar or car charging lets you start each night full.
4. Quiet operation. You’ll sleep next to it. Check whether the station runs fans at your expected load.
5. Temperature limits. LiFePO4 stations typically shouldn’t be charged below freezing. Goal Zero lists a charging range of 32–125.6°F for the Yeti 500, for example.

Stations worth a look (on specs)

Jackery Explorer 500 v2: 512Wh LiFePO4, 500W AC (1,000W peak), 200W solar input. Roughly one night at the AirSense 11 typical figure by our math, more with lower draw. Check price: Jackery Explorer 500 v2 (affiliate link TODO)

Goal Zero Yeti 500: 499.2Wh LiFePO4, 500W pure sine wave AC (1,000W surge), 12V outputs, 200W solar input, 5-year warranty listed by Goal Zero. Check price: Goal Zero Yeti 500 (affiliate link TODO)

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic: 1,024Wh LiFePO4 and 1,800W AC per EcoFlow, which leaves comfortable margin for a CPAP and phones. EcoFlow’s spec page lists no 12V DC car output, so CPAP DC converters that need a car socket won’t plug straight in. Check price: EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic (affiliate link TODO)

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus: 286Wh LiFePO4, 600W AC. Light, but by our math it’s short for a full night at the typical figure with humidification. Better suited to low-draw setups or as a backup. Check price: EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus (affiliate link TODO)

Test Before You Need It

The most reliable number is the one you measure yourself, at home, before a trip:

1. Fully charge the station.
2. Run your CPAP on it overnight at your normal settings, with your normal power source still nearby as a backup.
3. In the morning, note the percentage used. Multiply by the station’s capacity to get your real watt-hours per night.

Many stations show live output watts on the display, which also gives you a quick read of what your machine is pulling with and without the humidifier.

FAQ

Can a 300Wh power station run a CPAP all night? Possibly, with lower-draw settings. At the AirSense 11’s typical figure of 56.1W, our math gives a 286Wh station only about 3.7 hours. With humidification off, the draw can be much lower. Test at home and check with your provider before changing settings.

Is it safe to run a CPAP from a power station? Many people do, but follow your CPAP manufacturer’s guidance on power sources first. Use a pure sine wave AC outlet or the manufacturer’s approved DC converter, keep the station ventilated and within its temperature range, and have a backup plan.

Should I use the AC outlet or 12V? A manufacturer-approved DC converter is usually more efficient. If you don’t have one, the AC outlet with your normal power brick works on a pure sine wave station. Don’t use homemade or unapproved adapters.

Does altitude or cold affect runtime? Cold can reduce what a battery delivers and LiFePO4 stations generally shouldn’t be charged below freezing. Check your station’s and your CPAP’s manuals for temperature and altitude ranges. ResMed’s guide, for example, lists an operating temperature range for the AirSense 11.

How do I know my machine’s exact draw? Check the technical specifications in your user manual, then confirm with an overnight test using the station’s display or the percentage it drops.