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Room: Bedroom

CPAP Battery Backup: Dedicated Battery or Power Station?

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Short answer

Talk to your doctor and your equipment supplier first: they know your device and settings. Then two choices. A dedicated CPAP battery is small and plugs straight into the machine's DC input; makers rate them from 1 to 2 nights up to 3 to 5 nights with the humidifier off 1,2. A portable power station is bigger, runs other things too Jackery says its stations are not recommended for medical devices 3, and EcoFlow excludes life-sustaining medical equipment 4. Either way, turning the humidifier off makes the battery last longer 5,6.

CPAP in a power outage

Never: run a generator inside the house, basement or garage to power a CPAP 7. People who are asleep can die from carbon monoxide before having symptoms 7.

Dedicated CPAP battery or power station: which one

Dedicated CPAP battery Portable power station
Size Small, about 1.3 to 2.2 lb 1,2 Larger, about 25 lb for 1 kWh 18
Connects DC cable to the CPAP 1,2 AC outlet (the CPAP’s power brick) or DC
Nights Maker claims: 1 to 2, or 3 to 5, humidifier off 1,2 Depends on size; see below
Flying 95 Wh fits the FAA’s 100 Wh limit 1,10 Too big for a plane 10
Other uses Phone charging (USB) 1 Fridge, lights, internet

CPAP batteries compared

Battery Size Works with* Maker claim
Medistrom Pilot-24 Lite 95 Wh 1 AirSense 10, AirMini; AirSense 11 with extra kit 1,19 1–2 nights, humidifier off 1
CPAPhero Freedom 160 160 Wh 2 AirSense 10 and 11, AirMini, DreamStation 1 and 2 2 3–5 nights, humidifier off; 1–2 on 2
Philips PAP Battery Kit 90 W (Philips) 14 DreamStation, System One 50/60 14 14+ h (test, no heat) 14
ResMed Power Station II 97 Wh 20 AirSense 10, AirCurve 10, S9; not AirMini 20,21 None read

*From each maker’s list; check your exact model with your supplier.

What to check before you buy:

  • Your exact model. The AirSense 11 needs a separate kit for the Pilot-24 Lite 19, and ResMed’s own Power Station II pages do not list the AirSense 11 20,21.
  • The humidifier. CPAPhero says heated humidification can cut runtime by up to two thirds 2; Medistrom’s claim assumes it is off 1.
  • Flying. At 160 Wh, the Freedom needs your airline’s approval 10. CPAPhero’s manual notes that some airlines may have stricter policies 2; the FAA’s rule is airline approval for 101 to 160 Wh 10.
  • Philips in the US. A 2024 consent decree restricts Philips Respironics’ sale of new CPAP machines in the US until certain requirements are met 15; Philips says masks and accessories may still be sold there 17.

Using a power station instead

A power station runs the CPAP through its AC outlet and the machine’s own power supply, and keeps the rest of your outage list going. Makers do not agree on medical use:

  • Anker: the SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 user guide does not mention CPAP or medical use; it gives a UPS switchover of 10 ms 22.
  • BLUETTI: the Elite 100 V2 manual does not mention CPAP or medical use; it uses about 10 W on its own and its ECO mode is off by default 18.
  • EcoFlow says the DELTA 3 Plus is not intended for life-sustaining medical equipment, naming hospital-grade CPAP, and asks you to check with the equipment maker for other medical devices 4.
  • Jackery says its portable power stations are “not recommended for use with medical devices” 3.

How long it lasts depends on your machine and settings. ResMed gives the AirSense 11 a typical power use of 56.1 W 8 and the AirSense 10 53 W 6, without saying whether the humidifier is on. At 56 W plus the station’s own use, a 1,024 Wh station lasts roughly 11 to 13 hours. The night-by-night math and the settings to check are in portable power station for a CPAP.

One setting to check: Anker’s guide gives the C1000 Gen 2 a default standby time of 12 hours, adjustable in the Anker app 22. Test a full night before you rely on any station.

Flying and camping with a CPAP battery

  • US: the TSA allows CPAPs in carry-on and checked bags, and says devices with lithium batteries should go in carry-on bags 23. Batteries up to 100 Wh are allowed; 101 to 160 Wh need the airline’s approval; over 160 Wh are forbidden 10. Spares go in carry-on only, terminals protected 11; up to two spares of 101 to 160 Wh need the airline’s approval 10.
  • US airlines must let you use a CPAP in the cabin if its maker’s label says it meets FAA requirements, on aircraft designed for more than 19 seats (with some exceptions), and may require enough charged batteries for at least 150 % of the maximum expected flight time 24.
  • Canada: CATSA allows a CPAP in carry-on and checked bags, and its distilled water is exempt from the liquid limits 12. Spare batteries of 101 to 160 Wh: up to two, with the airline’s approval 13.
  • Camping: a dedicated battery or a 12 V source with ResMed’s DC/DC converter, an accessory listed in its user guides, runs the machine without an AC outlet 6,8. ResMed recommends turning the humidifier off when using a battery 5.

If the power goes out during the night

Your CPAP stops blowing air, and ResMed’s user guides warn that wearing the mask without the device blowing air can result in rebreathing of exhaled air 6,8. ResMed says all its full face masks have an anti-asphyxia valve: when the machine stops delivering air, for example in a power failure, the valve lets you breathe fresh air from the room 9. Other masks and makers may differ, so ask your supplier how your mask behaves and what your doctor wants you to do if the machine stops.

A battery with a UPS can reduce interruptions: Anker gives its station a UPS switchover of 10 ms 22, and Philips says its kit’s UPS will help reduce therapy disruptions 14. Test it with your machine.

Talk to your doctor and your equipment supplier first

  • Plan with your care team. The CDC advises reading the user manual or contacting the maker to know whether a medical device works with batteries or a generator 25. Canada’s preparedness guide says to make a power outage plan for medical devices 26.
  • Tell your utility. The CDC suggests contacting your power company if you use electric medical equipment 25. In Ontario, Hydro One has a life support notification registry that names CPAP units, and still recommends a backup supply 27. Hydro-Québec advises planning a backup source or a place to stay if someone needs life-support equipment 28. BC Hydro warns against relying on battery storage as the sole source of life-sustaining power 29.

To size a battery for the CPAP and the rest of your list, use the power station calculator. Our method is on the how we research page.

Questions

Can you suffocate if your CPAP loses power during the night?

The machine stops blowing air. ResMed's AirSense user guides warn that fitting the mask without the device blowing air can result in rebreathing of exhaled air 6,8. ResMed says its full face masks have an anti-asphyxia valve that lets you breathe room air if the machine stops delivering air 9; other masks and makers may differ. Ask your doctor and supplier what to do if your machine stops at night.

Can I take a CPAP battery on a plane?

In the US, batteries up to 100 Wh are allowed, 101 to 160 Wh need the airline's approval, and over 160 Wh are forbidden 10; spare batteries go in carry-on bags only, with the terminals protected 11. In Canada, CATSA allows a CPAP in carry-on and checked bags 12, and up to two spare batteries of 101 to 160 Wh with the airline's approval 13. Always check with your airline.

Is there a Philips DreamStation battery?

Philips lists a PAP Battery Kit for DreamStation and System One 50 and 60 series machines, which it says meets FAA requirements and gives more than 14 hours in Philips' test (CPAP mode, 10 cm H2O, no heated humidifier or tube) 14. In the US, a 2024 consent decree restricts Philips Respironics' sale of new CPAP machines until certain requirements are met 15; check availability with your supplier.

Can I run my CPAP from a car or a 12 V battery?

ResMed's user guides list a DC/DC converter (DC adapter) as an accessory for the AirSense 10 and the AirSense 11 6,8. Ask your equipment supplier which converter and battery fit your machine.

Where can I buy a CPAP battery backup in Canada?

Medistrom says its batteries are available at local CPAP dealers in Canada 16. Outside the US, Philips says it continues to provide new sleep therapy devices 17. We could not confirm Canadian sales for the CPAPhero battery.

Bottom line

For one or two nights and for travel, a dedicated CPAP battery under 100 Wh is the simplest choice. For longer outages, or to power more than the CPAP, a power station from a maker that does not exclude medical use is the alternative. In both cases, plan it with your doctor and supplier.

Related guides

What we checked, and what we didn't

Checked
  • Battery capacities, outputs, compatibility and makers' runtime claims on each maker's page or manual
  • Flying rules from the FAA, TSA, DOT and CATSA
  • Each station maker's own wording on medical use
  • ResMed's statements on masks, converters and humidifier use
Not checked
  • How long any battery lasts with your machine and settings. We have not tested any CPAP or battery.
  • ResMed's North American converter and battery pages: they could not be read automatically.
  • Whether Philips has resumed US sales of new CPAP machines.

Sources

  1. Pilot-24 Lite product page · Medistrom
  2. Freedom 160 user manual (rev04) · CPAPhero
  3. Can I use this power station with medical devices, life-support equipment, business-critical systems, or other essential equipment? (updated October 16, 2026) · Jackery (help article)
  4. EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus user manual (US) · EcoFlow
  5. Battery recommendation: do we need to turn off humidification for Air series products? · ResMed (Asia-Pacific knowledge base)
  6. AirSense 10 user guide (copy hosted by NIH StrokeNet) · ResMed
  7. What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage · U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  8. AirSense 11 user guide, technical specifications (copy hosted by NIH StrokeNet) · ResMed
  9. Patient Information Guide: glossary, anti-asphyxia valve · ResMed
  10. Airline passengers and batteries (updated October 2, 2026) · U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
  11. PackSafe: lithium batteries (updated August 11, 2026) · U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
  12. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device · Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
  13. Guidelines for batteries (modified 2026-08-11) · Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
  14. PAP Battery Kit (lithium ion battery with integrated UPS) · Philips Respironics
  15. Federal court enters consent decree against Philips Respironics (April 9, 2024) · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  16. How to buy · Medistrom
  17. Philips Respironics FAQ (as of November 4, 2025) · Philips
  18. BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 user manual · BLUETTI
  19. Pilot Lite user manual (2026) · Medistrom
  20. Power Station II user guide (248817/2, 2018) · ResMed
  21. What is the ResMed Power Station (RPSII) compatible with? · ResMed (Asia-Pacific knowledge base)
  22. Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 user guide (US, V2, July 2025) · Anker SOLIX
  23. Nebulizers, CPAPs, BiPAPs and APAPs (updated July 15, 2026) · U.S. Transportation Security Administration
  24. 14 CFR 382.133: passengers' use of portable oxygen concentrators and respiratory devices · U.S. Department of Transportation (eCFR)
  25. Prepare Your Health: Practical Skills (2019) · U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  26. Power outages: how to prepare (Get prepared, page details 2026-03-12) · Government of Canada
  27. Life support notification · Hydro One
  28. Avant une panne : conseils · Hydro-Québec
  29. Self-generation and outages · BC Hydro

Revision history

2026-11-10First version.