Scenario
Running a CPAP on a power station
A CPAP is one of the smallest loads a power station will ever see, which is exactly why the numbers surprise people. At low watts, the inverter's own idle draw and the humidifier setting matter more than the battery size. The calculator below starts from one machine, eight hours a night.
- Planning draw
- 34 W average
- Starting target
- 8 h
Calculator
Run the numbers for your station
Compared
How long some stations last
Typical estimate on AC at 34 W, a ResMed AirSense 10 with heated humidifier and tube, from each published capacity and the labelled assumptions.
| Station | Capacity | Typical runtime |
|---|---|---|
  Explorer 300 v2 | 288 Wh | 5 h 19 min |
  RIVER 3 Plus | 286 Wh | 5 h 17 min |
  Yeti 500 | 499 Wh | 9 h 14 min |
  Power 500 | 512 Wh | 9 h 28 min |
  AC70 | 768 Wh | 14 h 12 min |
 Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 Wh | 19 h 48 min |
  SOLIX C1000 | 1,056 Wh | 19 h 32 min |
Product images: official brand websites (Jackery, EcoFlow, Goal Zero, DJI, BLUETTI, Anker SOLIX).
Model calculators
Popular questions
- How long will the Jackery Explorer 300 v2 run a CPAP?About 5 h 19 min typical at 34 W on AC.
- How long will the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus run a CPAP?About 5 h 17 min typical at 34 W on AC.
- How long will the Goal Zero Yeti 500 run a CPAP?About 9 h 14 min typical at 34 W on AC.
- How long will the DJI Power 500 run a CPAP?About 9 h 28 min typical at 34 W on AC.
- How long will the BLUETTI AC70 run a CPAP?About 14 h 12 min typical at 34 W on AC.
- How long will the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 run a CPAP?About 19 h 48 min typical at 34 W on AC.
- How long will the Anker SOLIX C1000 run a CPAP?About 19 h 32 min typical at 34 W on AC.
What changes the number most
The heated humidifier. ResMed measured an AirSense 10 at 7 W with heat off and 34 W with the heated humidifier and heated tube on, so heat is most of the draw. ResMed's power sheet used one pressure and humidity setting; check your own machine and treat the result here as a guide, not a promise.
AC or DC. Running the machine through the station's AC outlet means the inverter is on all night, and an inverter uses power even when nothing much is plugged in. Some CPAP machines can run from a DC cord sold by their maker. If yours can, switch the calculator to the 12 V path and compare. Use only the cable your device maker approves.
Nights, not hours
Think in nights. A station that shows 20 hours on the calculator covers about two nights at eight hours each, with some room for a cautious estimate. If an outage could run longer, look at the solar refill time on the solar calculator, or size up with the size calculator.
Every formula and default behind these estimates is on the methodology page.