When we go camping I need to use a CPAP machine for sleep apnoea and also my laptop. We're not that keen on EHU as we prefer to have a bit of freedom to pitch where we like. I have been using an old lead acid leisure battery with a cigarette lighter socket adaptor, but I would like to upgrade. I've been looking at a LiFePO4 battery, along with a power distribution box like this: 12v Power Distribution Box.
It looks like it will do everything, but I don't really know what I'm talking about. Would it be safe in a trailer tent? There are quite a few places selling it that all seem to use the same photo but the price varies quite a bit. I can't seem to find one at a 'reputable' electrical retailer.
A very quick search suggests that you will only be able to buy via online marketplaces such as Amazon, EBay, Temu etc.
It all depends how confident you are of getting redress from Amazon if the appliance is faulty - or whether you will end up having to deal directly with the Chinese seller.
The seller details supplied by Amazon is :
Detailed Seller Information
Business Name: chengdu dingzhiyi keji youxian gongsi
Business Type: Privately-owned business
Trade Register Number: 91510108MACP47R63R
VAT Number: GB471144411
Business Address:
sheng deng lu 88hao 6dong 2ceng 2hao
Cheng du shi
Cheng hua qu
Si chuan sheng
610000
CN
Thanks, there are a lot of sellers like that now. For some stuff I feel more comfortable with an established brand. I'm surprised that something like this is not more readily available.
Surely the issue is that at some point you will have to recharge it? Some campsites offer battery recharging so I suppose that might do it. If the sites you use have prices that are inclusive of EHU then why not use it. You could also check out Machine Mart as they sell some lithium power packs which you could use as a back up. Also handy if you need to jump start your car in the winter.
The world price for lithium ion batteries is seriously high at the moment however asbestos sand is really cheap. The Chinese have been selling it to Australian primary schools for their play pits, resulting in the schools being evacuated.
The Chinese have been replacing lithium ion battery cells with cells filled with sand, this is ok until the battery is placed under stress or fast charged too often, then the cells around the sand filled cells overheat and catch fire, the fire cannot be put out with water or fire extinguishers.
If you are in bed in a tent using your CPAC machine and your battery catches fire this is a very negative situation.
Only trust Branded Products such as Bluetti and buy direct from the supplier, they call them Portable Power Stations these days.
For My CPAP, I had a Jackery 500, which would last about 5 days, until I had my cPap device changed, where it now last 3 days. I bought this during Covid times as the campsite did not have EHU, and was not sure if it would work, I wish I had gone for a Larger one then
I have now Upgraded to the Anker SOLIX F2000 which has 4 times the capacity, so should last at least 12 days, however, with the Larger capcity, I will use it to also power lighting, Run a Fridge, Charge devices, Blow up an Air bed etc, so will last a lttle bit less. I am less worried about the battery Failing and being caught out without a working cPAP
However, I have also bought a 200w Solar Panel to go with it, so I think I can probably last indefinately without Hookup.
I will find out over easter, when I am away for 10 days.
Note: I also have an EV so can use a couple of KW's from that to Charger battery if needed.
That's helpful thanks. I have been running a Resmed 10 with the humidifier on a 12v dc power adaptor and a 100ah lead-acid leisure battery. I have not got more than a couple of nights out of it, but I have not looked after the battery well. My plan was to use an Ecoworthy lithium battery as I can pick a 100ah battery up for less than £200. I would be interested to see how you get on with your set up. I'm not sure that Management would tolerate more than a week in the trailer tent though!
A powerbank like the Jackery & Anker mentioned will be easier to recharge than a leisure battery & have better output options eg 12v, usb, & 240v & can be connected directly to solar panels without a controller
Easy to charge in car while driving via a 12v socket albeit slow. For a chunk more money (£200-300) you could fit an alternator charger which will charge it very quickly. We have an Ecoflow Delta 3 which is equivelant to approx 200ah lifepo4 battery. A 800w alternator charger will recharge it in an hour of driving.
Of course you need to know how much power is used by your machine to gauge how long a powerbank of any given rating will last.
If you do look at a leisure battery do your research. Cheap is often cheap for a reason, often quality of cell construction. I'd recommend Fogstar or Titan.
As an update to my Setup, The set up worked really well. To the extent we will not have EHU on our next trip, (unless we use Our Acsi Campingcard, where it is included in the price)
We used the Battery to Blow up the Air bed, Lighting in the tent, Powering the Fridge, Charging Phones and running the Cpap.
Despite not having the panels set up in the correct orientation, and some grey days, it still charged enough each day to keep the battery level highenough to continue. Facing the Panels towards the Sun, will significantly help, as well as Sunny days, but even on the worst days it put at 15% additional Charge into the battery, the Battery Never went below 26% all week.
One thing to remember is to switch of the inverter when not using it (our Fridge has a battery which lasts 36+ hours) so when we went out for the day we did shut everything down.
On this occasion, we did have EHU (it came with the pitch) which we did use to Power an electric heater overnight (it got down to 4 degrees), and the slow cooker. However, in the Summer I would possibly use the Battery to run the Slow cooker, Weather permitting.
I did Charge the battery to Full using the mains, as we were packing away, (Saves paying for electricity when I got home).
Further testing will be undertaken at the end of May.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: 12v Lithium battery & power distribution.
via mobile 11/4/2026 at 9:40pm
