new portable generator vs the one in the van

[brandy]

I live in the midwest. The general area does get tornados at times, but locally, they have been either south of us, or north. After a casual google search of local power outages, the power was out a few miles east of our house in Feb 2024 about 4 hours.
Mainly due to climate change and the wind warnings we had here, way far removed from Hurricane Helene recently and my need for O2 I was thinking of getting a small generator to power my O2 concentrator in case the electric power does go out. This is the one I first looked at, suggested by WIRECUTTER is Honda EU2200iTAN 2200-Watt 120-Volt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with CO-Minder.
My DD suggested that we plan to use the invertor installed in my 1995 van instead. (The van is in good condition)
I don’t think that’s a good or reliable use. I don’t remember the power of the invertor, I got it for camping, meant to boil water, maybe run a space heater for a bit, not to run anything for what may be hours. I do know the van would have to be running, I wouldn’t want it sitting unattended in the driveway. I do not know the power needs of the concentrator. I THINK the invertor can handle it as long as the motor is running. I still don’t think it’s a good idea. But since outages here are few and short lived, maybe the cost of a generator is not worth it.
What say you all?

[lazydavid]

How much per day do you need to run your O2 concentrator? Is it constant, or just an hour here and there? What is the power consumption?

Depending on the answers, you may be able to get by with a "portable power station" such as this EcoFlow or this Jackery, which each cost about $500. Each has a capacity of slightly more than 1000 kWh. Some googling suggests that a typical 5 liter concentrator will use between 275 and 350 watts when running, so one of these units might provide 3-4 hours of runtime.

You could then always have the inverter as a backup for longer outages, using it to recharge the power station as needed. Both also support charging from portable solar panels, if the weather allows it.

[Sandtrap]

I live in the midwest. The general area does get tornados at times, but locally, they have been either south of us, or north. After a casual google search of local power outages, the power was out a few miles east of our house in Feb 2024 about 4 hours.
Mainly due to climate change and the wind warnings we had here, way far removed from Hurricane Helene recently and my need for O2 I was thinking of getting a small generator to power my O2 concentrator in case the electric power does go out. This is the one I first looked at, suggested by WIRECUTTER is Honda EU2200iTAN 2200-Watt 120-Volt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with CO-Minder.
My DD suggested that we plan to use the invertor installed in my 1995 van instead. (The van is in good condition)
I don’t think that’s a good or reliable use. I don’t remember the power of the invertor, I got it for camping, meant to boil water, maybe run a space heater for a bit, not to run anything for what may be hours. I do know the van would have to be running, I wouldn’t want it sitting unattended in the driveway. I do not know the power needs of the concentrator. I THINK the invertor can handle it as long as the motor is running. I still don’t think it’s a good idea. But since outages here are few and short lived, maybe the cost of a generator is not worth it.
What say you all?

to op:
1
What is your budget?
How much can you afford to spend or have to spend on this emergency health measure?
1000?
10,000?
50,000 ??

2
Are you also concerned with power to your refrigerators and freezers to keep food from spoiling in the event of a power failure?

3
The Honda generator you mention is outstanding and very reliable. It can be stored properly (drain the gas) and when filled with "long term storage fuel in cans, or gas" will start up right away and work. I've seen them used on construction job sites and at trade fairs, booths, etc, all day, day after day.
I have had one for many years and used it on jobsites, construction, property improvements, etc, etc.

Having to run your van to power your needs is ....not a good idea. Get the generator. It will power what you need as well as the O2 concentrator.
Be sure to get the proper size extension cord for it, not any extension cord.

Honda generator info on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Honda-EU2200ITAG ... B08YJVDGS1

4
The generator is very heavy. 44 pounds. Can you handle that? If not, put it on a rolling dolly in the garage and wheel it out when you need it.

j

[niagara_guy]

I would first determine what the wattage of the concentrator is. Start by looking at the label on the device to see if the wattage is listed. If so, it's probably the max wattage and the device might draw less than that most of the time. You could also use a device like a kill-a-watt (maybe borrow from a library) to test it. Do not leave the device on the kill-a-watt for more than 30 seconds, just enough time to measure the watts. Please post these numbers here.

Once you know the wattage draw then you can look for a generator. I would probably want a generator that has more capacity than the device, maybe 50% more because some motors require extra watts to start, but I would not buy a larger generator than needed. Honda makes the best generators (they are inverter generators) but they are expensive. And, gasoline goes bad over time (use Stabil or a similar product), you should be able to find out how much gas per hour the generator uses both at full load and at ¼ load. If the device has its own battery then you probably could run the battery down, start the generator and both charge the device and use it at the same time, this will reduce the gasoline used.

Carbon monoxide is produced by burning of gasoline and other products and can kill. Do not run the generator in the garage or anywhere near the house. Have a CO detector in the house.

Most inverters sold are not sine wave inverters and may damage equipment, so be careful about that. And, running an inverter will drain a battery, so you might need to run the engine to keep the battery charged.

[MathWizard]

I live in the midwest. The general area does get tornados at times, but locally, they have been either south of us, or north. After a casual google search of local power outages, the power was out a few miles east of our house in Feb 2024 about 4 hours.
Mainly due to climate change and the wind warnings we had here, way far removed from Hurricane Helene recently and my need for O2 I was thinking of getting a small generator to power my O2 concentrator in case the electric power does go out. This is the one I first looked at, suggested by WIRECUTTER is Honda EU2200iTAN 2200-Watt 120-Volt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with CO-Minder.
My DD suggested that we plan to use the invertor installed in my 1995 van instead. (The van is in good condition)
I don’t think that’s a good or reliable use. I don’t remember the power of the invertor, I got it for camping, meant to boil water, maybe run a space heater for a bit, not to run anything for what may be hours. I do know the van would have to be running, I wouldn’t want it sitting unattended in the driveway. I do not know the power needs of the concentrator. I THINK the invertor can handle it as long as the motor is running. I still don’t think it’s a good idea. But since outages here are few and short lived, maybe the cost of a generator is not worth it.
What say you all?

The EcoFlow or Jackery mentioned by lazydavid above, or the AC180 Bluetti (1800Watts, currently $549) are able to be charged during the day with a solar panel, or AC by a generator (maybe your van,
or a friend's generator). At least the Bluetti and probably the other two can be used as a UPS in
case the power goes out at night. It should also condition the power to a clean sine wave if used
plugged into a generator.

I live in the midwest and have few outages of over a few hours, but I have a dual fuel
generator, and a small solar generator for backup up internet and charging phones.

I'm also considering the Bluetti above for nightime backup for my wife's CPAP. The generator
is very loud. I'd probably use it only during the day and charge the Bluetti for use with her
CPAP at night.

[Fat Tails]

That $1100 generator is great. I would use it as the primary power and the van inverter as a backup option. Murphys Law states the power will go out when the van is in the shop.

Make sure you practice using it once a year or so with your concentrator. Keep extension cords handy. Dont leave fuel in it.

[Watty]

Something to research is the quality of the electricity from either the van or a generator will work well with the O2 concentrator. I do not really understate the details but I recall hearing that some generators do not have clean sine wave power like utilities do and that the electricity may not work well with some electronics or void warranties. There may be additional equipment that you can put between them and your o2 concentrator to help clean up the power.

It would be good to talk the medical equipment provider about this or to call the o2 concentrator manufactures support number to ask about backup power. I don't know if an oxygen tank would be an alternative.

Also consider the mechanics of setting it up. If there has been something like an ice storm then dragging a portable generator outside and setting it up and far enough away from the house to be safe could be difficult especially for someone who needs an o2 concentrator. You might be able to do it on a sunny warm day when you practice setting it up but setting it up at 3:00 AM in the dark with snow or freezing rain coming down may be very different.

It would be good to also research getting a small installed backup generator instead which would run a limited amount of electric systems. You may be able to get one which runs on natural gas so that you would not need to worry about fuel for the portable generator or van.

[folkher0]

Something to research is the quality of the electricity from either the van or a generator will work well with the O2 concentrator. I do not really understate the details but I recall hearing that some generators do not have clean sine wave power like utilities do and that the electricity may not work well with some electronics or void warranties. There may be additional equipment that you can put between them and your o2 concentrator to help clean up the power.

It would be good to talk the medical equipment provider about this or to call the o2 concentrator manufactures support number to ask about backup power. I don't know if an oxygen tank would be an alternative.

Also consider the mechanics of setting it up. If there has been something like an ice storm then dragging a portable generator outside and setting it up and far enough away from the house to be safe could be difficult especially for someone who needs an o2 concentrator. You might be able to do it on a sunny warm day when you practice setting it up but setting it up at 3:00 AM in the dark with snow or freezing rain coming down may be very different.

It would be good to also research getting a small installed backup generator instead which would run a limited amount of electric systems. You may be able to get one which runs on natural gas so that you would not need to worry about fuel for the portable generator or van.

An inverter, whether incorporated into a generator (marketed as an “inverter-generator”) or attached to a vehicle will produce a clean sine wave with total harmonic distortion <5% which is appropriate for sensitive electronics.

If the OPs need is truly a single device an inverter attached to a vehicle could be a good solution if it puts out enough power (watts) to support the device in question. OP should note both the peak and running watts required by the O2 generator.

Once that has been confirmed, give it a try. Plug the O2 machine into the inverter and see if it works.

You will need a very long extension cord. You will need to keep the van away from the house and ventilated. You will also need to keep it running, though your inverter may be able to run for a short time on the car battery alone, depending on your configuration.

The generator in the OP is an inverter, so should have low THD and should be a good option to power a medical device. Its probably a good idea to get an inverter if OP is relying on it to power medical equipment. It does you no good to have a running generator and an damaged, unusable medical device.

You will also need to maintain and fuel that generator, which is a whole other conversation.

[DesertGator]

I live in the midwest. The general area does get tornados at times, but locally, they have been either south of us, or north. After a casual google search of local power outages, the power was out a few miles east of our house in Feb 2024 about 4 hours.
Mainly due to climate change and the wind warnings we had here, way far removed from Hurricane Helene recently and my need for O2 I was thinking of getting a small generator to power my O2 concentrator in case the electric power does go out. This is the one I first looked at, suggested by WIRECUTTER is Honda EU2200iTAN 2200-Watt 120-Volt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with CO-Minder.
My DD suggested that we plan to use the invertor installed in my 1995 van instead. (The van is in good condition)
I don’t think that’s a good or reliable use. I don’t remember the power of the invertor, I got it for camping, meant to boil water, maybe run a space heater for a bit, not to run anything for what may be hours. I do know the van would have to be running, I wouldn’t want it sitting unattended in the driveway. I do not know the power needs of the concentrator. I THINK the invertor can handle it as long as the motor is running. I still don’t think it’s a good idea. But since outages here are few and short lived, maybe the cost of a generator is not worth it.
What say you all?

If I needed the oxygen concentrator to live, I’d START with the following:

1. Have a Generac propane generator permanently installed with a 7-10 day supply of gas.

2. Purchase a standalone portable generator as a backup, with a days worth of fuel onsite minimum. I might buy 2 of these.

3. Purchase a whole-house battery system, charged by A/C, with as long a run time at load as I can afford.

4. Add solar panels to charge batteries.

5. Put a windmill in the backyard if possible and legal to generate power.

6. Have a small bank of K cylinders of O2, with appropriate transfer filling capability to smaller portable O2 cylinders. Let’s say a 3 days supply of gas minimum.

7. I’d buy at least two spare concentrator units.

I’m sure I’m missing a few things, but this is a good start.

[iamlucky13]

I'd want to know more about how much power you need, and what your budget is before making recommendations. I'd look for volt and amp ratings, preferably for the concentrator itself, but at least for any power supply it may have. Or maybe just post a make and model.

I'm aware there are portable units that weigh only 3-4 pounds including a battery, and run for 2-5 hours depending on their settings. Based on that, I'd expect they could run for at least a day if not more on a decent sized battery power station. Similarly, I know there are a lot of CPAP users who buy this kind of power station for backup power, camping, travel, etc.

But your unit could be different, especially if it's designed for higher flow levels. Regardless, to have confidence in a recommendation, I'd need to know how much power it actually consumes. It could also be helpful to know if it has alternate power options such as a 12V car plug.

Something to research is the quality of the electricity from either the van or a generator will work well with the O2 concentrator. I do not really understate the details but I recall hearing that some generators do not have clean sine wave power like utilities do and that the electricity may not work well with some electronics or void warranties. There may be additional equipment that you can put between them and your o2 concentrator to help clean up the power.
....

An inverter, whether incorporated into a generator (marketed as an “inverter-generator”) or attached to a vehicle will produce a clean sine wave with total harmonic distortion <5% which is appropriate for sensitive electronics.

Actually no. Most budget stand-alone (not integrated in a generator or power station) inverters produce a square or modified sine wave with relatively high overall distortion. They may have issues with motor driven loads or sensitive electronics, especially if run for long periods of time. If you want clean power from an inverter, you will want to get the types generally advertised as "pure sine wave."

Most inverter generators do use pure sine wave inverters with very low harmonic distortion, but not simply by virtue of the use of an inverter. It's because they're marketed as premium models compared to noisier fixed speed generators, and so go the extra step of using pure sine wave inverters to make the premium more compelling.

With that said, from what I have seen, a lot of portable medical equipment is powered by a DC adapter, and there is a good chance it will run fine from a square wave source. Alternately, there may even be a cigarette plug adapter available for many models, so you can bypass the the wasteful DC (battery) to AC (inverter) back to DC (medical device) steps when power availability is limited.

In any case, however, it would be prudent to consult the device documentation regarding power supply requirements. If in doubt, stick with a pure sine wave source with low harmonic distortion.

[folkher0]

I'd want to know more about how much power you need, and what your budget is before making recommendations. I'd look for volt and amp ratings, preferably for the concentrator itself, but at least for any power supply it may have. Or maybe just post a make and model.

I'm aware there are portable units that weigh only 3-4 pounds including a battery, and run for 2-5 hours depending on their settings. Based on that, I'd expect they could run for at least a day if not more on a decent sized battery power station. Similarly, I know there are a lot of CPAP users who buy this kind of power station for backup power, camping, travel, etc.

But your unit could be different, especially if it's designed for higher flow levels. Regardless, to have confidence in a recommendation, I'd need to know how much power it actually consumes. It could also be helpful to know if it has alternate power options such as a 12V car plug.

Something to research is the quality of the electricity from either the van or a generator will work well with the O2 concentrator. I do not really understate the details but I recall hearing that some generators do not have clean sine wave power like utilities do and that the electricity may not work well with some electronics or void warranties. There may be additional equipment that you can put between them and your o2 concentrator to help clean up the power.
....

An inverter, whether incorporated into a generator (marketed as an “inverter-generator”) or attached to a vehicle will produce a clean sine wave with total harmonic distortion <5% which is appropriate for sensitive electronics.

Actually no. Most budget stand-alone (not integrated in a generator or power station) inverters produce a square or modified sine wave with relatively high overall distortion. They may have issues with motor driven loads or sensitive electronics, especially if run for long periods of time. If you want clean power from an inverter, you will want to get the types generally advertised as "pure sine wave."

Most inverter generators do use pure sine wave inverters with very low harmonic distortion, but not simply by virtue of the use of an inverter. It's because they're marketed as premium models compared to noisier fixed speed generators, and so go the extra step of using pure sine wave inverters to make the premium more compelling.

With that said, from what I have seen, a lot of portable medical equipment is powered by a DC adapter, and there is a good chance it will run fine from a square wave source. Alternately, there may even be a cigarette plug adapter available for many models, so you can bypass the the wasteful DC (battery) to AC (inverter) back to DC (medical device) steps when power availability is limited.

In any case, however, it would be prudent to consult the device documentation regarding power supply requirements. If in doubt, stick with a pure sine wave source with low harmonic distortion.

Thanks for correcting me. I didn't know this about stand alone inverters.

[zie]

I have a bigger version of the Honda and it's definitely a work-horse. I'd have zero qualms about recommending the EU2200, provided it fits your budget and needs.

Likes others have suggested, you need to come up with how much power you need to generate and for how long. The back of your O2 concentrator can tell you the "how much" (in watts). It will give you the worst case number. but you have to figure out the how long part yourself. Let's say the backplate on your O2 concentrator (generally near the plug) says 350 watts. Let's also say you want to run for 10 hours(so you can sleep and still have some time to deal with the problem when you wake up, assuming you need it 24/7). 350 * 10 = 3,500 watt hours, or 3.5KWh. So you need something that can generate 3.5KWh. If you want a more realistic and less "worst case" number, you have to use a special monitoring device. The Kill-A-Watt brand is the best known of these energy use monitors. If you don't like the big number it shows there is a high chance you can get away with less energy needs if you measure actual usage yourself.

The EU2200i can run 1800 watts continuous for 4 hours or 25% of that(450 Watts) for 8.1 hours on a single gallon of gas(which is the size of the tank), per their web page. So it can't *quite* make the 10hrs of runtime before you have to fill it up again, but if you make sure it's full right before you go to bed and you have a 5 gallon gas can, you could run it continuously for 48 hours(8hrs * 6 gallons) before you needed to find some more gas. Plus don't forget you will need to change the oil regularly. So it might be overkill for your needs, or bring more maintenance headache than you want.

I agree using your van is probably not the best idea, but maybe could be used in a pinch. Provided the inverter is happy with your O2 machine("pure" sine wave inverter models will be 99% compatible with everything).

That said, if you did one of those portable battery banks with a pure sign wave inverter built in, provided it was properly sized for your needs, you could always charge it from your van(via 12v input if your inverter is not "pure" enough for your battery backup system) or take it to the local shelter/library/etc to charge it up in an emergency, otherwise it could just stay always charged in a closet somewhere if you leave it plugged in.

I don't know what the right solution *for you* is, but hopefully the above gives you some useful information to work out what a reasonable option might look like for you.

Note: I didn't double check any of my math, I encourage you to double check it.

[Sandtrap]

I live in the midwest. The general area does get tornados at times, but locally, they have been either south of us, or north. After a casual google search of local power outages, the power was out a few miles east of our house in Feb 2024 about 4 hours.
Mainly due to climate change and the wind warnings we had here, way far removed from Hurricane Helene recently and my need for O2 I was thinking of getting a small generator to power my O2 concentrator in case the electric power does go out. This is the one I first looked at, suggested by WIRECUTTER is Honda EU2200iTAN 2200-Watt 120-Volt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with CO-Minder.
My DD suggested that we plan to use the invertor installed in my 1995 van instead. (The van is in good condition)
I don’t think that’s a good or reliable use. I don’t remember the power of the invertor, I got it for camping, meant to boil water, maybe run a space heater for a bit, not to run anything for what may be hours. I do know the van would have to be running, I wouldn’t want it sitting unattended in the driveway. I do not know the power needs of the concentrator. I THINK the invertor can handle it as long as the motor is running. I still don’t think it’s a good idea. But since outages here are few and short lived, maybe the cost of a generator is not worth it.
What say you all?

to op:
As you have medical needs that need power.
Have you considered a "whole house automatic emergency power supply" such aa a Generac system?
Do you have the budget for something like that?

j