What size power station for a portable oxygen concentrator?
It needs a station with at least 95 W of continuous output (starting watts not published, so the check uses running watts). At the default 85% efficiency it takes about 894 Wh of rated capacity for 8 hours of running, and 2,682 Wh for 24 hours of running. 54 of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it. The smallest one that keeps it going for 24 hours of running is the BLUETTI Apex 300 (2,765 Wh).
Updated
The short answer
95W
Continuous output
Not published
Surge to start it
894Wh
Capacity for 8 hours of running
2,682Wh
Capacity for 24 hours of running
54 of 54
Stations that power it
Watts
Typical figures for this type, from the sources at the foot of this page. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.
- Running, typical
- 95 W
- Running, low to high
- 45 W to 145 W
- Starting
- Not publishedmotors often need 2 to 3 times their running watts to start
- Typical use a day
- 12 hhours the motor actually runs
- Average draw while on
- 95 W
- Voltage
- 120 V
- Counts the running watts for every hour you enter.
- Starting watts not published; motors often need 2 to 3 times their running watts to start.
Explained in: Watts vs watt hours, explained, How to read an appliance label for watts and Starting watts explained.
The math
Worked with the typical figure, as the calculator does it.
- Output95 W running, so the station's continuous output must be at least 95 W.
- SurgeStarting watts are not published, so the surge check uses the 95 W running figure.
- Average draw95 W: the running watts count for every hour it is on, as if the motor never paused.
- A typical day95 W × 12 h = 1,140 Wh a day.
- 8 hours of running95 W × 8 h = 760 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 894 Wh of rated capacity.
- 24 hours of running95 W × 24 h = 2,280 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 2,682 Wh of rated capacity.
- On the BLUETTI Apex 3002,765 Wh × 0.85 = 2,350 Wh usable, ÷ 95 W = 24.7 h.
Stations that run it
Every power station in the data with this appliance alone plugged in, at 85% efficiency. Type the running watts from your own label and the table works it out again.
What moves the number
The flow mode decides the draw, and charging the unit's own battery adds to it. One common portable draws 45 W on pulse setting 1, 95 W on setting 6 and 145 W on continuous flow.
Makers sell DC car cords for these units, which run them from the station 12 V outlet without the inverter.
Questions
How many watts does a portable oxygen concentrator use?
Can a portable power station run a portable oxygen concentrator?
How long will a power station run a portable oxygen concentrator?
Does a portable oxygen concentrator need extra watts to start?
Sources
Researched from these pages, then checked against them a second time.
- Eclipse 5 with autoSAT Oxygen Concentrator Technical Service Manual, PN 20631679 Rev J maker manual, checked
- Inogen Rove 6 US User Manual EN, 96-13622-00-01 Rev A, December 2024 (linked from provider.inogen.com product materials) maker manual, checked
- FreeStyle Comfort with autoSAT spec sheet ML-CONC0138 maker specification sheet, checked
We read published figures and do the math; we do not measure appliances. The methodology states every formula on this page. Capacities are rated watt hours: 1,000 Wh rated gives 850 Wh usable at the default.