Small, relatively cheap oxygen concentrators

Posted by robtlhughes @robtlhughes, Oct 13, 2024

I've got two plug-ins that are about a year old. They didn't require prescriptions and they are quiet. But neither can provide the 3 or 4 lm I need now at night, despite settings for those levels. My big OC, provided by the VA, still works fine. Anybody have similar experiences or know of cheap OCs that are durable?

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I only use my stationary at night and turn it off every morning & on just before bed every day. I use a portable Inogen One G5 during the day. It’s worked just fine for me.

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I've never been told not to turn off and on. I do mine in efforts to save electricity. Ridiculous amount. Rarely under 325.00 monthly.

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Profile picture for cameron747 @cameron747

I'd like to know more about this. My concentrator sucks up a huge amount of electricity every month but the company that provides it said definitely DO NOT turn the machine on and off. Believe me, I'd like to if I could, but I was told not to. Did anybody advise you about turning your concentrator on and off as needed?

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No nothing like that .
Is this through your insurance? If it is request a new supplier that has better machines. If our electric goes out it sounds an alarm.

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Profile picture for 11moondog11 @11moondog11

I've never been told not to turn off and on. I do mine in efforts to save electricity. Ridiculous amount. Rarely under 325.00 monthly.

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I don’t know how much electricity it uses I always have it on.

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@robtlhughes I think both options are noisy. I would recommend putting the machine in a room near your bedroom using 25’ tubing (up to 50’ with a home concentrator and 25’ for the Inogen Rover 6). I have used my portable when I travel for overnight use and put it in the hotel bathroom with 25’ tubing. The home concentrator’s allow for continuous flow oxygen which means you don’t have the puff sound that you do with pulse flow. My husband is very sensitive to noise so this worked for awhile. I find it hard to sleep with the puff sound especially at a higher flow rate, so I now travel with the bigger home concentrator for night time use. Good luck with your choice.

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Profile picture for tcarson52 @tcarson52

No nothing like that .
Is this through your insurance? If it is request a new supplier that has better machines. If our electric goes out it sounds an alarm.

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@cameron747 I was never advised not to turn mine off. I try to turn mine off if using my portable for any length of time to save on electricity. There are options that use lower amounts of electricity and also may weigh less if you move yours from room to room. These specifications are usually noted for the product. Hope you find something better,

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Profile picture for otterbein79 @otterbein79

Hi There,
Accessia offers financial assistance to people with rare disorders. Here is a link to their application form. I think that there is currently a waitlist, but check to find out.
https://patient.accessiahealth.org/application/start
You may also want to try NORD
https://applications.rarediseases.org/Home/WebEnroll
Or The Assitance Fund:
https://enroll.tafcares.org/TAF_ProgramInformation?
I wish you all the best and let me know how it goes.

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@otterbein79 Are you in the UK or USA? Thx.

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Profile picture for otterbein79 @otterbein79

My husband put my large concentrator in the basement and ran a line up through the floor. He used a Bluetooth plug to plug it in. I put an app for the plug on my phone and I can turn the concentrator on and off from my phone.
You don’t hear the concentrator at all now. Zzzzz!

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@otterbein79 I would like a Bluetooth option to turn my large concentrator on/off as needed since I keep mine in a separate room from where I am during the day. My machine only has a 110 volt type plug. Can you please provide more info on the exact Bluetooth plug and if this works with the type of plug my machine has. Also, the app name you use. Thx.

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Profile picture for vic83 @vic83

Important to understand...pulse flow portable oximeters may have setting up to 6 liters per minute...but THEY DO NOT DELIVER THAT ...pulse rate is not the same as continuous flow. Mayo rehabilitation pointed that out to me. Look at capacity of the portable.
For night sleep I have a stable oxygen concentrator that delivers continuous flow not a portable one . For higher portable concentrator it is necesssary to go with bigger one, tank I believe.
I have a portable Inogen Rov 6 - latest model, they stopped making the One 5. I bought it but my Medicare provider gave me a Inogen One 5 under Medicare. They are very very similiar and same batteries work on both. My prescription is for 2 lm but I set my Inogen at 4-6 when exercising to keep my O2 at safe level.

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@vic83 78m YO with pulmonary issues. I use a large concentrator at night with my BIPAP. I'm experimenting with a VA provided regulator that can supply both pulsed and continuous. What kind of exercising do you do? How does you o2 saturation hold up?

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Profile picture for hiker108 @hiker108

@vic83 78m YO with pulmonary issues. I use a large concentrator at night with my BIPAP. I'm experimenting with a VA provided regulator that can supply both pulsed and continuous. What kind of exercising do you do? How does you o2 saturation hold up?

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@hiker108 I recently was doing some respiratory therapy and followed my O2 levels based on exertion amount. My conclusion was that with greater exertion my Inogen Rov 6 does not give me enough oxygen. The continuous flow is better.
I have a small gym in my building so I take my continuous flow concentrator there (I bought a small flatbed cart which makes it easier to move concentrator around even though it has wheels) and then I can go faster and longer on the treadmill.

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