Not all backup systems are built with home healthcare in mind. If you or someone in your care relies on powered medical devices, you need a solution that truly fits your daily routines, your equipment’s specific energy needs, and the real-world challenges of home-based care — especially during unexpected power outages.

This guide walks you through how to choose the right backup system for your unique situation — complete with practical tips to help you accurately estimate runtime and avoid any unwelcome surprises.

Step 1: List the Equipment You Rely On

Start by creating a complete and precise list of all powered medical equipment used at home. This is your foundation for planning! Common items you might include are:

• Alternating air mattresses (typically ~60W)
• Oxygen concentrators (~250–350W)
• Suction machines (~80W)
• Feeding pumps (~30W)
• CPAP/BiPAP sleep therapy (~50–70W)

(Note: These are average figures; always check your device’s manual for precise wattage if available.)

For each device, make sure to record:

The potential consequences if it stops unexpectedly (e.g., risk of pressure injury, respiratory distress, immediate safety concern).

Step 2: Estimate Your Required Runtime

Now, let’s turn your equipment list into a runtime estimate:

• Calculate daily consumption: Multiply each device’s wattage by its daily usage hours to get its daily watt-hours (Wh).
• Total your needs: Add up the total watt-hours for all your essential devices over a 24-hour period.
• Choose your margin: Select a backup system that can comfortably cover that total load for at least 24–48 hours. Your personal risk level (e.g., remote location, frequency of local outages) will help determine if you need more margin.

Example: If you have a 60W air mattress used 24 hours/day, that’s 1,440Wh/day (60W x 24h). The AusherMed 2400 offers 2,400Wh capacity. This comfortably covers approximately 40–45 hours of runtime for that single device (accounting for typical inverter efficiency).

If you use multiple high-draw devices or simply desire extra peace of mind and margin, easily add an expansion battery (like the AusherMed 2400B) to scale your capacity.

Step 3: Make Sure It’s Designed for Medical Use

When you’re powering life-supporting medical devices, your backup battery isn’t just a power source – it becomes an integral part of a Medical Electrical (ME) System. This means the power system you choose absolutely needs to be compliant with specific, rigorous medical safety standards, not just general electrical ones.

Look for systems that are explicitly:

• Built in accordance with IEC 60601-1: This is the foundational standard for electrical safety in medical equipment.
• Compliant with IEC 60601-1-2: This ensures electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for ME Systems, preventing dangerous interference with other medical devices.
• Tested to UL 9540A: A vital standard for thermal and fire safety, especially crucial for a device used in your home.

Adherence to these standards helps guarantee the system can safely support your complete home medical setup as a fully integrated ME System — providing true peace of mind, not just power.

Step 4: Look for Practical Home Features

Beyond core safety compliance, a medical-grade power system should seamlessly fit into your everyday life. Here are the practical features that truly make a difference for home use:

• Pass-through charging: Your devices stay continuously powered while the backup unit recharges itself, ensuring you’re always ready.
• Quiet, odour-free operation: Essential for comfort and health, making it safe and pleasant for bedroom or shared living environments.
• Expandable capacity: Allows you to easily adjust and scale your power as your care needs evolve or if you add more devices.
• Fast UPS switchover (<10ms): This critical feature ensures an instantaneous transition to battery power, preventing any vital equipment from shutting off during blackouts.

The AusherMed 2400 meets all these needs and is fully compliant for use as part of an ME System, making it a safer and far more reliable option than general-use batteries.

Step 5: Test It in Real Life

BIt’s not enough to just acquire a system; consistent, real-world testing builds confidence and ensures readiness.

• Stay organized: Keep all essential cables and adaptors nearby, clearly labeled, for quick and stress-free access when you need them most.
• Simulate an outage: Every few months, practice switching to your backup power, ideally at different times of the day.
• Track performance: Monitor and log how long your system truly lasts with your actual medical equipment connected.
• Adjust as needed: Use your performance logs to refine your plan and make any necessary adjustments to your setup or capacity.

Need Help Estimating Runtime?

If you’re unsure how to accurately size your system or navigate the technical details, we’re here to help. Aushertech can walk you through:

• Precisely calculating your daily power usage based on your specific devices.
• Matching your home medical setup with the right backup capacity.
• Ensuring your chosen solution is safe and compliant for use as part of a Medical Electrical System.

Reach out to us — we’ll help you build a power outage backup plan you can absolutely count on.