Can you RV with Oxygen Dependency? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Can you RV with Oxygen Dependency?

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Is it an oxygen concentrator or are you talking about carrying oxygen tanks? There is no way I would travel with oxygen tanks. But a concentrator is, in effect, a point of use and as long as you aren't standing next to the stove top and cooking with the concentrator going there should be a problem. Just as you wouldn't light a cigarette up next to someone using oxygen. Though I did see someone sitting outside with a battery operated concentrator lighting up and smoking WITH THE CANULA in place!😱

-- Edited by Barbaraok on Monday 31st of August 2020 12:42:34 PM

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have both...the machine in the house and portable bottles for when she leaves the house. The company who supplied these items didn't really give us a safety briefing but stressed no smoking in the house.

Will be close to impossible to create any separation in the rig. The kitchen and living room are basically the same area. The stove, oven, and front furnace are all less than 10 ft away from where the person will be sitting. With a 100 ft hose I can find a spot for the machine in the rear of the rig.

So just how dangerous is the machine? I've read some articles that say there is no explosive danger, but should there be a fire that things will burn much faster. So what should my concerns be with this equipment?

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Oxygen is part of the fire triangle. You need fuel (say propane), ignition source (spark) and oxygen. Having extra oxygen allows the fuel to ignite easier and burn faster. If you were to put the hose down next to a burner on the stove, you would notice faster burning. But since I doubt you would do that, I doubt you will even notice the effect of a small extra amount of O2 in the area. You didn't say what size bottles of O2 you have to use. Have you considered on of the shoulder bag generators for getting out? Since they only generate O2 when in use, they would be safer in storage. Not that you are unsafe right now, just I come from a background of doing risk assessments all of the time - - I was the one whose job was to do "what ifs">

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks. The bottles are only when we are out of the RV. I don't know how big they are, we have small ones that last about an hour at 4/ml and taller bottles that are supposed to last about 3 hours. Since they are the property of the company who supplies them I doubt they would travel with us. At this point my concern is inside the RV where the stove/oven, HWH, and furnace are or could produce flame. It's such a small confined area it has piqued my curiosity as to how dangerous it will be if we decide to travel.