A 5-liter home oxygen concentrator uses about 350 watts (Philips EverFlo average), and 10-liter units about 585-600 W. Portable concentrators draw far less, roughly 30-120 W depending on pulse or continuous flow.
- Running watts
- 350 WTypical; 30–600 W across models
- Starting watts
- 700 WEstimate: home units use an internal compressor, so plan on roughly…
- Per day
- 8.4 kWh24 h of use
- Current
- 2.9 AAt 120 V while running
Figures checked against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer data on . Your model's label is the final word.
Watts by model and setting
Most oxygen concentrator models draw between 30 and 600 W while running; a typical one draws about 350 W. A 5 LPM home concentrator (Philips EverFlo, 350 W average) running continuously uses about 8.4 kWh a day; patients on nighttime-only oxygen use about a third of that.
- Flow capacity: 5 LPM home units draw about 300-350 W, 10 LPM units around 585 W
- Portable (pulse-dose) vs stationary (continuous flow) design
- Flow setting and breathing rate for portable pulse-dose units
- Charging batteries while running increases portable units' draw
Running an oxygen concentrator on a generator or power station
- Generator: at least 350 running watts and 1,050 starting watts (running plus the 700 W start surge, the cautious way to size it). Check both numbers on the spec sheet. A generator rated 2,000 W or more covers it with room to spare.
- Power station: continuous output of at least 350 W and a surge rating that covers about 700 W. Pure sine wave output is the safe choice for motors and electronics.
| Power station capacity | Estimated runtime |
|---|---|
| 500 Wh | 1.2 h |
| 1,000 Wh | 2.4 h |
| 2,000 Wh | 4.9 h |
| 3,000 Wh | 7.3 h |
Based on 350 W average draw and 85% usable capacity.
- A home concentrator at 350 W drains a 1,000 Wh power station in roughly 2.5 hours; keep backup oxygen cylinders as your primary outage plan, as most suppliers advise
- Portable concentrators are much easier to back up: run them on their own batteries and recharge from a power station or vehicle DC outlet
- Use a pure sine wave power station or inverter generator for medical electronics, and check the device manual's power guidance
- Tell your utility and oxygen supplier you depend on powered medical equipment. Run a gas generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents; also keep oxygen away from the generator and any open flame.
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Questions people ask
How long will a power station run an oxygen concentrator?
For a 350 W home concentrator, a 1,000 Wh station gives about 2.5 hours after inverter losses, and a 2,000 Wh station about 5 hours. A portable concentrator on pulse setting 2 (around 30 W) can run many times longer.
What size generator do I need for an oxygen concentrator?
A 5 LPM concentrator uses about 350 W, so even a 1,000-2,000 W inverter generator covers it with room for other essentials. Use an inverter generator for clean power and run it outdoors only.
How many watts does a portable oxygen concentrator use?
Philips SimplyGo specs list 120 W maximum when not charging; on its ~95 Wh battery it lasts about 3 hours on pulse setting 2 (around 30 W average) but under an hour at 2 LPM continuous flow (around 100 W).