A question re RemStar heated humidifier

[dsm]

Does anyone know for sure if a RemStar headed humidifier can work with another brand of CPAP machine.

Reason I ask is that some brands of heated humidifier are useable across other brands of CPAP machine but I see that the heat of the RemStar h/h is controlled from the RemStar xPAP machine panel so was wondering if this means it can't work with another brand machine.

Tks

DSM

[littlebaddow]

I have the remstar auto with heated humidifier. The h/h is integrated, ie it acts as a base for the machine which slots into it. I have only had one other machine (a Resmed) which wouldn't fit into the same base, so I'm guessing other machines also don't.

[dsm]

I might be able to buy another good CPAP machine at low cost. It doesn't have a humidifier but I thought that if I were able to run the piping from the other machine (out) into the RemStar humidifier that I could try it out & not miss the benefits of the humidifier (F&P have a stand-alone humidifier that allows this).

The part that prompted the question is I am a bit mystified as to how the RemStar base unit manages to control the heat on/off and the heat settings of the humidifier - there is no apparent connection other than the piggybacked power cable and that goes to the humidifier then the base unit piggybacks of it..

I just can't believe it sends control signals via the power cable ! - I can believe it operates the humidifier via some induction transponders placed in each (I have a Braun electric toothbrush that recharges through induction).

If the base unit does use induction transponders to control the humidifier then it is one very sophisticated package. That would be impressive (but incompatible with any other CPAP).

Cheers

DSM

[tomkat]

The Remstar xPAP which sits on the Heated humidifier base communicates the desired heat setting via an infrared link (like your TV remote). There is a small sensor in the corner of the humidfier and a matching IR source in the base of the Remstar. Because of this the humidifier will not turn on in a "stand alone" mode. Maybe you could "fool it" but I don't know their communication protocol.