Reducing REMstar M-Series heated humidifier?

[sleepwellDE]

Hello, I have a M-Series with the M-Series heated humidifier wich I use when traveling. Looking in german forums, rainout does'nt seem to be a real problem. It occours rarely (sleeping with open window in winter) and normally is caused by a too high humidifier setting - so to fix it its enough to lower the humidifier heating and seldom a hose cover is needed. But there is a small group of people having really problems with rainout - and that's the people using the M-Series. The lowest setting of the M-Series heated humidifier is simply too strong - even stronger as the highest setting of the SOMNOclick 300 heated humidifier of my german SOMNOsoft+ CPAP by Weinmann.

As I noticed now, in the US rainout seems to be a common problem - and there also are different solutions. What I also came up with is to put some tape on the heating plate or modify the electronics of the humidifier. Other solution would be a heated hose, but these are relatively expensive.

Does anyone here have long-term experiences with either a taped heatplate or modified temperature sensor?

Regards,

Fabian

[Wulfman]

It has a dial on the top of it.
The lowest setting on the M Series humidifier is "0" which is OFF. You shouldn't have to tape or modify anything.




Den

[timbalionguy]

Have you tried anything as simple as an insulating hose cover?

[BleepingBeauty]

Hello, I have a M-Series with the M-Series heated humidifier wich I use when traveling. Looking in german forums, rainout does'nt seem to be a real problem. It occours rarely (sleeping with open window in winter) and normally is caused by a too high humidifier setting - so to fix it its enough to lower the humidifier heating and seldom a hose cover is needed. But there is a small group of people having really problems with rainout - and that's the people using the M-Series. The lowest setting of the M-Series heated humidifier is simply too strong - even stronger as the highest setting of the SOMNOclick 300 heated humidifier of my german SOMNOsoft+ CPAP by Weinmann.

As I noticed now, in the US rainout seems to be a common problem - and there also are different solutions. What I also came up with is to put some tape on the heating plate or modify the electronics of the humidifier. Other solution would be a heated hose, but these are relatively expensive.

Does anyone here have long-term experiences with either a taped heatplate or modified temperature sensor?

Regards,

Fabian

Hi, Fabian, and welcome to the forum.

There's another (much cheaper) alternative to the Aussie Heated Hose. Check it out: viewtopic.php?t=27579

Other options to consider are a fleece (or other insulating fabric) hose cover or, as Den replied above, you can always just turn the humidifier off and utilize what's termed "passover" humidification (water in the tank with no heat applied will provide you some humidity without the potential for rainout). Otherwise, you can try to keep the hose under the blankets with you.

P.S. Trying to modify the temperature sensor of the humidifier could nullify the warranty (at best) and/or ruin your humidifier (at worst), so I'd only attempt that as a very last resort.

There's lots of information here about rainout and how to prevent it. Best of luck.

[Gerryk]

Welcome aboard Fabian, I am curious how your thinking of modifying the electronics on the humidifier. Are you thinking of putting a variable rheostat inline on the controls? I haven't looked inside an M series humidifier or scene a scematic for one yet. We do have a few people on here who are very knowledgeable about these devices and I believe they are both electrical Engineers.

Gerry

[sleepwellDE]

Hello,

first, thank you for your answers

Wulfman: I meant the Setting 1 - the lowest heated setting.

timbalionguy: I tried with the hose wrapped in a blanket, but it didn't help much.

BleepingBeauty: That looks interesting - I'll check if I can get such a reptile heating here.

My problem is that the humidifier on Level 0 (as Passover) doen't provide enough humidity, whereas on Level 1 it gets to strong causing rainout. What I would need is a Setting of 0,5

I thought about a heated hose - but then I would need one wich runs both at 115V and 230V because we use the REMstar for traveling in Europe and America.

I'm aware that any modifications will cause the loss of warranty. But as the device is self-imported, it don't expect any warranty anyway. The REMstar ist just our spare device for traveling, but it's allmost unusable because of this humidifier problem. That's why I'm searching for a solution. I've seen in another thread here that some of you were discussing about taping the hotplate as well as modifying the temperature sensor - that's why I ask about it. So far I haven't opened the humidifier yet, as I was hoping for an easier solution

With my Weinmann SOMNOsoft+ i never have rainout - even when using the heated humidifier at highest Level - that's why I think that the M-Series humidifier is just to strong.

Regards,

Fabian

[kwikwater]

I just got a new M series and found it interesting that they address this in the patient setup sheet. They suggest placing your machine slightly lower than your bed, so that condensation has a chance to return to the tank rather than toward the mask. I went through a short period of rain out when I first got my CPAP 4 years ago and for some reason it hasn't come up again. I run my humidifier very low though. From taking my machine to hunting camp in Oct & Nov and sleeping in 0-20 degree tents, I put my machine as close to me as possible and run the hose under the covers, even at home now, which warms the air nicely. Good Luck!!
Kelvin