ICON Users - Humidifier/Heat Question(s)

[GrantT]

Does anyone else with an ICON machine notice if their machine stays very warm, even when turned off all day and the display lighting turned completely off?

I started removing my water tank during the day, giving it a good rinse in the mornings and letting it air dry. I noticed yesterday evening there was an "Error" message flashing on the display, and the machine would not start. I had to unplug it/plug it back in to reset it. I noticed at that time the machine was VERY warm to touch....almost as if it was still trying to heat the water...even though the tank was not in...i.e. the heat has to go somewhere...causing a problem perhaps? Just guessing. I did notice previously that I could put cold water in the tank and even though the machine is off, the sight window was fogged up and the water warm after a while....

I'm bringing to back for replacement, but the DME is not sure if that is "normal" or not...they do not have a lot of clients using these yet I guess. I do have my humidifier set one higher than default setting.

Just gathering info...

Grant

[KrisasMan]

My machine does remain slightly warm at all times but nothing really close to what you describe. I just pulled my tank that has a little water in it and touched the aluminum plate and it is not 98.6 F. Generally I pull the tank and let it dry durring the day and rest the lid on top upside down to let the bottom dry off and when I flip it over at night the handle is a touch warm but again, nothing like your unit.

[mlasham]

I believe the icon heats the humidifier full time. So without the container in, the heat has to go somewhere. You can put it in ECO mode which turns this off.
I would have thought that the humidifier heating would only turn on when the machine is in operation, but this is not the case. ECO means no humidification.

[Quality Zees]

My Icon Auto stays warm all the time. I empty the water chamber in the morning and put it back in the Icon, then turn it on for 15 or 20 minutes to dry out the chamber, passageways, hose and mask (as recommended by my DME). It seems like a waste to keep the chamber warm all the time even when the machine is off. I can't imagine why F&P designed it that way.

I've had my ICON for about 10 weeks, and I've had the error message problem twice. Unplugging it and plugging it back in worked form me both times, but it worries me.

[KrisasMan]

I wonder what the Error is all about, I have never had any. Maybe it is related to running the machine empty? I never do that, just pull the tank and let it drip dry on a wire shelf.

[DagoRed]

Hey Grant,
I have an icon Auto and yes mine stays warm, but not hot. If mine got hot to the touch and I had to reboot it to get it to function, I wouldnt use it at all. I would be on the phone to my DME getting a replacement. Whats to keep it from getting hot enough to start melting stuff while I am asleep? I cant answer that but I sure would be thinking about that before I used it again. These machines only draw 1.2 amps @ 120vac.

[Quality Zees]

I left a question on F&P's website and here's they're response.

"Thank you for contacting Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. It is normal for
the humidifier chamber to stay warm throughout the day even when the
machine isn't running. Reason why is because the unit is still drawing
energy and power to keep the display on. Since the heater plate is a
natural conductive metal it's actually going to retain the heat the unit
is using the power the display screen. That's why the chamber will stay
warm also. I hope this helps."

Since the display is liquid crystal, it doesn't draw any current unless it is changing; they must be referring to the backlight. You might want to turn that feature all the way down and see if the chamber stays cooler.

[KrisasMan]

LCDs also draw current while running, it is much lower than the back light but the LCD has to maintain a charge on the cell to keep the crystals aligned. I would be willing to bet the CPU of the unit is drawing almost as much as the back light though, I am sure this is using a MIPS CPU that is probably keeping time as well as monitoring the system. MIPS CPUs are also used for home routers, go feel how warm your router is, probably about the same.

[KrisasMan]

If someone has a broken Icon I would love to see pictures of the circuit boards inside the unit