Effect of power cuts with Dreamstation

[blackball]

I've just found this site and downloaded the excellent Oscar free software as I've been experiencing low oxygen episodes, (I use a Viatom sp02 monitor every night to monitor HR and sp02) but my AHI and mask fit seemed OK.

Looking at the low oxygen episodes with Oscar shows breaks in the data from the Dreamstation so I think the likely cause is brief power cuts which we are quite prone to get where we live.

So I'm thinking that the Dreamstation is just switching off and I'm left with the mask on but no pressure.

I've ordered an uninterruptible power supply to see if that helps.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced a similar problem and what their experience was like with this.

[Dog Slobber]

If you can cancel the UPS, cancel it.

UPSs are poor choices for CPAP battery backup.

• They are expensive
• have low capacity
• will beep when on battery
• don't have 12 volt option

Instead, if you're looking for a pre-built battery solution, get a portable power-station and a 12 volt adapter specific to your CPAP machine.

[blackball]

True, I was aware of those drawbacks, but I'll keep it on order for use with my computer.

In the short term I'll see if I can use it to confirm this is what has been happening and if the only solution is to layout the money for another machine I'll do that.

[SleepGeek]

Typically what happens when the power fails - for me, I wake up due to that fact it is harder to breath. You can still breath but it takes more effort. Is it possible that you are shutting the machine off for a bathroom break?

IF/when you have a power failure there should be other clues around the house such as a digital clock that needs to be reset. Are you seeing anything like that?

When power is restored your machine should come back on at the same settings it went off at. You can simulate this by turning off the power yourself.

Also if you already have a jump starter you can use that for your test. Since it doesn't have the alarms a UPS does, me likes it better to sleep right thru any power outage. Works for me.

[klm49]

I've just found this site and downloaded the excellent Oscar free software as I've been experiencing low oxygen episodes, (I use a Viatom sp02 monitor every night to monitor HR and sp02) but my AHI and mask fit seemed OK.

Looking at the low oxygen episodes with Oscar shows breaks in the data from the Dreamstation so I think the likely cause is brief power cuts which we are quite prone to get where we live.

So I'm thinking that the Dreamstation is just switching off and I'm left with the mask on but no pressure.

I've ordered an uninterruptible power supply to see if that helps.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced a similar problem and what their experience was like with this.

I have a UPS on my Desktop computer and use it for CPAP as well. We seem to have a lot of short power outages at times and the UPS works for that plus you get the Surge protection.

[SleepGeek]

We seem to have a lot of short power outages at times and the UPS works for that plus you get the Surge protection.

When using battery (DC) power there are no worries about surges from Commercial power since you are not connected to it or any of it's fluctuations. All you need is the correct DC power cord for your equipment available at cpap.com for a modest and reasonable price and the battery (or jump starter) of your choice.

Instructions on how to connect to a battery are posted thruout this forum. Just use the search word "Battery" then start reading.
For a quick, simple, and easy setup a jump starter battery is the quickest and easiest option as it requires no technical ability other than ordering and connecting the correct DC cord to/for your machine.

[Sleepingbaby]

I use a Resmed AutoSense 10 for her and it has an auto setting called SmartStart.
It detects your breathing and starts up. So when the power comes back on it knows you are still wearing the mask and breathing and starts.

It starts over at the low pressure and rebuilds as normal operation.

Might be called Auto-start or Opti-start on the DreamStation.

[Pugsy]

Might be called Auto-start or Opti-start on the DreamStation.

On the Respironics machines the settings that do what the ResMed SmartStart does are
Auto ON....when this is set to on the machine will turn itself on after 2 or 3 good deep breaths are sensed
Auto OFF....when this is on the machine turns itself off after about 60 seconds
So 2 settings that are independent of each other to do what the one setting in the ResMed does.

Opti Start is a totally different function where it does some pressure calculations based on 90% pressure numbers and changes to fixed cpap mode. Not a mode I recommend at all.

[Janknitz]

My machine kept turning off, but it wasn't the power. The plug in the wall was loose and it was behind the bed so I didn't realize that we were knocking it out moving in the bed. I moved it to a different outlet (with a surge protector) and the problem was solved.

I have a portable power station that works with a normal plug. It lasts all night if I'm not running the humidifier (and I generally don't, so I'm fine with that). A larger one can handle the humidifier too and should be able to charge up fully during the day. I don't use mine on a regular basis, but it's here for power outages. Our power company is doing "planned public safety power outages" to reduce the risk of fire from downed lines during high winds. There are places around the city where you can recharge devices like this if the power outage spans days, and my office is on the same grid as two hospitals, so it generally has power anyway.