M Series Pro Noise Issue, Whine, troubleshooting

[Rustyolddude]

I've been dealing with a whine from my M Series Pro. I'm at 10cm, C-Flex at 3 and I don't use the Ramp. Hose is covered, tried the Whisper cap which seemed to make it louder, machine is on a shelf inside it's travel case. I'm running a Marpac Sleepmate sound machine plus the A/C when it kicks on adds noise. I can still hear the whine even with my back to the machine & sleeping on my side.

The whine occurs upon inhalation. My mask has a 39L/min vent rate @ 10cm. I don't know what a typical leak rate is for more popular masks, and I'm wondering if the 39L/min combined with my inhalation is making the CPAP fan spin faster than is typical with a nasal mask thus creating the whine. If that's the case, I can see my DME about trying a different mask . If not, I'm going to have to see about swapping out the machine due to a defect. Option 3, I'll be opening it up myself and who knows....

[bdp522]

It probably isn't a good idea to run the machine inside the case. It is just to carry the machine when traveling. I would think that the air circulation in the case isn't very good(even if the case is open). Could be the machine was damaged by excess heat. First thing I would do is take the machine out of the case. Then replace the filters. See if this improves the noise level. If not, you may need to see about servicing.

Brenda

[carbonman]

I've been dealing with a whine from my M Series Pro.
The whine occurs upon inhalation. I'm going to have to see about swapping out the machine due to a defect. Option 3, I'll be opening it up myself and who knows....

I don't think there is a defect.
The motor whines on inhale as it increases the pressure.
It spins down for exhale as it decreases the pressure for cflex.
Spins backup on inhale.....over and over and over.
Both my Mseries machines sound exactly the same.

I think the only thing you can do by opening it up,
it void your warranty.

Good luck.

[Rustyolddude]

It probably isn't a good idea to run the machine inside the case. It is just to carry the machine when traveling. I would think that the air circulation in the case isn't very good(even if the case is open). Could be the machine was damaged by excess heat. First thing I would do is take the machine out of the case. Then replace the filters. See if this improves the noise level. If not, you may need to see about servicing.

Brenda

Air circulation is fine, the bottom of the case is ventilated as well. If I had any reason to be concerned, I'd put a temp probe in the case. For the record, all the empty space around the motor in the machine is filled with foam which holds in far more heat than the carry case. (not my machine pictured)



Pic of a Repironics fan.





Filters are new, I've tried both with & without the fine filter. I'm afraid it's the nature of the machine but the DME did agree to meet and compare it with another machine. If it's the nature of the beast, I'm going to take it by a sound lab I have a contact at and do sound and vibration analysis on it. I could deal with a rushing sound of air or even a hiss but the rising falling whine is making me crazy.

[OneCatBelleSundance]

I was diagnosed in July and have been using CPAP for about 3 weeks. My M Series Pro is set to ramp up over 45 minutes from 4 to 13. I've noticed at 13 that it is noisy but haven't heard a whine; rather I just hear the movement of air. My machine sits on my nightstand right next to my bed.

Personally, I think CPAP is a great invention. I've got my brain back and I no longer fall immediately into bed when I get home from work or take 3 hour naps on Saturday.

This website is just fabulous for both support and information.

[Rustyolddude]

I was diagnosed in July and have been using CPAP for about 3 weeks. My M Series Pro is set to ramp up over 45 minutes from 4 to 13. I've noticed at 13 that it is noisy but haven't heard a whine; rather I just hear the movement of air. My machine sits on my nightstand right next to my bed.

Personally, I think CPAP is a great invention. I've got my brain back and I no longer fall immediately into bed when I get home from work or take 3 hour naps on Saturday.

This website is just fabulous for both support and information.

That's good to know, that's the kind of info I'm seeking form folks with the same machine. I get the same whine no matter where my C-flex is set. I think I'll turn C-flex off as a quick test and see how the whine is. I can't sleep without C-flex, it's a little tough when I set it to 1. But I'm fine without ramping. Gotta be careful messing with the clinician settings, don't want the DME to find out and rap my knuckes with a ruler.

[6PtStar]

Lots of times the whine comes from the C-Flex dropping the pressure on exhale and having to wind back to the correct pressure on inhale. You might try turning off the C-flex and see if it still does it or even turning the C-Flex to 2 or 1 and see if it helps. It may be a natural function of the pressure change.

Jerry

[DannyP]

Or Get some Quality Ear Plugs and continue the Journey !

[sepool]

My one-year-old M-series Auto whines occasionally - whine on inhale, or exhale - I don't remember which, but not a continuous whine.

It didn't do that when it was new - it has been doing it about the last 8 months, however. It isn't getting worse, it is just a bit under my tolerance level, so I haven't done anything about it. My tinnitus drowns it out most of the time!

I've heard others talking about the whine.

I bought a new M-series as back-up, same model. It doesn't whine - yet.

[Rustyolddude]

Or Get some Quality Ear Plugs and continue the Journey !

I've got quality ear plugs, problem is they work so well, I can't hear the alarm clock next to my head

I'm afraid it's going to be a result of the C-Flex winding up, but truth be told, if the motor is precisely in balance, mechanically isolated and the fan clearances are proper, you should just hear a woosh of air much like sucking a breath. I guess I'll see after meeting with the DME.

[6PtStar]

You must not br liveing up to your name! Most of us "Old Dudes" are so hard of hearing we can't hear the Alarm Clock without ear plugs!! I know I can't hear mine unless I put it on Radio and turn the volume way up much less hear my cpap.

Jerry

[Rustyolddude]

You must not br liveing up to your name! Most of us "Old Dudes" are so hard of hearing we can't hear the Alarm Clock without ear plugs!! I know I can't hear mine unless I put it on Radio and turn the volume way up much less hear my cpap.

Jerry

Ehhh, I'm living up to it, belive me. As soon at I visit with the DME this week, I've got to go get my first pair of glasses My hearing at high end is still sharp, I can hear a 15.75kHz flyback in a TV. My hearing at speech freqs isn't too good. Cannot understand the lyrics to songs, and any background noise present during a conversation pretty much makes it unintelligable. On the plus side, I can tune the wife out without much effort.

As a side note, I turned off the C-flex, the whine is constant until I exhale

[rested gal]

I don't have an M series Pro CPAP, but I do have several other Respironics M series machines (autopaps and bipaps.) All the M series machines I've used are much "whinier" than any other brand/model I've used. The older Respironics non-M series machines were quieter, in my opinion, than the M series are.

While there can be some variation in the sounds from any of these machines, I do think the M series machines are louder than most. Even if it's not louder in decibels, it's the type of sound ... the wheezy/whiny/breathing sound that is bothersome, imho.

I run a fan in the bedroom and am pretty tolerant of cpap machine and mask vent sounds anyway, so the M series sounds don't particularly bother me. I can well understand how aggravating or annoying the up/down "breathing" sound would be to some.

[KSMike]

Mine didn't whine when new, but it started within 4-6 weeks. Rested Gal is absolutely right (as usual), it's not the actual sound level that's the problem, it's the nature of the sound. Fortunately I'm pretty tolerant of noises like that, and it doesn't bother me at all - nor do the blue lights.

IMO the sound is a result of how/where/at what pressure the air is being routed through the machine - not a mechanical failure like motor bearings, etc. If true, I don't think there's anything that can be done about it without either destroying the machine or at least throwing the calibration completely off. It could be the routing in the fan chamber, the pattern caused by the fan's vanes, or maybe the diameter of the flexible tubing nipples (kinda sounds like blowing across a pop bottle).

[drj130]

I've a M series Pro CPAP w/CFLEX and I've never noticed any sounds really. Besides the air from the exhaust ports on my mask(s). Granted mine is new, I received it on the 29th of last month. I think one of the reasons I might not notice any extra noise is because I'm a Tanker in the Army and I'm use to hearing the turbine engine on it.

I'll keep a listen and let people know what I hear if it is wanted.

David