Which Machine for use in SEMI TRUCK

[Tired Trucker]

Just had testing done. Must have unit to use in semi truck. Local med outlet has only one unit for sale. It is a house unit. I understand there are other units out there that are AC/DC units. Anyone know what I should be looking for. I am trying to get ready so when my prescription comes in I will know what I want. Thanks in advance for any and all help.

[Pugsy]

Does your truck have an APU?
Or will you be using battery...like what do you plan for electrical energy needed?

What machine did you find that was available at the local place? How much? Did they tell you brand and model?

Insurance? Is insurance paying for it? If not we know of some ways to get some great machines at budget prices.

I would suggest PR System One machine from Respironics as allows for a bit easier transition to battery use or whatever.
ResMed machines need a converter that isn't exactly cheap.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/
Read this thread about full data machines. You want full data and not just hours of use.

[JohnBFisher]

Just had testing done. Must have unit to use in semi truck. Local med outlet has only one unit for sale. It is a house unit. I understand there are other units out there that are AC/DC units. Anyone know what I should be looking for. I am trying to get ready so when my prescription comes in I will know what I want. Thanks in advance for any and all help.

In your situation, I would recommend a Respironics unit. It can use 120v AC or 240v AC or 12v DC. ... Though if you are here in the Americas, it's not likely you will see 240v AC, it's nice to know it will go wherever you need it.

The DC adapter is just a plug in cord:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/dc-pow ... hines.html

Of course, you will want to use that with deep cycle batteries ... that you can charge as you travel. But a normal automotive battery with high crank amps would not be a good choice, since they are not designed to handle a deep discharge.

If you can swing the cost, I would recommend an Auto-adjusting CPAP (or an APAP) that automatically adjusts the pressure to help keep your airway open. For example, most of us have more obstructions (we snore and snort more) when we are on our back than when we are on our side. The advantage of an APAP is that it adjusts and increases pressure when you need the increase. It also helps you better track your CPAP therapy. That way, if anyone asks, you can prove how well and how long you slept. But it does cost more for those features. You can find an example at:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... -tube.html

Hope that helps.

[Tired Trucker]

Was hoping for a unit that could plug into cigaret liter. The local unit is around $824 and would have to use a converter for the cost of $108. No insurance so will use credit card.....

[jdm2857]

That's why everyone is recommending Philips Respironics. Their machines can operate on 12V DC.

ResMed machines, on the other hand, require 24V DC, and therefore you would need a 12V DC to 24V DC converter.

Both brands run on AC, of course.

[Pugsy]

This one will do what you need for it to do and it is a really good machine. $595 and that includes the humidifier
It's a top of the line machine...full data and easy to obtain and use software.
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/respi ... -flex.html

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -cord.html $25 for the adapter cord for cigarette lighter.


There is a new model with the heated hose option $675 or thereabouts for machine and humidifier...adapter for cigarette lighter is $30. It has a stronger power supply draw then the machine above.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... -tube.html
You would have to call to get exact price for it and the humidifier...it's less than the shown price..I think 675 or close.

[Tired Trucker]

That's why everyone is recommending Philips Respironics. Their machines can operate on 12V DC.

ResMed machines, on the other hand, require 24V DC, and therefore you would need a 12V DC to 24V DC converter.

Both brands run on AC, of course.

What about the IntelliPAP AutoAdjust Travel CPAP Machine with SmartFlex sells for $490

[cosmo]

Resmed, Respironics and Intellipap are almost the same size. I'd rather get the Respironics. Also call into cpap.com and see if they can give you a better price. I think they can give you a better price if you call in. They can't show a lower price online due to mgfr's restrictions.

[Pugsy]

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/intell ... -cord.html $25

The Devilbiss would work.
Prices are if you bundle with machine purchase
The software module costs extra $50 if you want to use their software.
Heated humidifier $55 additonal
so
$540 with the humidifier...and another $50 to be able to use the software....you could use the SleepyHead software but you have to have the module for the SD card to get data to a computer.
So you are up to the price of the PR S1 machine which is a better machine IMHO.

The PR S1 Auto CPAP machine gathers data that the Devilibss doesn't gather. Data that you won't know what I am talking about but some fairly important data. That's why I don't recommend this machine for a primary machine.
The PR S1 machine is not all that much larger if you were thinking about size. It's about the size of a hardback novel.

[Tired Trucker]

Even though the IntelliPAP AutoAdjust Travel CPAP Machine with SmartFlex sells for $490, and has a 5 year warranty and altitude auto adjust?

[cosmo]

Play it safe and get one of the auto Respironics units. Trust us

[Pugsy]

The Intellipap is 540 with the humidifier and believe me you want the humidifier.
You may not care about software but if there are having problems you get a tiny bit of information off the LCD screen and it isn't enough to see what was actually going on the whole night...just get a few averages and that's it..
Even the data it gathers that shows on the software (another $50) is not nearly as good of data as the PR S1 obtains.

The PR S1...automatically adjusts altitude also...all the top end machine do it.

Cosmo has the Intellipap and he is telling you to get the PR S1....which he also has. There's a reason....
Trust us...the better machine for the money is the Respironics even with just the 2 year warranty.

[Tired Trucker]

Play it safe and get one of the auto Respironics units. Trust us [/quote]

OK,,,,, You guy's all are saying the same thing so it must be so!
Thanks for the GREAT info.
Looks like it will be a PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP Machine with A-Flex for me.
What should I look at for a mask? I panic with things over my face. BUT I am also a mouth breather.
Mmmmmm???

[Pugsy]

Can you breathe easily through your nose normally? Or do you have chronic congestion that you can't clear up or have a way crooked nose or something like that.

Is the mouth breathing habit or out of physical need because you simply can't get the nose cleared up enough to breathe through nose?

BTW...you won't be sorry about what we suggest.

[DiverCTHunter]

Play it safe and get one of the auto Respironics units. Trust us

OK,,,,, You guy's all are saying the same thing so it must be so!
Thanks for the GREAT info.
Looks like it will be a PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP Machine with A-Flex for me.
What should I look at for a mask? I panic with things over my face. BUT I am also a mouth breather.
Mmmmmm???[/quote]

If you're positive you can't break yourself from mouth breathing (I can't either), start with one of the two Hybrid style masks. Both the Innomed Hybrid and the ResMed Mirage Liberty are good units, and they don't obstruct your vision. The Innomed is probably the best one for first-time users since it has all 3 size pillows and cushions. If you're lucky, the built-in chinstrap might break you of the mouth breathing, and you can always cut it off if you need to.

Since you're 100% out of pocket, definitely buy the return insurance.