Traveling to Cuba

[My_Dream]

I have a Resmed S8 Elite 11 which was purchased in Canada (my residence) and will be going to Cuba on Sunday.

Questions;

I believe this unit is 110/220V so do I just need an adaptor from the Resmed 110 to hotel 220V or can I just get an extension cord and plug it into the bathroom 110V plug.

Do I need to protect against power surges in Cuba?

This is the information from the hotel website.



Electricity and Electrical outlets
The type of electrical current supplied in every hotel rooms in Cayo Santa Maria is 220 Volts / 50 Hertz (different in the bathroom, see below)
In the bedroom (220V):
The electrical outlets in the bedroom are all 220 volts. They were cleverly designed so they can take both flat polarized prongs (North American-style) and round prongs (European-style).
In every hotel, the outlets are 3-prong style (with a ground pin).
In the bathroom (110-220V):
In the bathroom, you will find an electrical outlet that supplies both voltages: 110-125V and 220-240V. But please note that it's a low-power outlet (aka Shavers Only Outlet).
It's suitable ONLY for low-watt devices such as battery chargers, shavers, etc., and NOT to plug a hair dryer, curling iron, flat iron, or any other high-watt devices.
if your device works only on 110-120V:
• For high-power devices (hair dryer, curling iron, flat iron, etc.): You need to bring a Voltage-Converter suitable for high-watt devices, and should plug it in the bedroom outlets, NOT in the bathroom Shaver Only outlet.
• For electronic devices: You need to bring a Transformer (converter for low-watt devices), and you'll be able to plug it in any electrical outlet (bedroom or bathroom).
Many converters operate as both a converter for high-watt electrical devices and a transformer for low-watt electronic devices; they are the most convenient.
If your device works only on 220-240V:
You won't need any converter or transformer. If it's a high-watt device, you should plug it the bedroom outlets. If it's a low-watt device, you can plug it in any socket (bedroom or bathroom).
ADAPTERS
Do not confuse adapters and converters, an plug adapter do not convert voltage; it simply allows an electrical device from one country to be physically plugged into the electrical outlets of another country.
As mention above, the lectrical outlets are designed to take both North American-style flat-prongs (types A or B) and European-style round-prongs (Type C). If the electrical plug of your device is different from these, then you'll need an adapter. Here are some examples:
No adapter needed for travelers from:
Canada, USA, Mexico, France, Spain (if type C or F plug), Germany, Argentina (if type C plug), Venezuela, Colombia, Chile (if type C), Netherlands, Peru, Panama, Brazil (if type C)

[D.H.]

If your power-cord has a "brick" in the middle (a piece in the middle of the cord that looks something like a literal brick), the voltage tolerance will be on that piece. If it doesn't, a panel on the bottom or side of your unit will have this information. The information is also the in the manual that came with the machine. If you still can't find it, you can call the manufacturer or the vendor who sold it to you.

That being said, I'd be very surprised if you machine cannot run on the higher voltage.

Note that I stayed in the Parque Central Hotel (legally) in Havana in 2002. The voltage was double the U.S. voltage (U.S. voltage is the same as Canadian). I took my F&P CPAP from 1999, and it worked just fine. I did need an adapter, as this hotel - which was a Spanish hotel at the time - has the same electric sockets that are found in Spain.

[Hang Fire]

Resmed S8 Elite

From ResMed's specification sheet -

The S8 Series CPAP machines operate automatically between 110v and 240v AC. When traveling either inside or outside the USA, there are no switches to switch or fuses to change. The machine will automatically sense what voltage is needed and set itself to run on that power.

I have used ResMed in Europe, S.A. and India without any problem. I take a plug adapter kit, but a voltage adapter is not needed. From your hotel information, it looks like you won't need a plug adapter. You are ready to go.

That being said, I'd be very surprised if you machine cannot run on the higher voltage.

Why do you feel compelled to answer when you don't know the answer?

[My_Dream]

Thanks for the reply D.H.

At the end of the cord closest to the machine one side states 120V the other 240V. On the bottom of the machine it states AC; 100-240V 50/60hz, 110V 400hz, 2.5A DC: 12V, 2.5A.

I'm not electrical savvy so I need to ask as I can't go one day without this machine due to severe sleep apnea and regardless of the cost of the replacement, I've gotten comfortable not having to stop breathing many times during the night.

Conclusion,

Are these my three options?

Do I need an adaptor and place it over the 110 Volt plug and plug it into the hotel 220 receptacle and the machine adjusts the voltage automatically?

Do I need a voltage converter that steps down from 220 to 110 and I plug my machine into it?

Do I bring an 110 volt extension cord and plug into the bathroom 110 v to the CPAP machine?

Thanks

[palerider]

That being said, I'd be very surprised if you machine cannot run on the higher voltage.

Why do you feel compelled to answer when you don't know the answer?

who can decipher the behavior of an idiot?

[palerider]

Thanks for the reply .

At the end of the cord closest to the machine one side states 120V the other 240V. On the bottom of the machine it states AC; 100-240V 50/60hz, 110V 400hz, 2.5A DC: 12V, 2.5A.

I'm not electrical savvy so I need to ask as I can't go one day without this machine due to severe sleep apnea and regardless of the cost of the replacement, I've gotten comfortable not having to stop breathing many times during the night.

Conclusion,

Are these my three options?

Do I need an adaptor and place it over the 110 Volt plug and plug it into the hotel 220 receptacle and the machine adjusts the voltage automatically?

Do I need a voltage converter that steps down from 220 to 110 and I plug my machine into it?

Do I bring an 110 volt extension cord and plug into the bathroom 110 v to the CPAP machine?

Thanks

just plug it into the wall in the bedroom... read the hotel's information, it says the plug will fit and your machine says it doesn't care about the voltage.

[My_Dream]

Thanks for the replies Hang Fire and palerider.

Ok, so it look as though all the options I've picked will work, but I best off to bring a 110 volt extension cord and plug into the bathroom 110 v to the CPAP machine?


I figured if I purchased a 220 to 110 adaptor and placed it on the end of the cpap cord I could plug it into the receptacle beside the bed, but that would mean it's working off of 220V.

[Guest]

This is from your first post at the very bottom..

ADAPTERS
Do not confuse adapters and converters, an plug adapter do not convert voltage; it simply allows an electrical device from one country to be physically plugged into the electrical outlets of another country.
As mention above, the lectrical outlets are designed to take both North American-style flat-prongs (types A or B) and European-style round-prongs (Type C). If the electrical plug of your device is different from these, then you'll need an adapter. Here are some examples:
No adapter needed for travelers from:
Canada, USA, Mexico, France, Spain (if type C or F plug), Germany, Argentina (if type C plug), Venezuela, Colombia, Chile (if type C), Netherlands, Peru, Panama, Brazil (if type C)

But for further questions I would contact the hotel directly as I doubt there have been many travelers from this forum who have been there as of yet. It would be nice to learn if they have distilled water available in Cuba.

[Goofproof]

Thanks for the replies Hang Fire and palerider.

Ok, so it look as though all the options I've picked will work, but I best off to bring a 110 volt extension cord and plug into the bathroom 110 v to the CPAP machine?


I figured if I purchased a 220 to 110 adaptor and placed it on the end of the cpap cord I could plug it into the receptacle beside the bed, but that would mean it's working off of 220V.

I'd just take D.H. with me, he knows everything, you might need a guide or a mule. Jim

He's also good at Google.

[Hose_Head]

I traveled to Cuba in 2007. That was before I started cpap so I have no experience with a cpap there.

My suggestion is that you follow Pale Rider's advice. But I'd also recommend you take an extension cord with you - it's always a good idea to do so (you never know how far those outlets will be from the bed).

Also, the tap-water in the hotel I stayed at (5-star, Spanish run resort) was not safe to drink. They provided ample bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth. Use the bottled water for your humidifier (if you decide to take it with you). And take care not to get the traveler's trots.

Above all, enjoy your trip. Cuba is my favorite Caribbean destination.

[palerider]

Thanks for the replies Hang Fire and palerider.

Ok, so it look as though all the options I've picked will work, but I best off to bring a 110 volt extension cord and plug into the bathroom 110 v to the CPAP machine?.

please pay attention:
take cpap to cuba.
plug cpap into wall outlet by bed.
sleep.

[Guest]

Guest
I sent an email to the hotel and they sent me the link that I provided in this link so we're back to square one.

Hose_Head
So Paleriders advice is to purchase a 220-110V adapter to insert over the 110V cpap plug end and plug the cpap into the 220V receptacle beside the bed. When the cpap turns on, it will automatically know that it's receiving 220V and switch over?
I will also bring an extension cord as a back up. I guess I can always try to plug it into a 220 at home as I'd rather it blow before I go so I can deal with it before going.

Palerider.

Thanks.

I can't seem to find the "thanks" button in the posts, I guess this forum doesn't have them?

[Julie]

If the time comes that we need buttons to say thank you because we're either too lazy or stupid to do it, then I think you'll have bigger problems to deal with than a button.

[D.H.]

[

That being said, I'd be very surprised if you machine cannot run on the higher voltage.

Why do you feel compelled to answer when you don't know the answer?

The reason is because I really don't think that there are an CPAPs on the market mow (or at any time recently) that are not dual-voltage! Since I was not 100% certain, I did tell the person to check.

BTW, does anybody out there currently have a CPAP that is not dual-voltage?

[palerider]

Guest
I sent an email to the hotel and they sent me the link that I provided in this link so we're back to square one.

Hose_Head
So Paleriders advice is to purchase a 220-110V adapter to insert over the 110V cpap plug end and plug the cpap into the 220V receptacle beside the bed. When the cpap turns on, it will automatically know that it's receiving 220V and switch over?
I will also bring an extension cord as a back up. I guess I can always try to plug it into a 220 at home as I'd rather it blow before I go so I can deal with it before going.

no, that's not paleriders advice, palerider doesn't know how to say it any differently than he did.

TAKE THE CPAP YOU HAVE,
PLUG IT DIRECTLY INTO THE WALL,
DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING.

now, since you seem to be unable to READ and UNDERSTAND anything that you've been repeatedly told, by us and the hotel, palerider will now give up in frustration.

don't stick any forks in the outlets in cuba.