OK to unplug machine every morning?

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:24 am

My RM VPAP III had a power on/off switch in the back just above the power cord. I can't find any power on/off switch on my RM VPAP Auto.

If I leave the VPAP Auto plugged in, it seems to continue to blow a little air, even though it isn't blowing out treatment pressure. Does it do that for cooling reasons, or something? If not, wouldn't that shorten the life of the motor and filter?

My main question is whether it is OK to unplug the machine each morning when I wake up and then put it in a drawer, or is there a reason to leave it plugged in all day? (I am not using any card/links/software yet, so that wouldn't be an issue, either way.)

I can't find anything in the manual to help me with the question, so maybe this is a pretty silly question to ask! Anyone have any thoughts?

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:51 am

Does it do that for cooling reasons, or something? If not, wouldn't that shorten the life of the motor and filter?

For drying reasons. A brilliant idea - I wish my machine did it.

O.

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:01 am

Thanks, ozij.

Please pardon my ignorance, but do you mean that it is for drying the hose and mask? or is it for in case any condensation occurred inside the machine?

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:08 am

I don't know either... I'm guessing: The machine for sure - in case humidity accumulated. The hose I would hope. The mask probably not, since they recommend washing it daily and air drying it.

O.

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:13 am

OK. Thanks again. That helps. And makes sense.

jnk

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:20 pm

If your worried about it, hook it to a surge protected grounded power switch and use that to disconnect it. Pluging and unpluging things wear out connectors, wear out something less costly than your life support equiptment. Jim

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:58 pm

Thanks, goofproof. Hadn't thought of that angle.

But on a related note, part of what "sparked" my question is that it appeared to me that the prongs literally sparked when I unplugged the machine's power cord from the wall this morning. (If so, so much for ResMed's position on the supposed safety of class II devices in the hospital setting!)

Bearded_One · Post by **Bearded_One** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:16 pm

Class II devices are not required to have non-sparking plugs.

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:02 pm

Thanks Bearded_One,

I guess, what I meant was to respond to the moderated chat transcript posted at another site in which a ResMed representative resonded to a question this way:

I was recently hospitalized overnight for a minor surgery. The hospital would not let me bring and use my own bilevel. They insisted on using one of theirs. Are hospital machines different in some way?

This is a common practice for hospitals, and I believe it is related to liability. Hospitals require all devices to have a hospital-grade, grounded electrical plug. They also require that all the equipment used in the hospital is electrically tested at least once/year. We have had problems selling to some hospitals that have not yet caught up to current standards. Our devices are electrically isolated (double insulated, double isolated) from the patient and therefore are not required to be grounded. In fact, they are not permitted to be grounded, as this would defeat the electrical safety design. So, I'm not sure what the reason is in your particular case, but if you ask them why and they say it's just policy, then it's a liability issue with untested equipment. If they say it's because the unit does not have a three-pronged plug, then they are ignorant of the fact that double insulated, and isolated (class II) devices are a suitable substitute for three-prong grounding. Don't feel picked on, we also have to fight this battle now and again.

I agree with the representative's point. But, if you want your machines to be accepted in hospitals, seems to me you'd want to at least put a durn power-off button on it so that it would be easy to take the load off the silly thing before you unplug it!

But I realize that my expectations can tend toward the, uh, nonstandard. And I just needed to vent. It's the little things I pout over--like a power on/off switch. More proof that I need a life!

Anyway, I think goofproof's suggestion solves most of my solvable issues.

Insomniyak · Post by **Insomniyak** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:25 pm

I was told by the DME that I should in fact unplug my Pro M during the day since it stays in stand-by mode. I do have it on a surge protector powr strip and I do use that to turn the power on and off. Makes sense to me that when something is off, it should be OFF.

Velbor · Post by **Velbor** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:56 pm

jnk wrote:If I leave the VPAP Auto plugged in, it seems to continue to blow a little air, even though it isn't blowing out treatment pressure. Does it do that for cooling reasons, or something? If not, wouldn't that shorten the life of the motor and filter?

The official answer from the H3i User Manual is:

"Some flow generators continue to blow air gently after you have stopped your treatment. This can continue for up to one hour to assist the heater plate in cooling. However, you can unplug the device from the power outlet at any time and allow the heater plate to cool without airflow."

But Ojiz' answer, I think, is more to the point: drying. Not so much for the hose, but for the machine. If water in the chamber is still heated, warm humid air may rise, move into the machine, and condense. The gentle airflow BOTH blows the moist air out of the machine, and helps to cool down the water in the chamber, to prevent condensation in the machine.

This is really a very nice ResMed design feature. It was also present in the S7 series and H2i humidifiers. Unless their integrated humidifier is attached, there is no gentle blowing.

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:28 pm

jnk wrote:But on a related note, part of what "sparked" my question is that it appeared to me that the prongs literally sparked when I unplugged the machine's power cord from the wall this morning.

Many parts of the world generally require switches on power outlet points to avoid this problem (which by the way is by no means limited to CPAP equipment)... the US generally does not do that. Go figure.

Cheers,

Bill

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:57 pm

jnk wrote:Thanks Bearded_One,

I guess, what I meant was to respond to the moderated chat transcript posted at another site in which a ResMed representative resonded to a question this way:

I was recently hospitalized overnight for a minor surgery. The hospital would not let me bring and use my own bilevel. They insisted on using one of theirs. Are hospital machines different in some way?

This is a common practice for hospitals, and I believe it is related to liability. Hospitals require all devices to have a hospital-grade, grounded electrical plug. They also require that all the equipment used in the hospital is electrically tested at least once/year. We have had problems selling to some hospitals that have not yet caught up to current standards. Our devices are electrically isolated (double insulated, double isolated) from the patient and therefore are not required to be grounded. In fact, they are not permitted to be grounded, as this would defeat the electrical safety design. So, I'm not sure what the reason is in your particular case, but if you ask them why and they say it's just policy, then it's a liability issue with untested equipment. If they say it's because the unit does not have a three-pronged plug, then they are ignorant of the fact that double insulated, and isolated (class II) devices are a suitable substitute for three-prong grounding. Don't feel picked on, we also have to fight this battle now and again.
I agree with the representative's point. But, if you want your machines to be accepted in hospitals, seems to me you'd want to at least put a durn power-off button on it so that it would be easy to take the load off the silly thing before you unplug it!

But I realize that my expectations can tend toward the, uh, nonstandard. And I just needed to vent. It's the little things I pout over--like a power on/off switch. More proof that I need a life!

Anyway, I think goofproof's suggestion solves most of my solvable issues.

And my reasoning about the grounding of the surge strip, it needs to be grounded to better stop surges in the line voltage.

Where I used to work, (Coal Mining) if a vendor came in working with a two prong power cord, we would cut the ends off their power tools. It's against mineing laws to use ungrounded electric tools. We got fined.... if we let it happen. (Also they were taking our jobs! ) Pay Back!!! Jim

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:12 am

Thanks, velbor.

Looks like I was reading the wrong manual. I didn't think to read the humidifier manual! I am sure there is a lesson in that somewhere for me. Once I'm on PAP therapy a little longer, maybe my thinking will be clear enough to figure out what that lesson is.

I never noticed the gentle blowing during the weeks I had the S7. Probably because I clicked off the machine's power switch as soon as I woke up. And maybe THAT's why ResMed didn't put a power-off switch on the S8--so guys like me would let the machine dry and the humidifier cool.

So all in all, I guess it's like Gates' boys like to say, 'it's not a "bug"; it's a "feature."'

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:50 pm

No power switch on your model, and it probably didn't come with the fire ext. either, that some of the Resmed's needed. (Due to power connector overheating) Jim

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OK to unplug machine every morning?

OK to unplug machine every morning?

Re: OK to unplug machine every morning?