problem with my S8 Escape.

[quotmastr]

Hi all. New to the site and having a problem.

I have an S8 Escape that has been used for almost 3 years.I am 99.5% comliant in that time. I love this machine and now It is broken and I am broken-hearted. The Start/Stop switch is broken. When I push it to start the machine, it stays pushed in. I can use the tips of my fingernails (unless I trim them too far) to grip the sides of the button and pull it all the way out. It comes out in my hand. I can then reinsert it and it stays in its normal position until I push on it again. the problem with leaving it in the "not-normal-push-in-state is that it will periodically turn the CPAP off in the middle of the night. I am then left trying to suck air thru 6 foot of hose, the humidifier, the CPAP machine and the filters...It wakes me up. My DME fraudulently billed my NEW insurance company for a full purchase of this CPAP 16 months after the CPAP had been purchased by my "pevious" insurance company so, needless to say, my DME is now my "old DME" and they are being no help as far as repairing the CPAP. I am in the process of switching to a "new DME" company and my current insurance company is saying that they paid for a CPAP for me 1 1/2 years ago so they wont pay for another new one for another 1 1/2 years. They say that I have to contact the DME that sold me the CPAP to get it fixed and as I stated before, they aren't being cooperative. Must have something to do with the complaint I filed with the state insurance commissioner.

Anyway....can anyone help me?

Does anyone know if I can just replace the start/stop switch?

Has anyone run into this problem with their S8?

thanks

Robert

[spacetoast]

Have you tried taking it apart to see if you can pull the switch out of the casing of the machine? You might be able to get it to work normally outside of the case. It won't look pretty, but it might hold you over.

If you get it out and it still doesn't work, you can try contacting the manufacturer to see if they sell replacement parts like that. Heck, if it is a standard type of switch, they might have one at Radio Shack. You might have to do some soldering, though.

[billbolton]

Have you tried taking it apart to see if you can pull the switch out of the casing of the machine?

User servicing is a VERY BAD idea for any electronic equipment which delivers theraputic treatment.

In any case, the switch is not a separate part and is not individually replacable..... it is integrated with the Printed Circuit Board in the S8 (as are most switches, on most electronic equipment now a days). The S8 needs to be serviced by Resmed.

[spacetoast]

User servicing is a VERY BAD idea for any electronic equipment which delivers theraputic treatment.

Well, that depends on your comfort level with taking things apart and putting them back together. If you don't think you can do it, by all means, don't.

[billbolton]

Well, that depends on your comfort level with taking things apart and putting them back together.

For calibrated theraputic equipment user, servicing is a VERY BAD idea under any circumstances.

[GumbyCT]

Hi all. New to the site and having a problem.

I have an S8 Escape that has been used for almost 3 years.I am 99.5% comliant in that time. I love this machine and now It is broken and I am broken-hearted. The Start/Stop switch is broken. When I push it to start the machine, it stays pushed in. I can use the tips of my fingernails (unless I trim them too far) to grip the sides of the button and pull it all the way out. It comes out in my hand. I can then reinsert it and it stays in its normal position until I push on it again. the problem with leaving it in the "not-normal-push-in-state is that it will periodically turn the CPAP off in the middle of the night. I am then left trying to suck air thru 6 foot of hose, the humidifier, the CPAP machine and the filters...It wakes me up. My DME fraudulently billed my NEW insurance company for a full purchase of this CPAP 16 months after the CPAP had been purchased by my "pevious" insurance company so, needless to say, my DME is now my "old DME" and they are being no help as far as repairing the CPAP. I am in the process of switching to a "new DME" company and my current insurance company is saying that they paid for a CPAP for me 1 1/2 years ago so they wont pay for another new one for another 1 1/2 years. They say that I have to contact the DME that sold me the CPAP to get it fixed and as I stated before, they aren't being cooperative. Must have something to do with the complaint I filed with the state insurance commissioner.

Anyway....can anyone help me?

Does anyone know if I can just replace the start/stop switch?

Has anyone run into this problem with their S8?

thanks

Robert

Resmed won't talk to you OR sell YOU parts. You MUST go thru a DME to get this serviced, period. The DME should also provide you a loaner while this unit is out for repair. Talk to your new DME, they know the process. Also talk to your old DME.

If neither is willing to provide the service they are licensed to provide then it sounds like it's time for another complaint with the commissioner. Let them determine who is now responsible for the repair.

Keep us posted on how this turns out.

This is exactly the reason for everyone getting a backup machine - stuff happens. Time to check craigslist.

[quotmastr]

Thanks for the comments so far. Like I said, the old DME company won't even talk to me any more. They wouldn't even fax my prescription to the new company. They ignored the faxed request and then told the new DME company that they didn't have any of the info when they called. They aren't willing to do anything. The new company is bending over backwards to help me in any way they can. They gave me the impression that there was nothing they could do with the existing machine since it came from another DME 3 years ago.

The switch itself if perfectly fine. it is just the rubber button that there is a problem with. I wonder if that would make any difference with Resmed. Probably not. I imagine they have very strict blanket rules concerning ANY repair of a CPAP. If I start the CPAP and then take the time to work the rubber button back out, it won't shut off at all, it is just an inconvenient pain to have to do that every time I turn it on just so I can breath thru the whole night.

Thanks again.

[cpapqueen1]

just a thought....check your serial # to make sure your unit wasn't part of the recall (list on Resmed's website as to affected serial numbers).

[Wulfman]

How about plugging it into a surge protector strip that has a convenient (rocker-type) switch that's easy to turn on or off.
That way, you could just leave the CPAP machine switch in the On position and just turn it on or off with the surge strip.


Den

[quotmastr]

just a thought....check your serial # to make sure your unit wasn't part of the recall (list on Resmed's website as to affected serial numbers).

Thanks for the info...yet again, my old, crappy DME didn't bother to notify me about this. I checked the list and my CPAP IS affected by this recall. I'm not sure if it is too late to file under this recall or not. I didn't see any expiration date on the offer from Resmed, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they will still honor it. The recall was dated April of 2007.

Getting my machine replaced by ResMed for free would solve my problem. I will call them tomorrow.

[quotmastr]

How about plugging it into a surge protector strip that has a convenient (rocker-type) switch that's easy to turn on or off.
That way, you could just leave the CPAP machine switch in the On position and just turn it on or off with the surge strip.


Den

Thanks for the thought, Den, but with the S8 Escape, it is an electronic switch, not a mechanical switch. It therefore reverts to a power off status when power supply is severed and then reinstated.

[GumbyCT]

still have to thru - you guessed it - a DME!!!!
but hey go for it.

Worst they can say is no right.

[quotmastr]

still have to thru - you guessed it - a DME!!!!
but hey go for it.

Worst they can say is no right.

my thoughts EXACTLY...

[jules]

Get Resmed to tell you what DME to use if you have to push it that far.

[timbalionguy]

Here are some thoughts on what may be going on. I have seen most of these problems in my electronic servicing career. As mentioned earlier, this kind of repair should only be attempted yourself if you know darn sure what you are doing! I have been doing electronic repair for 30+ years and still occasionally mess things up.

Having never seen one of these machines 'in the flesh', I have no idea what the actual switch is. But the key word here is 'rubber'. This is probably the most frequently used button on this machine. A number of things could be happening here.

1. A mixture of body crud and room dust could be between the button and the plastic around the button. This can be cleaned by disassembly and alcohol. This problem and number 4 are the most common problems I have seen.

2. The rubber button is expanding. I have seen body oils attack rubber parts in such a way that they expand. You may or may not be able to deal with this kind of problem.

3. Elastomer failure. This problem has the same cause as problem 2, but instead of the button expanding, there is an elasticity change in the rubber material that makes it not want to pop back. Only solution here is a new part. It is even possible the rubber disintegrated underneath the bezel.

4. Switch collapse. Certain types of push switches are prone to internal collapse. The actual switch is most likely underneath the rubber. When the mechanism collapses, the switch isn't as 'tall' as it normally is, or has lost it's 'snapThey may still work, but flaky as you describe.

You may be able to find a suitable replacement switch from a large parts house like Digi-Key, Mouser Electronics, Newark Electronics, etc. But I doubt you will be able to find a replacement rubber keycap from anyone but Respironics.