Second consecutive Remstar Auto that won't run

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:18 pm

It is getting very hard for me to take this CPAP CRAP seriously. I now have ANOTHER Remstar Auto that crashes after a few minutes with an error 77 this time. This one would blow my eyeballs out if I didn't open my mouth it must be running totally unregulated. No matter what it says on the screen it is roaring. The tech just put his thumb over the outlet and says oh yeah it's working OK.

And of course there will be no remedy available until Monday since this really important medical equipment is only serviced 9-6 Monday through Friday What a joke!!

TerryB

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:25 pm

You are in need of a real DME, maybe they should get a new one out of the box, it sounds like he reselling rebuilds.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:49 pm

TerryB wrote:And of course there will be no remedy available until Monday since this really important medical equipment is only serviced 9-6 Monday through Friday What a joke!!

TerryB, sorry to hear you're having all these problems. Your DME's not doing too well by you. I think I'd be inclined to call the physician's office, even if it's an answering service and leave a message for him to rattle the DME pronto because you're suffering without treatment due the DME's negligence! Sure can't make things any worse for you. Of course, you could also drive over to Missouri City and pick up your stuff directly . . . (from cpap.com, of course)

BTW, I used to live down there, around Stafford and Alief. Born in Temple. Still have lots of relatives there.

Hope things get better for you.

Regards,
Bill

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:24 pm

Terry, please don't blame the Remstar auto - these things just don't "break" that easily.

Who is setting these machines up for you? The DME or are they being shipped from somewhere else?

Did the DME check the pressure setting or just hold his hand over it?

What are the settings? They should be within 2 or 3 above and below your prescription.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 2:49 am

I wouldn't accept any machine unless it was brand new in the box. How would you like to get a machine that maybe someone had TB. Sounds like to me your DME is doing the bad machine shuffle with you.

If I were you, I'd take copies of the paperwork given on both the machines you have gotten so far then go to cpap.com buy the machine on-line, then bill the insurance for it and include the copies of the 2 untested duds they tried to pawn off on you by having you use their DME.

Check the Number of hours on the machine you were given, as you plug it in it will flash with the total motor hours on the machine. They cannot reset the total hours on a machine without pulling the litium battery on the system board.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 6:51 am

Snoredog wrote: They cannot reset the total hours on a machine without pulling the litium battery on the system board.

You're assuming a crappy DME like this one wouldn't actually stoop to reseting the memory.

There is NO WAY this DME would be able to tell if the machine is working properly by putting his thumb over the outlet... unless maybe he is the super hero "Manometer Man!"

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:42 am

Both of the Autos showed 00000 as the first number after the display test went off. The first duff one was blowing very anemicly and then shut down with error 083 and this one is blowing full on like a hair dryer (I couldn't exhale against it ) then it shuts down with a 077 error.

I wish I had the Remstar Plus back now, even if it was dumber then a rock it ran anyway.

I'll give the Doc. a call and see if she can help.

Thanks all,

TerryB

NightTrain · Post by **NightTrain** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:00 pm

I could see something like this happening if one; you had plugged the unit into a 220 v air conditioner outlet or possibly had water syphon into the unit from an independent humidifier sitting above the cpap unit. I believe the set of zero's you are seeing are showing "hours used". That is the normal display after the test display is complete. Did you try resetting the machine yourself? It might do the trick as long as the two longshot examples above don't apply. Good luck!

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TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:32 pm

Nighttrain,
The zeros were in answer to a question about time from above. Neither machine showed time at startup. All I did to start either machine was to plug in to US standard 115V outlet and just put on the mask. Both Autos atarted up automaticly from the mask being on. They ran for about 30 seconds one very weakly and the other exceptionally strong before shutdown with an 083 (weakone) and 077 (huricane version). Since I have the clinician manual, I tried changing to straight CPAP mode at my 12 CM setting with no change in operation.

TerryB

I'm an Electrical Engineer and sorely tempted to open one up, but know I'll be better of in the long run to stiffle my couriosity.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 10:28 pm

I'm an Electrical Engineer and sorely tempted to open one up, but know I'll be better of in the long run to stiffle my couriosity.

Oh ya. Stifle that curiosity. You don't want to own a broken machine.

I think I would find a different supplier. It's more apt to be a DME problem than an equipment problem. The Remstar auto is a very good machine.

Flower51Terry · Post by **Flower51Terry** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:44 am

I agree change dmes if possible or talk to the manager of the company and explain what is going on...could be an incompetent poorly trained dme. My remstar auto w/cflex has been a pleasure from day one...Anytime its felt too strong of an air current, I've pushed my ramp button so it'd slow down some and come back more gradually and its been fine.
Buenos noches, Terry

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:58 am

I could see something like this happening if one; you had plugged the unit into a 220 v air conditioner outlet

Actually you can plug this machine into a 220V outlet provided you have the proper adapter for it. It is meant to be able to run over in Great Britain and Europe where the standard is 220V. Therefore the 220V would not have adversely affected it's operation.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 2:52 am

In Aust I ran my US Remstar AUTO on 240 VAC for 5 months before switching to other machines.

In fact all the xPAPs in my museum (15) originated in the US and every last one of them runs 100% as normal on 240v. The oldest is a PB318 with one of the original vaccume cleaner style motors & it runs fine on 240vac. I also have a PB CloudNine AUTO (same mechanical insides as the PB318) and it runs fine on 240vac.

The only exception is a collection of H/Hs that require 115 & I run them (when testing) off a stepdown transformer. (HC100, HC150, + a ResMed Humidaire).

My regular HC150 has been running this way for months. Just for the hell of it I sometimes revert these xPAPs back to 115 VAC - they all take it in their stride.

Summary:

220vac really has nothing to do with these Remstar AUTO problems.

Cheers DSM

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:21 am

TerryB,

If you have the clinician's manual, there's probably a section in there called "Device Usage and Patient Compliance" (it's on Page 7 in the Pro 2 manual). It says that the "Total Operation Time" appears for a few seconds when the power cord is plugged in and cannot be reset to zero. This includes setup and testing time. When I got my new Pro 2, there was less than 20 hours in this setting.....I'm thinking it was about 17 or 18. You might want to check out the machine and see if it's a new one or not. The "compliance" hours can be reset (like a "trip meter") but the TOTAL can't......maybe they're trying to stick you with used or refurbed equipment. From what you've reported, their operation seems to be VERY suspicious.

If I were you, I'd desperately try to get out of any kind of deal you may have with THAT DME and buy online from CPAP.COM.

Best wishes,

Den

NightTrain · Post by **NightTrain** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:49 am

No doubt there is a problem with the machine. And yes I agree that 240 vac has nothing to do with it, the manual spec is 100-240 VAC... I'll stick to troubleshooting computers

From a trouble shooting angle I would see if turning off the "Alert tone and Auto-Off" feature off would change anything. I have seen threads noting problems with certain masks requiring the user to jump through hoops to successfully start the machine in auto mode. At any rate I'm with the majority and would also highly recommend cpap.com for your purchases. Good luck!

Mask

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Second consecutive Remstar Auto that won't run

Second consecutive Remstar Auto that won't run

Re: Second consecutive Remstar Auto that won't run