How many people have a back up unit?

[Sleepysuz]

What is the average life expectancy of an XPAP? I read about people having back up units. Wondered if I should get one.
If so do people usually get a used unit or a cheap brick? Some posts mention ones with a lot of hours on them not having a big resale value. Is there a number like on a car where the unit has high mileage? What are a lot of hours? What might break down?

A while back I got a back up laptop for travel after I was advised that carrying it around made it more susceptible to breaking down. Would that apply to my APAP too?

[Franky]

I have an OLD machine I keep shoved back in the depths of the closet just in cause.....but I'm just that type person with a back up plan for most things lol.

[pratzert]

I have a back-up machine that I use for travel.

It's so much easier to take the old machine with me instead of having to unplug and pack up the machine I use at home all the time.

It's my original machine that I replaced with my newer S9 Autoset after my 5 years passed allowing me to get another machine.

[herefishy]

I have a backup, it's a good plan. High mileage brick is fine as long as it works - should be able to get one under a $100 with less than 10,000 hours. Mine has 16,000. Just try before you buy.

[Krelvin]

My backup is the previous machine. Now that I got a new S9, my backup is now my previous M-Series. It has over 16k hours on it, but it works, it is clean and safely stored in its bag with a spare hose and mask so that if I need it I just take it out, plug it in and can use it. Good for travel or if for some reason my S9 stops working for some reason.

Note, 6 years ago, but then current 2yr old machine died. Just stopped working when I went to use it that night. I had no backup. It took more than a week to get a new machine and no backup machines were available. The worst week of my life as I had come to depend on the treatment to we a awake living person. By the end of the week I was completely wiped out, exhausted and having trouble at work.

Never again. After I got my new machine, I paid to finally get the older machine fixed and used it as a backup until I got my new machine a month or so ago.

[Hawthorne]

I would not want to be without a backup. I keep my previous machine for that.

[Wulfman...]

Backup machine(s)? Look in my profile (below).


Den

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[pratzert]

Backup machine(s)? Look in my profile (below).
Den
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Den.... Wow... looks like you could open a CPAP store with all those machines !

[archangle]

I have backups. Some are craigslist buys, one is my ancient brick first machine that I use to dry hoses after watching.

I suggest watching craigslist for good buys. You'll see a lot of old junk machines at way too high prices, but I see a good buy locally at least once a month or so. If you don't really need one right away, you can afford to wait and watch for a good machine at a good price.

[Wulfman...]

Backup machine(s)? Look in my profile (below).
Den
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Den.... Wow... looks like you could open a CPAP store with all those machines !

Not till I'm dead.......

I liked that generation of machines (the ones I started with) and wish to continue to use them for as long as I'm alive and/or on therapy. The vast majority of them were virtually "unused" (or brand new) when I acquired them. Three of them had "some" hours on them but nowhere near "too many" hours. All of them are very quiet and usable. I was lucky enough to find them at very reasonable prices and overall I have a fairly small (total) "investment" in them. They are fully data capable (with the technology of their time) and do what I need them to do......blow air and tell me how my therapy is working.


Den

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[englandsf]

Just bought a twin S9 system here for just over $500 with low hours and a new P10. Now I have 2 of everything.

[eleong2]

I have a Transend EZEX CPAP machine as my backup and travel machine. I find it kind of a hassle to take my PRS1 for camping or vacation travel. I have batteries for both my CPAP machines and the PRS1 battery is quite a bit heavier than the one for my Transcend, so I travel with the Transcend. The battery for the PRS1 is in case of power outages.

[archangle]

BTW, watching CL for a used machine is a good way to try out a different machine or an upgrade. If you are interested in a later model or a different machine, keep watching until you find one that looks good at the right price. That's how I got from Legacy Respironics to M series to PRS1. Then I saw an S9 AutoSet at a good price and decided I like it better.

[Captain_Midnight]

SleepySuz asks a good question.

Many apneic patients hereabouts replace their primary machines before they give up the ghost, and voila the oldie is the new backup/travel machine.

Mine are identical PR ones, that way I can use the same electrical gear and other attachments; and I also get the same results at the same settings.

I have never needed to use the backup in place of the primary; however, I did have the backup start to go south once while traveling.

(I also keep a couple of backup batteries, but that's a different story.)

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[palerider]

What is the average life expectancy of an XPAP? I read about people having back up units. Wondered if I should get one.
If so do people usually get a used unit or a cheap brick? Some posts mention ones with a lot of hours on them not having a big resale value. Is there a number like on a car where the unit has high mileage? What are a lot of hours? What might break down?

A while back I got a back up laptop for travel after I was advised that carrying it around made it more susceptible to breaking down. Would that apply to my APAP too?

I've got a spare vpap auto, (currently being used by bedmate) and a couple lesser machines sitting around.