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HDM Z1 Have a fault 33 code. Anyone know how to fix it?

Mine just displayed Fault 33 too! It was wroking fine pre-COVID the last time I used it.

I noticed the unit lsto all of it's settings - I got a Fault 21 upon boot up, then Fault 33 when I try to use it.

Do these units have a Time Bomb... ha ha, or perhaps the internal CMOS battery died?

Very odd a working unit would die while sitting in storage for a year.

My unit is pretty lightly used too - I only use it for business travel, so perhaps 2 - 3 times a month for 4 - 5 years.

I had not used my Z1 since last year February. I got fault 33 when I tried to use it this weekend.
Is there a fix for it or do I need to take it back to my supplier?
Thanks for any help.

Udaman wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 23, 2021 11:32 am

I had not used my Z1 since last year February. I got fault 33 when I tried to use it this weekend.
Is there a fix for it or do I need to take it back to my supplier?
Thanks for any help.

did you read the thread where pugsy linked a website for manuals?

I, too, have a Z1 that I bought in 2015 and now has a Fault 33. Like the other posters I also have not used it much. I pulled it out of the closet for a trip two weeks ago and thank goodness I tested it before our trip. I would have been stuck in the hotel with no CPAP. I bit the bullet and packed my Airsense 10.

I have referred to the manual and all it says is to contact your provider or HDM. Does anyone know how to fix it themself? If you have contacted your provider or HDM, what has been your experience? What did they do? Do you have to ship it back?

I would hate to learn that I have an $800 doorstop.

It sounds like the internal clock battery has expired.
Battery life is generally longer than warranty.
If this is the case, "someone" needs to open it up and find/replace the button cell.
If not, then you have a doorstop.
Maybe someone has done this already (or is about to)..
Please share, so that others can hack likewise.

Or someone needs to get their hot little hands on a REPAIR/SHOP manual.

It might be a good idea to contact HDM and ask them for advice.
I have a Z2 Auto that I used for some time while waiting for my Resmed repair and replacement.
They were pretty responsive when I had questions.

I have the same problem. Last time I used it was approx Feb of this year. It sat on the shelf for 6 months. Now it has fault code 33. Based on the reports in this site, it seems like there is a Kill Date-Switch built into in the unit. That is to say, the fact that all of these units have the same symptoms and were all working fine until a certain date/time passed, is strange. I contacted HDM to reprogram my unit and they said it needed repair, (which is not what the fault code indicates). They immediately wanted to sell me a new unit without being willing to reprogram this one, or even give me instructions how to do it. (I got instructions elsewhere thanks). In my opinion:
1) HDM will not stand behind their product
2) HDM customer service is not being honest with customers
3) HDM has built a unit with a planned expiration date.

Since I paid almost 600 dollars for this unit, I am very frustrated. Hence the need for me to seek out this board, and post/vent.

Any lawyers out there that have an opinion on whether or not the kill-switch in these units is legal? If its not, how about a class action lawsuit? These people are SCUM.

Thanks,
JohnnyU

Hello fellows,

I am sending this post from my residence in Brazil. Here I have an additional difficulty to solve any issues because I could not find any technical assistance for my Z1 CPAP.

I use this product as a backup one, specially for travelling purposes and it stopped functioning - presenting both the FAULT 21 and FAULT 33 messages.

Due to this lack of specialized technical assistance here I have done an emergency repair and, IT WORKS !!! So, if you do not have an alternate option you may also try this too. Please, NO GUARANTEES !!! But it worked for me here.

It appears that all of these devices are going to have this problem in any future time. Probably within some years, despite an appropriate use. The root cause is that it has a battery inside soldered in the mainboard of the equipment. This battery will end its life and without it the device loses its configurations (date, time and pressure) and after that, it starts to present the FAULT messages 21 and 33.

For those familiarized with computers, it is something similar to the battery used for CMOS, that charges de BIOS chipset even without power. None of the Equipment manuals will tell you this. I have read them both printed and in the internet. The reason may be because you will need to ask for help in disassembling, removing the used battery and replacing (soldering iron and skills required !).

So, if you are in a desperate situation such as I were, here follows the guidance.

First, you will need to buy the battery - its a coin type (smaller than the usual ones). Its code is BR1225 and it is a special one, for soldering. Here in Brazil it was difficult to find. I found it in the web for aprox. USD 15 !

Then you will have to find an electronic technician to assist you. Disassembling the equipment is a little rough, but it is the easy part. Be careful because some components may brake. Special care on the position of a transparent tube of small diameter (difficult to assemble afterwards, the use of an adhesive tape will help)

After that, locate the battery and test it. If it is dead (such as mine was) proceed.

Ask the technician to remove it carefully using a soldering iron. Then, ask him to replace with the new one.

Reassembly the equipment carefully.

By the time you try to use again the equipment will work even eventually repeating the FAULT 33 message (the FAULT 21 disappeared). IMPORTANT to start it in a RAMP before putting your mask on !!

I have not been able to successfully upgrade its firmware and set its date/time yet. Probably after that the FAULT 33 will also disappear.

Since it is working I am not going to try additional steps by now.

I hope it can give you all some help. As I said, any HDM technical assistance should be able to support you on this. And it should be a cheap repair (more complete than the instructions above). Unfortunately I have not found any specialized assistance nearby.

Regards,

CastroBrasil wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 15, 2021 6:36 pm

Hello fellows,

thank you very much for this information. i'm sure someone will google that code and find their way her to your fix.

again, thanks!

Please delete my post because I posted too soon. I still have the error.

Greg Corning wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 04, 2022 4:52 pm

Please delete my post because I posted too soon. I still have the error.

Greg, this IS your first post.
"Still have the error" . . . From WHEN?
Are you OK?

@CastroBrazil

Thank you soo much for your information. I basically have a doorstop now, so i want to open mine up and try to change the battery. I unscrewed the 5 screws on the back of the unit, but it seems to be stuck together. Did you run into something similar? It seems like the two halve are almost glued together. Before i use force, i wanted to see if it came apart a bit easier.

thanks for your help

Look for more screws--sometimes they hide them under labels.
Failing that, find tools dedicated to prying cases apart.
Worst case: think cracked vs useless--grit your teeth, and pry/wiggle like you mean it.