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I'm concerned that replacing my 6' hose with a 10' hose (to get my bipap off my night table and onto floor to help reduce the noise), and adding a an in-line bacteria filter might decrease the pressures at my mask. So, I'm shopping for a manometer. Appreciate any suggestions as to accuracy and ease of use of different models out there. I like the Respironics Digital Manometer but costs a whopping $350 new. Also considering the Tiara Medical Systems Handheld CPAP Manometer for $24.95 http://www.cpapplus.com/Miscellaneous/H ... meter.html. Thanks in advance for your help.

The Fisher and Paykel HC224 Water Column CPAP Manometer is a simple but very accurate manometer. The water level in this picture is not correct.

Sleepy55 wrote: I like the Respironics Digital Manometer but costs a whopping $350 new. Also considering the Tiara Medical Systems Handheld CPAP Manometer for $24.95 http://www.cpapplus.com/Miscellaneous/H ... meter.html. Thanks in advance for your help.

The digital would be nice but cost inefective. The one you listed is basically useless. (not correct) use one that has water in like the F & P. Jim

or you could build one. http://www.rverscorner.com/manometer.html Jim

Being frugal, i came up with a very simple way to measure pressure.

Attach or hold a ruler to bottom of hose.
Immerse it into a container of water- turn on machine- about 6 inches and very slowly raise until air starts escaping.
Look at ruler and you have your pressure.

works for moi lots cheaper than commercial ones.

Sleepy55 wrote:I'm concerned that replacing my 6' hose with a 10' hose (to get my bipap off my night table and onto floor to help reduce the noise), and adding a an in-line bacteria filter might decrease the pressures at my mask. So, I'm shopping for a manometer. Appreciate any suggestions as to accuracy and ease of use of different models out there. I like the Respironics Digital Manometer but costs a whopping $350 new. Also considering the Tiara Medical Systems Handheld CPAP Manometer for $24.95 http://www.cpapplus.com/Miscellaneous/H ... meter.html. Thanks in advance for your help.

Sleepy55, I am pretty sure increasing your hose length from 6' to 10' will not cause any pressure drop at the mask, that you would be able to measure even with a manometer. However, if you use any adaptive automated mode such Auto mode of M-series, the algorithm could behave differently for the two tube lengths because of the way pressure differences will be detected at the machine. Exhale pressure reliefs methods like cflex and aflex will be a bit more pronounced with the longer tube.

I have no idea about the effect of the bacteria filter, but my guess is that wont affect the pressure. much either.

In both cases the effects, however small, will be higher if your pressure is closer to 4cm than 12cm, IMO.

If you really feel like measuring the pressure, would you like to make a very accurate manometer at home, for almost no cost? I have a design, which I have not posted yet. If you request it, I shall make a few photos and post it.

Thanks to everyone for the quick and useful replies. I'm using a Respironics Bipap S/T. When using the backup rate, there is no biflex mode. I've read on other posts that the bacteria filters do cause a 1/2 to 1cm drop in pressure.

Feeling_Better, I'm very interested in looking at your design for a home built manometer. Pls post pics & instructions.
TomJax, I'm not sure I can follow your instructions without pics. Any chance you can post some?

Even if I decide not to build one, others on this forum will benefit from your willingness to share your designs.

Thanks in advance.

would you like to make a very accurate manometer at home, for almost no cost?

I'm sure many of us would be interested! Please post instructions and pix!

Brenda

Do you plan on breathing through the bacteria filter when you are not using your machine? If not why waste the time and money screwing with the patient air circuit. Unless you know someone sick and dieing, is using your machine. The filters are made for machines that are used by multiable users, but the people who run sleep labs don't use them either. The germs in our houses are ours, we live at peace with them. Jim

Goofproof, considering I purchased my bipap on an online auction in "slightly used but sanitized" condition, I've always used it with the bacteria filter and will continue to do so.

Sleepy55 wrote:I'm concerned that replacing my 6' hose with a 10' hose (to get my bipap off my night table and onto floor to help reduce the noise), and adding a an in-line bacteria filter might decrease the pressures at my mask. So, I'm shopping for a manometer. Appreciate any suggestions as to accuracy and ease of use of different models out there. I like the Respironics Digital Manometer but costs a whopping $350 new. Also considering the Tiara Medical Systems Handheld CPAP Manometer for $24.95 http://www.cpapplus.com/Miscellaneous/H ... meter.html. Thanks in advance for your help.

Sleppy55


Those handheld models are at best an approximate guess. The ball bounces on a column of air. You have to be pretty well upright to view it

If you want to get serious about what you read & how you read it, buy this one - https://www.cpap.com/productpage/guage- ... ssure.html

it is very accurate & you can read it from any angle (such as lying down with your mask on which is really the position you want to test it from). The water filled home built models are really only good for saving the spend on the above one. They still have the problem of setting them up and reading them from a practical position.

Good luck

DSM

PS yes you can bet any amount of dollars that your 10ft hose and that filter are dropping your pressure anything up to 2 CMs depending on the actual pressure the machine is at as you breathe.

dsm wrote:PS yes you can bet any amount of dollars that your 10ft hose and that filter are dropping your pressure anything up to 2 CMs depending on the actual pressure the machine is at as you breathe.

I think a more appropriate measure would be what the additional drop is when going from 6' hose to 10' hose ( and the second item of the filter).

BTW, I have been too busy to post my home made manometer design. I shall try to do that soon. I will also show how to measure exactly what that drop would be for your equipment, without having to lie down

I have just posted my how to DYI manometer:
viewtopic/t34949/How-to-build-your-own- ... -home.html

Just thought I would revive this old thread (and it's sister thread) to ask if anyone is using a manometer to double check the actual pressure their machine is putting out.

StuUnderPressure wrote:Just thought I would revive this old thread (and it's sister thread) to ask if anyone is using a manometer to double check the actual pressure their machine is putting out.

Yep. For some years I used the method described by "tomjax" and then in September of 2011, I broke down and bought the gauge manometer sold by CPAP(dot)COM. After checking all of my (10) machines, I haven't used it much, but it's a comfort to know that I have it.
I did discover that one of my machines was putting out about one centimeter more than the setting and another was about 2.5 cm. more output than the setting.

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