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Re: Remstar Auto no longer "auto on"
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:26 am
by biggziff
-SWS wrote:The auto-on feature relies on a sudden spike---a quick slope from no flow to typical peak flow. One possibility is air restriction on the intake side. I'd temporarily remove the air filter(s) and see if auto-on works once again. If so, you may need different filters. Dust impeding impeller rotation could conceivably dampen any zero-to-peak flow spike required by the auto-on feature as well. In that case an internal cleaning with compressed air may be necessary.
If the impeller can "free wheel" the required sudden flow spike is not dampened. If the impeller can no longer "free wheel" easily, that sudden flow spike becomes restricted. The flow sensor is at the front of the machine, but an unrestricted end-to-end flow-through path is still necessary for this feature to work.
ozij wrote:Because if one feature is nor longer responding to your breathing, who knows how the other features will respond - and what they will - or will not - respond to.
Agreed. Another possibility is firmware, control circuit execution, etc.
HEPA filter is about 2 months old, foam was cleaned 3 weeks ago, but I'll remove them and try again.
Called the DME and they said they send them back for an estimate then ask the insurance company if they're willing to pick up whatever tab there may be. They will give me a loaner while it's sent out.
Is there a pictorial online that shows one of these taken apart? I'm not against pulling this thing apart to clean it manually. God knows I've disassembled much more expensive gear....some of it remains that way!
Re: Remstar Auto no longer "auto on"
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:31 am
by -SWS
Here are some excellent pictures snapped and hosted by DSM:
http://www.internetage.com/cpapinfo/menu2.html
Re: Remstar Auto no longer "auto on"
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:50 am
by Wulfman
-SWS wrote:The auto-on feature relies on a sudden spike---a quick slope from no flow to typical peak flow. One possibility is air restriction on the intake side.
I'd temporarily remove the air filter(s) and see if auto-on works once again. If so, you may need different filters. Dust impeding impeller rotation could conceivably dampen any zero-to-peak flow spike required by the auto-on feature as well. In that case an internal cleaning with compressed air may be necessary.
If the impeller can "free wheel" the required sudden flow spike is not dampened. If the impeller can no longer "free wheel" easily, that sudden flow spike becomes restricted. The flow sensor is at the front of the machine, but an unrestricted end-to-end flow path is still necessary for this feature to work well.
ozij wrote:Because if one feature is nor longer responding to your breathing, who knows how the other features will respond - and what they will - or will not - respond to.
Agreed that another possibility is firmware, control-circuit execution, etc. And if the machine ends up being usable, it would be wise to verify pressure output with a manometer.
If you remove the air filters (and cap), try blowing into the air intake. I accidentally started one of mine that way once upon a time.
Or......just face it.....you're not as "windy" as you once were.
Den
Re: Remstar Auto no longer "auto on"
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:59 am
by Goofproof
Wulfman wrote: If you remove the air filters (and cap), try blowing into the air intake. I accidentally started one of mine that way once upon a time. Den
Am I reading this right, you gave your xPAP, mouth to mouth, and then it returned the favor, that too kinky! Jim
Moisture in the tube going to the flow sensor could be keeping it from starting or a bad flow sensor, but a bad flow sensor would probably trigger a error.
Re: Remstar Auto no longer "auto on"
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:06 am
by Wulfman
Goofproof wrote:Wulfman wrote: If you remove the air filters (and cap), try blowing into the air intake. I accidentally started one of mine that way once upon a time. Den
Am I reading this right, you gave your xPAP, mouth to mouth, and then it returned the favor, that too kinky! Jim
Moisture in the tube going to the flow sensor could be keeping it from starting or a bad flow sensor, but a bad flow sensor would probably trigger a error.
Well, it's been several years ago, but I was checking to see if there might be any dust that accumulated around the air intake......it didn't take much of a "blow" to start it. Kind of surprised me at the moment, till I thought about the mechanics of the sensors, etc. That was the last time I tried THAT.
Den
Re: Remstar Auto no longer "auto on"
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 3:49 pm
by biggziff
Thats the one I saw a while ago...thanks!
Re: Remstar Auto no longer "auto on" UPDATE
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:46 pm
by biggziff
Took the old (3 yrs old almost to the day at the time) Remstar Auto to the local DME. Woman there was pretty thourough. She used a manometer on it first and determined it was way out of calibration. Showing 8 cm on the display and pushing 10.7, so I was getting far more pressure than I required (my AHI stays around 1 with an average of 9 cm) That along with the auto start issue caused her to send it back to whomever and give me a brand new M Pro loaner. I have noticed that my AHI is up to 4.5 with the M, but she said she was required to set the starting pressure at 6 cm as per the original prescription. My old unit was set to start at 8 with a max of 12.
Now I wait to see if whomever she sent the old one to decides it's repairable or not. I like the form factor of the M better than the old unit, but the exhale reduction seems to work differently than the old unit.