A/C Adapter Replacement?

I'm on vacation on the west coast this week. Wouldn't you know it... I left my a/c adapter for my cpap behind in the hotel we stayed at night before last. I would have gone back to get it, but because we're driving up the coast that hotel is now a 9-hour drive away. I discovered it was missing and realized what I had done at about midnight last night when I went to go to bed, and we're in the middle of nowhere. Not even an Apria around here. I called the hotel to ask them to overnight the cord for me, but was told I'd have to wait until housekeeping got in this morning to see if they had found it while cleaning the room. UGH. What a hellacious night without CPAP. I only "slept" 5 hours. I didn't even want to sleep at all. The thought of an uncontrolled 100+ AHI is far too scary. I woke up twice half-asleep, scared out of my mind because I wasn't breathing and my half-asleep self didn't know how to start for a moment. The second time was it for me. I'm up now. This is only the second night in the 5+ years I've been on CPAP now that I have been completely unable to use it. It is MISERABLE.

Fortunately I'm traveling with a family member who can drive today, but in the meantime I want to cover my bases every way I can and make sure I have CPAP tonight! I'm heading up to Portland, OR where a CPAP-using friend thinks she has a cord for an M-Series Auto I can borrow, and I'm asking the hotel to overnight mine, as I said, but I was wondering - is it possible/safe to get a cord at Radio Shack? I was thinking these cords were something that couldn't just be bought from there, but if there's any chance that could work I'll stop by one today.

I'm not familiar with your xpap, but found this at cpap.com:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... upply.html

Good luck to you. Hope you get some good sleep soon.

If Radio Shack has an AC adaptor that will fit your machine I don't see why that would be a problem. Good luck. It's possible there is some "muscle memory" for the first few nights without CPAP where your AHI would not be so high as before CPAP use.

Hi CG,

I have no idea how to solve your problem. I just wanted to once again greet an old friend. Other than the adapter, I hope that all is well with you.

amos

Yes, as long as the replacement is rated for "12v @ 4.16A" or higher...and has the correct connector, you are good to go.

Hit the 'Shack or Best Buy and have a look. Take your machine with you (at least in the car) to ensure it will fit.

If you get an AC adapter not meant for your machine, it's really easy to get the polarity reversed. For instance, some ResMed machines use the same connector as Respironics machines, but the plus and minus are reversed. Plug them into the wrong machine and you destroy the machine.

Find a local DME in Portland with the correct adapter in stock if necessary. Or you might be able to get by with a DC adapter if you can find that and not the AC adapter. Once again, do NOT switch Respironics and ResMed.

Some people can get some apnea relief sleeping on their side or stomach. Some don't.

KatieW wrote:I'm not familiar with your xpap, but found this at cpap.com:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... upply.html

Good luck to you. Hope you get some good sleep soon.

Yes, I thought about ordering from cpap.com but that wouldn't get me my adapter any faster than the hotel shipping it overnight, unfortunately. Thanks, though, Katie - I appreciate the help.

Mary Z wrote:If Radio Shack has an AC adaptor that will fit your machine I don't see why that would be a problem. Good luck. It's possible there is some "muscle memory" for the first few nights without CPAP where your AHI would not be so high as before CPAP use.

Thanks, Mary. Sure didn't feel like it last night, but I hope so for my poor body's sake! Thanks for the encouraging words.

amos wrote:Hi CG,

I have no idea how to solve your problem. I just wanted to once again greet an old friend. Other than the adapter, I hope that all is well with you.

amos

Hi Amos! So good to see you. Yes, I'm hanging in there, other than this little SNAFU. Hope you're doing well, too!

LinkC wrote:Yes, as long as the replacement is rated for "12v @ 4.16A" or higher...and has the correct connector, you are good to go.

Hit the 'Shack or Best Buy and have a look. Take your machine with you (at least in the car) to ensure it will fit.

Sorry Link, I'm a dummy when it comes to this stuff - 4.16A or higher, even though on the bottom of the machine it says "DC 3.0A MAX" ?

Thanks so much for your help!

4.16A is with the humidifier. Briefly, the current rating is the MOST it will draw. So when it says "MAX" that is the maximum it might need. The power supply should be capable of that or higher.

Radio Shack does carry all of the parts to make a DC cable, if all else fails. Or do you have one with you?

You will need an "N" Adapta Plug coaxial connector and the tip needs to be positive. Bring your machine with you so the salesperson can help you. Many laptops have a power adapter that will work also. Your cpap needs 12 volts @3A Minimum. Remember the N connector. Read the below also -

GumbyCT wrote:

Linus wrote:The battery is a Mercedes Benz Battery. The wire itself is thin. I am thinking that the wire is the cause. I am not sure what to do about a lead acid battery other than going with Lithium Iron Phonsphate or Lithium Cobalt Exide. Both are very expensive. Ther Lead acid battery is free.

I can say that I have had the plug for a long time (baybe 20 years). I will check the operating voltage too. I had the same issue with a 12 v power supply (high amperage).

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'll bet a dollar the thin wire is the problem.

I bought mine from Radio Shack. The requirements I had were -
1. a fuse - I wanted it to have a fuse which would be easily available.
2. LED - I want an indication that the power is available
3. It had to carry at least 3A - I think the one I bought was capable of 5A

I thought about a switch - but that is just another point of potential failure and confusion. If it needs to be switched off, I just unplug it.

The one I bought was pre-made but you had to buy a connector separate. I think they called it Adapta Plug cuz you can buy whatever size you need. I think for my M Series it uses and N connector. Bring your machine in to have them check it if in doubt.

Then the key is to get the polarity right - for my M it needs a Positive tip.

Next of course you want to try it out BEFORE you need it - like when the power goes out or you're going camping. You also want to know how long your battery will last at your pressure.

Check out this link to see if this will help you. I don't know if this has the LED but should be adequate as long as you aren't using a DC Humidifier too. If you are - Me thinks you will need to work out something else.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=3802147
Enercell™ Heavy-Duty 12V/5A Power Cord (8-Ft.)
Model: 270-048 | Catalog #: 270-048 $10.99

PS. You could always buy the Respironics spec'd cable from cpap.com

Good Luck

Good Luck