A Forum For All Things CPAP
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This is where having a DC cable would be helpful.Pugsy wrote:Contact cpap.com. Philips Respironics will just tell you to work through the supplier.
Are you talking about the "brick" portion being bad? Should be easy to get a replacement for it to see for sure.
Are you familiar enough with voltmeters to use one? It's pretty easy to probe the DC connector on the end of the cable coming from the brick. I got 12.2V or so on the output of my PRS1 brick.sanjay0864 wrote:Looks like the power adapter may have totally failed. Which in a way may be a good thing, for it at least makes clear what the problem is.
GumbyCT wrote:This is where having a DC cable would be helpful.
Well yes, IF you eliminate the brick and it works correctly then you can be reasonably certain the brick is the problem.Pugsy wrote:GumbyCT wrote:This is where having a DC cable would be helpful.
And this is where you totally lose me. Have no clue what you are talking about but I assume it has to do with not having to use that darn brick. I guess the brick does something but have no clue what. Complete dufus when it comes to this stuff. Now give me a computer or software problem... I can hold my own.
Sigh.. I am not well rounded in some areas. Electrical issues being one of them.
If you had the DC cable, you could try plugging the CPAP machine into the cigarette lighter jack on your car and eliminate the brick completely.Pugsy wrote:GumbyCT wrote:This is where having a DC cable would be helpful.
And this is where you totally lose me. Have no clue what you are talking about but I assume it has to do with not having to use that darn brick.
Gottcha. A possible way to see if the brick was defective. Good idea. I would need a different truck. Cigarette lighter quit working 60 K miles ago but I understand the principle. Husband explained DC and AC. These machines will work with DC I guess. Obviously my idea of camping is a camper with full electric, shower etc. That is why I avoid the "how to use machine in the woods threads". I used to do a lot of primitive camping back when I did the horseback endurance racing. I can't ride anymore like that so haven't been camping in years. I will leave the electrical stuff to you guys who are much more comfortable with it than I am.archangle wrote:If you had the DC cable, you could try plugging the CPAP machine into the cigarette lighter jack on your car and eliminate the brick completely
I've seen similar problems, in other electro-mechanical equipment, caused by a failing capacitor in the power supply. The capacitor should be maintaining the right voltage during the power up, when a lot of power is used to get things started. As it weakens, more and more attempts to power up fail, leading to increased cycling. Unplugging, waiting long enough for all capacitors in the power supply to discharge, and then plugging in again gives it a clean start. During this phase, the machine will go on working after a successful power-up, unless something puts an unusual demand on the power supply. Finally, it stops being able to even try.sanjay0864 wrote:I think I may have not fully or correctly explained the problem I am facing with my CPAP machine. The problem is not that it won't start, because it does at times. It also works fine at times and I can go thru a whole night without any issues. But then when it decides to have problems, the machine will simply go into a loop, wherein it will start to boot and then shut off and then start to boot and shut off. If I unplug the power adapter from the wall socket and wait a couple of minutes and then plug it in again, the machine then starts properly. Strangely enough, if unplug the power adapter from the back of the machine, it does not stop the loop of starting - shutting off. I am now leaning to believe that the problem may lie with the power adapter and not the machine itself. The latest update is that now the machine is not powering up at all. Looks like the power adapter may have totally failed. Which in a way may be a good thing, for it at least makes clear what the problem is.
It sounds like you have a mask sealing problem. When the mask doesn't seal tight the machine doesn't sense you breathing and therefore does NOT turn On. No clue given as to mask make or model.rkmontg342 wrote:Okay here's another problem....I have Auto ON set to ON for coming ON automatically when I put ON the mask. It was turning itself on for a month (got this machine in February 2012), then stopped doing it. A few nights ago, it decided to turn itself on but only for that one night. Any suggestions? btw... it is: Respironics Remstar Pro C-flex. Thanks.