ResMed S9 Grounded Plug?

Does anyone know if ResMed makes a (US) 3-prong plug for the S9 series? All the ones I've seen are 2-prong.

For the electrical engineers among you, I am NOT trying to initiate a "what's really safe" discussion. A grounded plug is safER than a non-grounded one, that's all I'm looking at right now.

Thanks in advance.

I've only seen 2 prong plugs leading to the brick that converts it to 12 volts.

STL Mark wrote:I've only seen 2 prong plugs leading to the brick that converts it to 12 volts.

Same here, for just about every machine. It's odd that something with a water tank (if you have the humidifier) isn't grounded.

Probably because it's plastic. Not much chance of you being electrocuted.

Lizistired wrote:Probably because it's plastic. Not much chance of you being electrocuted.

unless you have a ClimateLine tube, in which case it's a big heating coil.

Also, once you get past the brick, there's on 24 volts DC going to the unit (I just took a look at the bottom of my brick, it's 24 not 12 volts).

TalonNYC wrote:A grounded plug is safER than a non-grounded one

The Resmed mains power adapters are a "double insulated" class of device, which does not require (or benefit from) grounding.

Cheers,

Bill

that's very cool to know! Thanks!

I couldn't help noticing that most power tools in a workshop/garage are grounded;
while relatively few in the kitchen are--
and that's where the water is.
I always figured that it was a gender equity issue.

chunkyfrog wrote:I couldn't help noticing that most power tools in a workshop/garage are grounded;
while relatively few in the kitchen are--
and that's where the water is.
I always figured that it was a gender equity issue.

Bear in mind that all kitchens, since I don't know when, have circuits protected with GFCI's, which don't require the use of a mechanical ground line, although they all have the terminal for them. You can install a GFCI into an old fashioned 2 wire circuit and be just as well protected as the 3 wire circuit. Garages have been required to have GFCI circuits for some time, but not as long as kitchens. Many tools get used who knows where and the likelihood of using a non-GFCI circuit is still pretty high. There are tools though that are double insulated so don't need a ground line. GFCIs can detect an almost unbelievably small current leak and trip.

This reminds me of when I picked up all my equipment from Lincare last week. As they were educating me and going through their checklists of what they were supposed to tell me they must've mentioned about 5 times that I must always use a grounded outlet. I looked at the two-prong plug and thought to my self "Seriously?"

I know, I know...if it's midnight and the DME says.......

Randy

TalonNYC wrote:that's very cool to know! Thanks!

The only exposed metal on an S9 power brick are the power terminals. The power in ones of course are exposed only when the cord is not plugged in. The 24 volt output terminals have non-lethal voltage on them. The brick is probably totally waterproof, although I'm sure it's not rated as such. There really is no way to make contact with the power input side of the system without breaking it open. Of course there are fool hardy folks around who will plug in a busted brick, but even then I'll bet overall the chance of getting a lethal shock is near zero.

True, and frankly it's plugged into a grounded, fuse-enabled UPS device. I'm just paranoid about appliances without GFI and/or ground wires.

Don't worry about it. The double insulated type of design mentioned is very safe if done right. Adding a grounding wire to the design would only add a little safety.

In some ways, a grounded 3 wire design is more dangerous than a double insulated 2 wire design. If you do somehow get in contact with the DC voltage in a double insulated design, you won't necessarily get shocked because there is no path back to ground inside the machine to complete the circuit.

Of course, you shouldn't do anything stupid like open the covers, especially on the power brick, with the power on. Or chew on the climateline hose.

The fact that it's only 12 or 24 V helps, but since it's a wet environment, you might be able to get electrocuted from the low voltage.

Of course, that assumes that you don't get some sort of catastrophic failure in the power brick that lets 120/240 AC leak into the DC line to the machine. Such things usually get a "Hipot" test that checks for this and are carefully designed to isolate AC and DC.

Even with a two wire power supply, a GFCI circuit will make it a little safer. You can get portable GFCI adapters fairly cheaply these days. Just realize that you CAN electrocute yourself even with a GFCI.

archangle wrote: You can get portable GFCI adapters fairly cheaply these days. Just realize that you CAN electrocute yourself even with a GFCI.

I do, and I know, but thanks for all the information =)

The device is plugged into a UPS, which is grounded and equipped with a circuit breaker and GFCI of it's own. And I'm still careful, so no worries there.

I also promise not to chew the wires. As much as I am tempted...