Everything wears out eventually! This is true of home appliances, automobiles, and anything else we use in our everyday lives.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, machines used to treat obstructive sleep apnea are no different. The best CPAP devices are robust machines that have been rigorously tested and will (or should) come with a lengthy guarantee.
The component parts and attachments of a CPAP device, however, will need to be replaced at some point in time. Masks, filters, tubing, and other attachments are not designed to last for the life of the CPAP device and will require regular replacement or maintenance.
When considering how a CPAP device works, and all the moving parts involved, it is often easy to forget that these are powered by electricity and in order to function require power. This is delivered by power cords plugged into a reliable and stable power supply.
Without a power supply and fully functioning power cord, the best of CPAP devices are rendered useless. This is why it is not just the device, tubing, masks, and filters that need to be checked regularly – but also the power cords that deliver the required electrical charge to power the entire system.
Power Supply and Power Cords
The electricity required to power a CPAP device comes from a wall outlet which is channeled through a power cord. This delivery system can have one or two component parts:
AC Power Cord. This is the cable that runs from the wall outlet directly into a port in the CPAP machine.
Power Supply. Some CPAP devices incorporate a black box into the power cable. This is a power adapter which converts the AC charge from the wall outlet to the voltage required to operate the device.
Not all CPAP power cords have an adapter as this will depend on the make and model of the device in question. It should be noted that some (but by no means all) CPAP machines can also use DC power cords. These are used for running the machine from 12 volt outlets which are usually found in vehicles or on certain CPAP batteries.
Power Choices
Not all power cables fit all CPAP devices although there is some compatibility across the different makes and models. All ResMed CPAP machines are supplied with cables and power supply. There are currently four different ResMed CPAP devices to choose from:
- AirSense 10
- AirSense 11
- AirCurve 10
- AirMini
While each of these devices comes with its own power cord, which is designed to last, it may be necessary at some point to require a replacement due to wear and tear or damage.
Ordering a new power cord is as simple as ordering replacement parts once the Power Supply Unit (PSU) part or model number is known.
Should the PSU in question be out of stock or unavailable for other reasons there are alternatives as there is a degree of compatibility across the models.
The relevant PSU model numbers for the four ResMed CPAP devices available are #37001 and #37006. Both of these power supply units are compatible with AirSense 10, AirSense 11 and AirCurve ResMed CPAP machines.
The ResMed AirMini CPAP device, designed specifically for use in travel, requires a special cord with the appropriate adapter as it runs off a 20-watt charge. This power cord is not compatible with the AirSense or AirCurve machines.