C-PAP help

I would...both my wife and I have Capps...I have a multistrip as well as the surge protector for good measure...don,t need to be without the machine

When I travel to Europe, I carry a 110-220 converter. I'll put the converter on the male end of the extension cord, and the CPAP would work fine. Just wait until you get there. Maybe an outlet is close enough to the bed. They have hardware stores that sell European extension cords and plug adapters. I too am on CPAP, but I'm leaving mine home for our upcoming trip. I'll just be using an elastic chin strap. Of course, every CPAP user is different. Many people haul CPAPs with them, then rip them off for 1/2 the night; Know what I mean?

I always take a simple extension cord such as the ones available at Wal Mart and connect my CPAP and phone charger, netbook, etc. Just use the plug adapter for the extension cord and you will not need adapters for your other items.
A note: I would not advise using the extension cord for blow driers, curling irons, etc. Use a plug adapter and plug them directly into the outlet. Dual-voltage hair driers, and curling irons are readily available in most stores here now.

Merrell, my concern was that my extension cord is 110 - 115 volts and not dual voltage. Is that still Ok if my C-pap is dual voltage and I have an adapter (not a converter). Is the extension cord you use dual voltage?

Sondra, my cord is just one of the plain brown (lamp cord-type) extension cords you buy from Wal Mart, Lowes or anywhere. It has a small "block" end on it with one plug-in on one side and two on the other. I have taken it to Europe at least six times. Any cord you buy here will be 110-115. As with any cord, as long as the insulation is not damaged, it should be OK. If you feel safer with one from Europe, they are readily available ever there. If you go that route, you will need to use your adapter for the female end.

Sondra........I haven't had any problem using one from home. The one I carry is 16 guage - heavier than standard lamp cord which is 18 guage. Easily found at any Lowes or Home Depot. Also think about the CPAP hose which is usually around 4-5 feet long but these are avilable up to 10 feet or even longer. The one I carry is around 9 feet and is quite useful. Another little trick is to use electrical tape to tape the end of the electric cord to the overseas adapter. This makes it easier to use.

Basic Electric Theory 101 from University of Nigel There are generally two types of extension cords: dumb and electronic. Electronics have circuits built into do something - such as surge protection, voltage stability, indicator lights, auto switch off, USB plugs, etc. Electronic circuits are designed to run at a specific input voltage and if the designed voltage is exceeded they are likely to blow up with fire, smoke and fireworks - can be a neat show but counter-productive. If the electronics suffer from lower input voltage than designed - for example a European device plugged into a socket in the US - they can overheat, with somewhat similar consequences. Most portable consumer electronics built in the past few years is designed for universal power. If the input plate says something like 100-250 VAC, 50/60 Hz it means that it is designed to work just about anywhere. Now for dumb extension cords. They are just a length of wire, either 2 or 3 conductor, with a plug on one end and one or more sockets on the other, with NO electronics of any type. These will have printing or embossed writing on the plug and/or wire and/or socket, normally only one range of voltage related to the country where the item was sold. It might say something like 110-120 VAC 60 Hz 10A. VAC is the voltage, in this case nominal for North America, the Hz is Hertz, the frequency expected although totally irrelevant in a dumb cord, and the key aspect is A which is Amps, which is how much current the wire can support. What about Watts you ask. Simple. Watts are calculated by multiplying amps times voltage, so in this example 120 x 10 = 1200 watts. Now check your CPAP machine and look for Watts. Is there a good margin for error? ... to be finished in the next message ...

... to complete... With the simple equation that voltage times amperage equals watts you may be able to see if the input voltage to the dumb cord is doubled the amperage passed will be halved because the watts used remain the same. I use this rule in my house in the UK where I have various electrical devices I brought from the US, and extension cords which came with them. As long as they are dumb, and of sufficient wattage capacity I have use them for 15 years. It is critical that when you use extension cords like this that they are in good shape, plenty of reserve capacity, and that you don't overload them. Don't go plugging the hair dryer and a vacuum cleaner and the machine in together, in either country. Does any of this make sense to you? If you decide to get a European cord here, make sure it is dumb. Ken is our resident electrician, let's see what he makes of it...

OMG, thank you Nigel. This was the part I wasn't getting ( dumb vs electrical cord) and your explaination really hit on. Promise not to write anymore on this subject as I now understand. Thanks :0

@Nigel, Perfect! You've provided excellent information, and in a very easy-to-read fashion. I can't think of anything to add. Cheers!

Thanks Nigel! Just to be on the safe side I take along a rather heavier? 12 gage extension cord for my CPAP, etc. Ken, I think that in the past you also talked about taking a simple 3 into 1 adaptor (ie enabling you to plug, God forbid, three devices at a time into one electrical outlet) Many rooms in the EU may have only one outlet in the entire room, so this device allows the CPAP, and a light, etc to be pluged in at the same time.

@Steve, I'm not sure that I was the one that suggested using a 3-in-1 Adapter, as that's not a solution I ever use. Regarding the 12 gauge Extension Cord, the larger wire size is of questionable benefit when used in Europe, as the current draw will be less. The over current protection (Fuses, Circuit Breakers) on European outlets may be as low as 2.5-amps, so the larger wire size will be of no benefit. However, it's certainly not "wrong" to use it. Typical North American branch circuits (ie: those with 15-amp Fuses or Circuit Breakers) only require 14-gauge wire by Code, so a 12-gauge Extension Cord would be capable of handling a higher current than the outlet supplying it. When using devices such as Extension Cords which are certified for use in North America, the insulation is perhaps a more important consideration than the wire size (although with lower voltages like 100-250 VAC, this is not a huge concern). Cheers!

My husband used to carry his CPAP and even use it on the plane going to Australia. A few years ago, he got fitted with a special mouth appliance, which substitutes for the CPAP. He even had a repeat of the sleep test after being fitted for the mouth guard. He loves having the mouth appliance, instead of having to use the CPAP. Certain doctors/dentists specialize in these appliances.