Using a CPAP in Italy

My husband used his CPAP for an 8 day trip to Rome and Florence. It is a dual voltage machine, there were no issues or damage. He does not use a humidifier with it. You may want to take an extension cord as outlets in some small hotels are not always close to the bed.

I have.
Like Katheryn, no problems if the machine is dual-voltage, and an extension cord is sometimes needed.

Or buy an extension cord in Italy, to avoid running 230 V through a north american extension cord.

Since the adapter would be between the outlet and the (US) extension cord, it should be fine.

No it is not. An adapter only changes the shape of the plug and you are still running 220v on a 120v extension cord. Different if using a voltage converter at the outlet..

My Phillips Dreamstation Electrical specifcation:

AC Power Consumption (with 80W power supply): 100 – 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 2.0-1.0 A
Note: Power supply is part of the medical electrical equipment.
DC Power Consumption: 12 VDC, 6.67 A
Fuses: There are no user-replaceable fuses.

The power draw of my Dreamstation is not significant (2 amps at 120v or 1 amp at 240v). A light duty 120v extension chord is typically rated for 7 amps. Improper use of extension cords feeding multiple devices can be dangerous. That said, most travel devices draw relatively low amounts of power.

I have taken my Resmed and had no issues with it or the plug adapter. I used the humidifier too and just put tap water in it, knowing I might want to buy a new chamber when I got home. I even took an extension cord but never needed it. Have a great trip!

@Edgar: Does the machine run on low voltage DC? If so, is it a separate transformer? If so, did you get any other plugs when you bought it? I don't know if this is common in North America, but the last time I bought an external hard drive the box contained a couple of different plugs and I could just choose the one I needed. If I need to bring it somewhere else, I could just change the plug on the transformer.

Badger: My US machine came with a power adaptor with a replaceable cord with a US two flat prong plug. I would assume that Phillips packages the appropriate plug for the marketplace. Power adaptor converts input AC to DC (12 VDC, 6.67 A).

Thanks, I guess there is a C7 socket on the transformer? If so, it is very easy to buy a new cable with any plug you like in the other end.

Jane,
Check your owner's manual or look on the machine for voltage requirements. If it is 120-240 VAC than you can use your CPAP with just an adapter. You don't need to carry around a big and heavy transformer.

My wife used her CPAP in Tuscany, Paris and London with no issues. She didn't take her CPAP on when she took her graduate nursing students on a medical mission to Honduras, because on in the country where they stayed they only had electricity two hours a day.

Used a Resmed Bi-Pap all over Italy, Asia, South America and the rest of Europe. Never any damage. It should have come with dual voltage capability.
In Italy, distilled water was readily available even in small village markets. Look in the laundry products area of the markets as it is used in steam irons.

Phillips may be recalling CPAP devices:
https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/news/archive/standard/news/press/2021/20210614-philips-issues-recall-notification-to-mitigate-potential-health-risks-related-to-the-sound-abatement-foam-component-in-certain-sleep-and-respiratory-care-devices.html

Jun 14, 2021 Philips issues recall notification* to mitigate
potential health risks related to the sound abatement foam component
in certain sleep and respiratory care devices

Following the company update on April 26, 2021, Royal Philips (NYSE:
PHG; AEX: PHIA) today provides an update on the recall notification*
for specific Philips Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure (Bi-Level PAP),
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), and mechanical ventilator
devices to address identified potential health risks related to the
polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound abatement foam component
in these devices. The majority of the affected devices within the
advised 5-year service life are in the first-generation DreamStation
product family.

For patients using BiLevel PAP and CPAP devices: Discontinue use of
your device and work with your physician or Durable Medical Equipment
(DME) provider to determine the most appropriate options for continued
treatment.

Thank you all so very much for taking the time to answer my question about using a CPAP in Italy each of you have been very helpful.

I appreciate you all.

Best regards,
Jane

If you do use an American extension cord, you do have to remember not to plug anything into it that isn't also dual-voltage. Apple wall warts and so on are, in fact, dual-voltage. But my toothbrush charger is not ... ... ... I carry an elderly little wall wart 240-to-120 transformer (not an electronic power supply) just for it.