Heated hoses

[leswaller]

Hi
The only thing you need to be aware of is that you get the right voltage for the UK. If you get the aussie one they can supply without the mains adapter and you can get a suitable one from maplins.
The hose feels slightly warm to the touch thats all, as far as I can see the wrap cant easily be removed as the ends are shrink wrapped on so it will not be easy to clean if you get it dirty. The connections are totally generic so no problem there.

[Tigers Fan]

Gone missing!

Rather annoyingly, my post of yesterday in this thread has disappeared from the forum! Am I banned, James?

Les - you were trying to be very PC a couple of posts ago? I wonder if gay folk think you succeeded?

The transformer you will need, bennyali, is a 240 VAC to max. 1000 mA 12 VAC. They are available at Maplins for £13 (+p&p if you buy on line) which is where I bought one each for Les and I.

As for cleaning, I've found the recent e-mail to/from Down Under Don :-

> Hi Don
>
> The heated hose has been giving great service ever since I received it
> – and not a single drop of condensation. I use it with a humidifier
> and Pur-Sleep essential oils, so I am reminded every night of travels
> in the tropics – warm, moist, perfumed air to breathe. Wonderful!
>
> I have a question, though – mainly about cleaning the hose externally.
> I wash it regularly internally, carefully obeying observing your
> warning not to wet the outside of the hose. My question is about why
> the outside of the hose must not be wet. Is it because I must not use
> the hose – apply electrical power – when the sleeve is wet or is it
> about something in the construction of the hose being damaged if it
> gets wet?
>
> For instance, if I bought another hose so I could wash one internally
> and externally and then thoroughly dry it whilst I used the second
> hose on my APAP, then swap them over a week later at next washing,
> would any damage be done to the hoses?
>
> I know your hoses will shortly go on sale in UK, which is why I’m
> thinking of buying a second hose if external washing is possible.
>
> Best regards
>
> Tigers Fan
>
SleepZone wrote Tues 20th Jan 2009 8.14AM

G'day Tigers Fan

Thankyou for your positive critique of the SleepZone heated CPAP tube

Wetting the tubing ..... Its really about durability . eg , the insulation cover may shrink etc. We have done immersion tests .... then allowed the product to dry out , the low voltage circuit is not compromised and functions perfectly , there is no concern for danger with the tubing simply due to the type of transformed low voltage power , a good example of comparison is to be electrocuted by a slot car racing set or a toy train .. the only difference in the functions is that with these items the small amount of electrical power is used to drive low volt motors and then wheels we are using the same method to low power warm a heating element .

Our latest instructions with use cautions is attached [not here though; available at sleepzone. TF]


Best Wishes


Don Fischer

As for feeling the heat of the hose - with power on, put a length of it under your pillow or duvet for a few minutes - it gets a little warm to the touch.

Tigers Fan

[bennyali]

Thanks for the info.

I had the humidifier on its lowest setting and i still managed to get quite a lot of condensation so this is the way forward. I have ordered one and received notification it will ship Tuesday so fingers crossed all goes well.

Im gonna have a look at Maplin now and hopefully order the converter for the plug.

[bennyali]

Can someone let me know how long the hose is please?

[leswaller]

Hi bennyali

approx 6ft (2metres)

[Tigers Fan]

Ah!

Just remembered, bennyali - the transformer from Maplins comes with a set of connectors for the 12 V outlet. One of them fits the Oz heated hose.

Happy zzzzzzzzzzzzzz-ing with balmy air to breathe.

Tigers Fan

[James @ Intus]

Rather annoyingly, my post of yesterday in this thread has disappeared from the forum! Am I banned, James?

Not yet

I've not seen that post in any moderation queue so dunno what happened, perhaps it timed out between submitting and ndver arrived. Sorry!

[leswaller]

James
It was definitely posted as I remember reading it

[James @ Intus]

Had another look around and can't find a trace of it, very strange. Sorry for the confusion! It's quite a mystery. The only posts that get deleted by me without notice are spam. Anyway, it's posted now, let's not derail a great (most ever posted in) thread.

I had been thinking about the cleaning comments for this heated hose. Do you guys think it would help if when we get them, we send them out with another well-fitting but removable fleece (or other fabric) skin around it? That way you can wash the outer one at least.

[leswaller]

I think that is a great idea James, it would also add a further layer of insulation as there is obviously some heat loss because the existing wrap gets warm. If you can source one that is wide enough to go over the existing wrap then I would buy one.

[James @ Intus]

As it's fabric against fabric, it won't slide on as easy as fabric over hose, so we'll have to think about the practicals of such another outer skin. I wonder what would be easier, more durable and more economical; a zip version or perhaps something elasticated along the entire length. Could even use buttons I guess. Any ideas on this?

[leswaller]

James
My vote would be for a zip

[Tigers Fan]

Me, too!

Very definately - a removeable, washable wrap would be great! However, remembering my initial problems (pre-corner of a plastic bag) with getting the rubber end couplings into a standard Intus hose wrap, you'd need to think carefully how to overcome the friction between the two sleeves.

I don't suppose you can buy silicon lined fleece fabric?

Alternatively: a six feet long zip would be expensive and prone to jamming; six feet of press-studs would be daunting; six feet of Velcro patches might do the trick!

Lor of the plastic bag corner idea can knock one up for me!

Tigers Fan

[James @ Intus]

Or 2ft zipped, 2ft elasticated in the middle and the remaining 2ft velcroed or buttoned up. Long zips aren't cheap so indeed might have to mix and match to get the balance right between cost and easy undoing, keeping in mind it probably only needs washing once a month.

I don't think it has to be fleece perse, given how well the heated hose deals with condensation. Any other fabric would offer less friction (cotton etc.) and most likely be cheaper and easier to work with.

Perhaps some cling film will do...

[Tigers Fan]

Hmmmmmm!

As Les has un-greenly proved, the hoses-as-are do not over-heat (admission: I did it myself yesterday!). Most of the heat loss from a powered-up but out-of-use hose is through the current sheath/sleeve to atmosphere.

If we now add a new layer of cloth - and thus insulation - we will raise the temperature of the heating element and plastic hose. Ah! but not by much, as the run-it-under-the-duvet test demonstrates. So fleece would do, as would cotton.

Ladies - which material would be best for adding an extra sleeve to a hose? The extra sleeve would be for easy removal and fitting for the purpose of washing it.

Tigers Fan