difference between PR Auto with A-flex and PR 60 Series Auto

[troubs]

I am trying to figure out which machine I want to buy. Right now I am renting from my local DME, the one the sleep clinic referred me to call. The prices are crazy there. I am all for local businesses, but I would rather pay a fee for their extra services than pay so much more for the machine I purchase (more than twice the cpap.com price!). In any case, I am renting the PR System One Auto with A-Flex (560) and I am wondering what the difference is between that and the PR 60 Series Auto? Is it just the heated tube? The only other thing I notice is that maybe the PR 60 isn't compatible with their proprietary software yet.

Thanks! Sorry for all the posts lately, I just have so many questions being new to this and don't want to pay the rental fee for longer than I have to. The rental machine I have had this week has been working well for me.

[Pugsy]

The 560 is the latest technology machine just released not long ago. The heated hose is the major difference.
The 550 doesn't have a heated hose though it does have some sensors in the machine so that it allows for some additional adjusting of the humidity beyond heat only which was the way it was for many, many years until the heated hose came about.

The heated hose isn't a deal breaker for most people. Lots of people don't have one and if rain out is an issue there are other methods of dealing with it including stand alone heated hoses. Rain out isn't even an issue for many people.

If money is the same...I would get the 560. EncoreBasic (which I think I sent you information on it) will work with the machine and eventually Sleepyhead will also work.
If the 550 is substantially lower then you can decide if the heated hose is likely to be that much of an issue.

The addition of the heated hose seems to be the major difference. There are a few other minor differences like being able to turn the beep off when the machine is turned on. I haven't seen a 60 series machine to be able to compare it to the other model PR S1 machine though to see what other minor differences there might be. There wasn't any change to the main function of the machine though. No change in the algorithm in how it deals with issues.

[123.Shawn T.W.]

The humidifier chamber has been "re-designed" to be more efficient too ... With a larger surface area which could possible maybe make it so you could use it in "Passover" mode and still get adaquit humidifacation in a situation like battery powered mode ... Trying to conserve power.

The heated hose issue requires a increase in electric useage (20w max) which should be less than $0.02 per day at most

I have a series 60 on order ... If my DME and INS ever get the deal worked out, currently using the 550 model which is SleepHead useable ... And the 60 is not "yet" able to use SH

[JohnO]

The 560 is the latest technology machine just released not long ago.

Realize too that you can get a 560 with the "older" non-heated hose heated humidifier, as that is what I received after my sleep study.

I have this Auto-CPAP machine: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... -tube.html
with (what looks to be) this heated humidifier without heated hose: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... ifier.html



On closer review, the lid has changed where it says System One. Also, the lid on the tank on mine is gray, where the web site shows translucent blue throughout.

[Pugsy]

My understanding was the the new 60 series blower unit would not work with the older non heated hose humidifier.
I believe that you if you use the heated hose humidifier you don't have to heat the hose if you don't want to.
There is a setting for using the traditional hose in the clinical setup menu.
The heated hose is optional but the 60 series machines have 2 options for heated humidifiers...one with the heated hose and one without.

Per this link
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... -tube.html

Important Compatibility Note

The PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP can only be used with the optional 60 Series Heated Humidifier. The optional Heated Tube CANNOT BE used with any other PR System One machines and humidifiers. The external power supply used by this system IS NOT compatible with other units in the Philips Respironics line of products.

[troubs]

Yes, I didn't get the heated hose either. I am wondering if it is worthwhile to do, though? I sewed a fleece cover for the hose (with stars and moons!) and so far so good, but I do like my humitdity on the high end. No rainouts yet on humidity level 4 on the rental CPAP, which the DME said they recommended not to exceed. I have 70% insurance coverage, so a small difference in price won't be a huge difference.

[JohnO]

The heated hose is optional but the 60 series machines must have the new model humidifier.

What is confusing is that there are actually two humidifiers available for the new Series 60 machine. One that requires an 80 watt power supply, and can drive the heated hose, and one that requires only a 60 watt power supply and does not have the electrical connector for use with the heated hose. I have the later unit, as shown in my photo.

So yes, I believe you and cpap.com are correct in that the new unit(s) can not be used with the older PRS 1 units. I just wanted to point out that they do sell a heated humidifier that does not work with the heated hose too. Perhaps cpap.com does not stock that product. I wish Philips made the part numbers easier to decipher on their products. My main unit is clearly marked 560P on the bottom, but the humidifier does not have an easily deciphered part number. Unfortunately, I can't find any other evidence online that there are two versions of the humidifier for the Series 60. It seems Philips has not updated their site, nor does a search of the Internet get me any vendors showing both versions of the humidifier.

[Pugsy]

I just wanted to point out that they do sell a heated humidifier that does not work with the heated hose too. Perhaps cpap.com does not stock that product.

I have the PR S1 heated humidifier that doesn't have the heated hose capability because I also have a PR S1 BiPap Auto which is not a 60 series model. It was my understanding that my humidifier wouldn't work at all with the new 60 series of machines. Cpap.com does sell the humidifier that I have and they also sell the 60 series humidifier.

So right now there are 2 different humidifiers offered in the PR S1 model line.
Respironics is just now releasing the BiPap models in the 60 series of machines. I would love to try it but it means I have to buy both a new machine and a new humidifier since the one I have won't work with the 60 series machine.

Yes, I didn't get the heated hose either. I am wondering if it is worthwhile to do, though? I sewed a fleece cover for the hose (with stars and moons!) and so far so good, but I do like my humitdity on the high end. No rainouts yet on humidity level 4 on the rental CPAP, which the DME said they recommended not to exceed. I have 70% insurance coverage, so a small difference in price won't be a huge difference.

Wintertime is usually when we see rain out issues more often. Cold bedrooms and higher humidifier settings sometimes beat the hose cozy. A lot depends on your own preference for bedroom temp. If you like it warm then there is much less chance of rain out. I like it cold brrrr...like 50 degrees. I have had 3 winters now with my machine and the hose cozy will help but in my situation it wasn't enough.
If there isn't much difference in the cost to you with the heated hose capable machine then I would go ahead and get that one. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. It can be used with a regular hose if someone wants to. There is always the stand alone heated hose or make your own heated hose with reptile cable but in addition to the heated hose part there is also more adjustability in the amount of humidity that can be delivered.

[carolyngoodman]

Howdy,

*Warning Long Post*

This is confusing. When we first learned about the new 60 series, our questions were mainly about the different configurations and options. We do not sell all the options. We chose to leave the heated humidfier options off the website that did not work with the heated tubing. We thought offering both made the options more complicated. It also would mean we would have to cover the pages in disclaimers so people did not think they were buying one thing and get something else. Let me explain the full options for clarity:
----------------------
1) First - 50 series (PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP Machine with A-Flex) vs. 60 series (PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine) - the main difference here as they said - it is basically the heated tube capability and the increased efficiency of the humidifier chamber. The way you can tell if you have a 50 series or a 60 series is by:

Identifying PR System One REMStar 60 Series Machines from the previous version

Color:
- PR System One REMStar 60 Series Machines and Heated Humidifiers are charcoal gray with metallic silver side and instrument panels.
- Other PR System One units are dark gray with ivory colored side and instrument panels.

Branding:
- The PR System One REMStar 60 Series Machines have the words "System One" in raised or embossed letters stamped in silver on both the machine and humidifier.
- Other PR System One units do not have raised lettering, the branding information is painted onto the unit.

Machine and Humidifier Connections:
- PR System One REMStar 60 Series Machines and Heated Humidifiers have a 6 pin connection between the machine and humidifier.
Other PR System One Units have a 4 pin connection between the machine and humidifier.
- PR System One REMStar 60 Series Machines and Heated Humidifiers have a mechanical connection between the machine and humidifier
Other PR System One Units have 2 tabs on the humidifier that fit into 2 slots on the machine.

Model Number Reference:
- Label identification example: the label on the bottom of the PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP lists: "REMStar Auto"; "REF" of 560P; and Serial Number identified by "SN". The number 560 references the part number of the machine.
- The label on the bottom of other versions of System One machines lists: Machine name; "REF" that does not have the number "6" in the second position from the left; and Serial Number identified by "SN". For example the label on the bottom of a PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP Machine with A-Flex lists "REMStar Auto" and "REF" of 550P. The number 550 references the part number of the machine.

------------------------------------
2) The 60 Series options:
*I am going to explain below using the Auto (DS560), but the same applies to the other 60 series machines.

PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine options:
- There is one base CPAP machine (as in if you buy the machine only)
- There are 2 power cords
- There are 2 hoses
- There are 2 humidifiers

To explain this more:
A) 60 Series Machine Only - If you get the machine only, it will come with the 60 watt power cord and regular thin (15mm) performance tubing. This machine will work with either humidifier, as long as the right power cord is used. The part number for the machine only is DS560S.

B) 60 Series Machine + Basic Heated Humidifier - (We do not sell this option) This humidifier will not work with the heated tube, and will come with the 60 watt power cord and regular thin (15mm) performance tubing. The part number for the Machine + Basic Heated Humidifier is DS560HS. JohnO's picture above shows this option. Notice the hose attachment has no extra parts or clips.

C) 60 Series Machine + Heated Tube Humidifier - (we do sell this option) This humidifier will work with the heated tube, and will come with the 80 watt power cord and heated tubing. The part number for the Machine + Heated Tube Humidifier is DS560TS. You can see on this image - the connection point for connecting the heated tube

D) 60 series Basic Heated Humidifier - (we do not sell this option) If buying the humidifier by itself, this humidifier will not work with the heated tube. The part number for this humidifier by itself is DS6H.

E) 60 series Heated Tube Humidifier - (we do sell this option) If buying the humidifier by itself, This humidifier will work with the heated tube, and will come with the 80 watt power cord and heated tube. The part number for this heated tube humidifier by itself is DS6T

-----------------------------
3) Compatibility between 50 and 60 series
A) Humidifiers and Machines - The older humidifier - the "PR System One Heated Humidifier" will not work with the 60 series machines. The older 50 series machines will not work with the new 60 series humidifier - neither the regular heated humidifier or the heated tube humidifier. This is because the actual connection is designed differently.

B) Power Supply - The power supply from the 50 series will not work with the 60 series machines. The connection point that you put the power supply into the machine is designed differently. For the 60 series machine, if you use the 60 watt supply and connect the heated tube humidifier, you will not have heated tube functionality. You have to use the 80 watt power supply with the heated tube humidifier to have the heated tube functionality.

C) DC Cables - If using an alternative power source, the DC cable for the 50 series will not work with the 60 series. Same reason stated above, the actual port is designed differently. You will need the "Shielded DC Cord for PR System One 60 Series Machines" to connect any of the 60 series machines to a DC power source. It looks the same as the DC cable for the 50 series but the port that attaches to the machine is bigger.

I hope this clears up some of the confusion.

- Carolyn

[JohnO]

I hope this clears up some of the confusion.

Thanks Carolyn, for providing all that extra information! I really appreciate it.

[troubs]

I love this! Thanks for the info!!

[akcpapguy]

There are other therapy options available on the 60 series as well which weren't on the 50 series I believe. I will update them tomorrow once i look at the 60 series again.

[carolyngoodman]

Howdy,

I wanted to let you all know about an update to the 60 series machines. I explained above that there were two different types of heated humidifiers for the 60 series - One that worked with a heated tube and one that did not.

Respironics has released an upgrade kit for the basic 60 series heated humidifier. This will allow the basic heated humidifier that did not work with the heated tube to be able to work with the heated tube. The upgrade kit includes the conversion lid, a heated tube and an 80 watt power supply.

The basic steps would be to "pop off" the humidifier lid from the basic humidifier and replace it with this new lid that includes an electric connection to the humidifier. There are picture instructions included with the product to walk you through the steps. You would then change your existing 60 watt power supply for the 80 watt power supply. If you do not change the 60 for the 80 watt power supply, the machine will still not work with the heated tube.

This upgrade kit will not convert the old PR System One machine humidifiers (50 series) to work with the heated tube.

- Carolyn

[JohnO]

Respironics has released an upgrade kit for the basic 60 series heated humidifier. This will allow the basic heated humidifier that did not work with the heated tube to be able to work with the heated tube. The upgrade kit includes the conversion lid, a heated tube and an 80 watt power supply.

Thanks for posting this. I did also see the announcement some time over the weekend in the "CPAP Product News" up at the top of the screen. It is good to know that option is out there. When winter rolls around, with low temps and low humidity, I might be in the market for such a thing.

John

[-tim]

The 560 data format seems to be derived from an earlier higher end machine than the 550 but it is recording less wave form data but might be recoding more event data.