4 ms·

Unless the cigarette lighter plug has a clip to hold it into place, it seems like a bad connector to use to power a life-safety device since they are easily dis

Unless the cigarette lighter plug has a clip to hold it into place, it seems like a bad connector to use to power a life-safety device since they are easily dislodged (in fact, the spring at the terminal at the end is actively trying to push the plug out of the socket) I'd probably use something like Anderson power poles if it were me. http://www.andersonpower.com/us/en/products/powerpole/index.aspx http://www.andersonpower.com/us/en/products/powerpole/index....

bmarquez 8y ago
Yeah that looks more secure, unfortunately Philips added a DRM-like protection to force everyone to use their cigarette adapter. Basically there is some sort of circuitry that identifies an official cable. Someone on a CPAP message board said it was only a resistor across a 3rd pin in the power plug, but can't find the link. I plugged an "unofficial" cable, as well as an 18v lithium-ion plug, and got a "Check Power" message on my Dreamstation. The unit was powered, but it refused to start until it detected the "official" cigarette cable.
- Johnny555 8y ago
  That seems like an awful use of DRM -- by forcing users to use a substandard connector. It does nothing to protect the device since, as you've done, you can put a cigarette lighter socket on anything.
- Hydraulix989 8y ago
  That's just awful. I might understand ink cartridges, but here afflicted patients suffering from sleep apnea disorder rely on these devices to help them breathe at night, and if you lose the official cable, you are up a crick. We need regulations a la "Right to Repair" against abuse of DRM in this manner. This is literally just screwing over people with disabilities (I have severe sleep apnea myself). I remember having to order a massively overpriced proprietary "smartcard" reader from China to retrieve my patient data from the older Respironics CPAP that I used to have.

bmarquez 8y ago

Yeah that looks more secure, unfortunately Philips added a DRM-like protection to force everyone to use their cigarette adapter. Basically there is some sort of circuitry that identifies an official cable. Someone on a CPAP message board said it was only a resistor across a 3rd pin in the power plug, but can't find the link. I plugged an "unofficial" cable, as well as an 18v lithium-ion plug, and got a "Check Power" message on my Dreamstation. The unit was powered, but it refused to start until it detected the "official" cigarette cable.

Johnny555 8y ago
That seems like an awful use of DRM -- by forcing users to use a substandard connector. It does nothing to protect the device since, as you've done, you can put a cigarette lighter socket on anything.
Hydraulix989 8y ago
That's just awful. I might understand ink cartridges, but here afflicted patients suffering from sleep apnea disorder rely on these devices to help them breathe at night, and if you lose the official cable, you are up a crick. We need regulations a la "Right to Repair" against abuse of DRM in this manner. This is literally just screwing over people with disabilities (I have severe sleep apnea myself). I remember having to order a massively overpriced proprietary "smartcard" reader from China to retrieve my patient data from the older Respironics CPAP that I used to have.