British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

We are going to Paris, then London, this coming May. My husband is dependent on his cpap machine and cannot sleep at all without it. In the US he takes it with him, no problem. However, in Europe we are wondering what will happen, even with the converter or whatever. The last time I went even my hair dryer just about burnt up the outlet even with the converter, so we're afraid the cpap might start a fire. Can one be rented in Paris? What would we need to do to rent one? Could a prescription from a US doctor be used? Any advice would be appreciated!
PS These same questions apply to our visit to London....

Hi GSBuck!

Talk to your CPAP machine supplier. It should just be a case of changing the fuses for your machine to work in both Paris and the UK. I live in France and had to do this for the US and Mexico - a very simple procedure and enjoyed my visits to the full.

However you WILL need a plug adapter, as there are 3 round pins for France and 3 squarish ones for the UK. A universal travel adapter should do the trick - possibly with an extension lead so that you can reach the plug socket if is not adjacent to the bedside (less likely even in chain hotels).

Please also make sure that you have a doctor's letter confirming that the CPAP has been prescribed for you, and include the make/serial number in the body of the letter. That way you will not be too inconvenienced by the necessary security checks in force in European airports and sea ports.

Have a great stay - and sleep well!

Kind regards,

Alsa

Hello GSBuck

I gather by your posting that your husbands machine is set for usage in America. Now I am no electrician, but as I remember from my 25 years travelling in the Merchant Navy., American electrical stuff is set at 110-120 volts, whereas British and Continental Stuff is set at 220-230 volts. Thus plugging your machine into European electricity is like trying to pour a quart of lemonade into a pint bottle whatever you have as adapters to change the shape of the plug. Possibly the manufacturers these days have a switch somewhere in the machine that copes with another voltage. (I know that televisions and video machines sometimes do) Otherwise you will just burn your machine out. In my opinion you would need some form of "step down" for the voltage. Please let us know how you get on!!! Since I am in the waiting queue for a CPAP machine myself, and like travelling, I would benefit from your experience
Regards Ken, in West Yorkshire, England.

My machine works on any voltage, US or UK or Europe (with the Right adaptor). It isn't that new either - Resmed S6 lightweight, this was pointed out to me by the Sleep Nurses at the Clinic and in the Units Manual.

Hi

I take my machine to Spain every year and use a normal adaptor plug and have no trouble with it working. Have got a letter from the hospital to confirm what I am carrying and am now getting confirmation from flight companies before I fly that it is OK to carry as additional hand luggage.

Ceejayblue