Help-bi-pap machine in Italy
 

Thought I had everything figured out- we leave Thursday early am. My husband must use bi-pap machine (bad sleep apnea). Does anyone know if we need convertor or transformer for Italy? Are the plug adaptors for Italy 2 prong? In Germany, France, Belguim we used 2 prong adaptors (I say that's all, he remembers using convertor as well). Does Florence's electricity differ from the rest of Italy? One website says it does.
Thank you, I hope you have an answer.
Jane

You need a converter. The same one should work for Florence as the rest of Italy. Bring an extension cord. You may find that the nearest available outlet isn't that close to the bed.

Double-check you husband's bi-pap machine. Look at the label with electrical information. It might handle a range of voltage like 110-220. In which case you only need an adapter. And Italy uses 2 round prongs just like the rest of the continent. As I remember, my husband's CPAP machine did not need a converter. On the other hand, we learned the word for distilled water in several languages.

Don't know about different electricity in Florence.

Most CPAP/BPAP machines are universal voltage (even 12v DC.) I doubt you'll need more than a plug adapter, but do indeed take a medium duty extension cord, probably a 15-footer just in case.

Hi Jane,

If your husbands bi-pap is anything like mine, he will only need the plug adaptor. But if he has a seperate humidifier, please double check that it is dual rated. Mine wasn't and I needed a converter for it.

And the term for 'distilled water' is 'aqua distilla'

Tom

PS - Have a great trip!!!!!

Tom

I have traveled in Europe with a CPAP. I have three of them (a long term user, sad to say.) They are all dual voltage. One switches over to 210Volts automatically - so that is the one I take. The other switches but it must be done manually. I'm afraid I'll forget to switch it so I leave that one home.

None of them require a converter - just the adapter plug. As noted above, check the machine label. You'll find the info there. While traveling I skip the humidifier.

Have a great trip.

Have traveled with CPAP in Europe/UK for ten years, and mine have always switched voltages automatically. Many of them are made in Australia for international sales.

I too leave the humidifier at home and take a bottle or two of Ocean saline nasal spray.

The advice about an extension cord is important for all travelers because it is often difficult to access an outlet with the cord supplied on the machine.

Incidentally, friends from Scotland are visiting us now, and his CPAP was exempted last Friday from the one bag carryon rule at Heathrow, though his wife's purse was not. No guarantee that this happens every time.

Thank you all very much. We couldn't remember what we'd done, the med. supply place is closed for holiday and my husband was researching all these electrical info sites. I told him I knew where to get the info or find out how to get it. I was right! You all are an incredible resource. Thank you for all the time.
Jane