Machine Smells Like Burning Plastic

[kiwii]

Recently 2 new users had the same issue, which was (apparently) resolved by placing the power brick on the floor rather than on the table next to the machine.

[SQEEvans]

I have a Resmed AirSense 10. A couple weeks ago I started getting a burnt, bitter smell that won't go away. I have traced the lingering odor to the silicone seal inside the water container, as well as inside the machine. If I take out the humidifier chamber and look inside there are two silicone pieces. One that creates the seal between the machine and the water chamber and one that creates the seal between the water chamber and the hose connection.

Now I am wondering if the silicon simply "soaked" up an odor that is being expelled by the machine (i.e., a part inside the motor is failing). If I use the seal from my spare water chamber (which smells fine), by the next morning that seal smells bitter. On the other side of that, the one I took out was washed thoroughly and left sitting on the counter for a week. I checked it every day and the smell did not go away until after about a week. Now there is no odor to it. I will switch them back again tonight and see what I get.

[HalfAsleep]

Put the brick on the floor. It has to be at a different level than the CPAP. Per Resmed.

[CHanlon]

Recently 2 new users had the same issue, which was (apparently) resolved by placing the power brick on the floor rather than on the table next to the machine.

Put the brick on the floor. It has to be at a different level than the CPAP. Per Resmed.

Yeah, this really is a thing.  The brick can get hot, and while it's still absolutely fine, you'll smell it if your intake picks it up.  In fact, anything with a scent near your machine will smell pretty intense when it's condensed into your airflow - I left a paper towel with a tiny dab of lemon scented dish soap near mine one night and thought I'd fallen asleep in a lemon orchard.

[Sleep2Snore]

Well, to be honest, that is another mistake I have made!  I have it on the same table as the machine.
I should know better.

If an Electrolytic capacitor is going faulty inside the chopper power supply it may take ages to finally fail, even after it fails the power supply might still work for a long time, just not supply so smooth a power to the machine or maybe the right voltage.
The Electrolytic capacitor releases a chemical that is used to store electric between paper that is wrapper up very tightly.
This can leak and can produce a small like burning and if it is in contact with the rectifier diodes that turn the AC power into a rough DC power the machine runs on, it will produce a horrible smell.  Now, the power supply is in an almost sealed plastic box, but it is not gas tight and if some of this gas finds its way into the air intake it will smell up everything it touches.
Now I have a problem, how do you test it, you can't really as it will have put the smell into the machine!
I am NOT saying this IS the problem, but it is a strong possibility.
If it is I would NOT breath this electrolyte, it would not be very good for you.
Diodes can also overheat and smell a bit and as they are inside a plastic box there is very little cooling as you can tell by how hot the power supply get to touch.  It should only get warm and not hot.

You could try cleaning everything and putting the power supply on the ground.
There are also these capacitors inside the machine as well, so it might be one of those, though they are smaller and under less stress, but that is not to say they will not go faulty.  Get the machine and power supply checked out, if it is the power supply checked.  If it is the power supply, you should be ably to smell it, turn it on and after a twenty minutes it will start to smell.  If it is inside the machine, it could take a long time or be immediate.
Best to take the machine to be checked over, as it is under warranty, do not even look at it, take everything to the supplier.

Be safe, if this happens to you, take the complete machine to the supplier to get it checked over.
If you get a burning smell, it is safer not to use it.

Come to think of it, my spare machine has a slight hint of a burning smell, I think I will open it up at the weekend to have a look inside as everything is on the same box with it.

[drowl]

Just got a ResMed Autosense 10 this afternoon. Immediate headache. The machine seemed to be outgassing. It could not have been my mask or tube because I was using an old one. I'm trying to let it run without breathing to clear the smell. I have chemical sensitivities and was surprised that the air smelled like outgassing. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-outgassi...youknowout

[HalfAsleep]

Just got a ResMed Autosense 10 this afternoon. Immediate headache. The machine seemed to be outgassing. It could not have been my mask or tube because I was using an old one. I'm trying to let it run without breathing to clear the smell. I have chemical sensitivities and was surprised that the air smelled like outgassing. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-outgassi...youknowout

Put the power brick on the floor......Put the power brick on the floor.......Put the power brick o the floor......

Per Resmed.

This is a common problem.

[Sleep2Snore]

The plastic bags that a new machine and the other parts it uses comes in can have a burnt smell.
But this should go in no time, however, it does transfer some smell to the machine if you are unlucky enough to get one of these bags.

[drowl]

Brick was on the floor. My wife has the identical machine and has had for six weeks. I tried it and got a terrific headache in less than two minutes. I should have tried it first. 12-15% of the US population have a problem with various chemical sensitivities.