Power cuts: Series5 - How long will the air cells retain their pressure?
With the pump connected?
Only temporarily. Air slowly seeps out through the pump and is lost. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on what “firmness” setting the product was in, and where in its cycle it was interrupted.
With the pump disconnected and the transport cap in place?
When you hear click of the transport cap, this confirms that the airlines are sealed. With the transport cap in place, all the air is sealed into the mattress permanently. This serves as a “transport” mode also.
do the cylinders equalise once the air has been sealed in?
Yes. With the air lines cross-connected via the transport cap, the air remaining in the system will equalise among all cylinders, levelling the patient.
NOTE: Disconnecting air lines at the mattress will also seal the air into the system permanently. However, using this method, the cylinders will NOT equalise unless the “alternate / rotate” switch is flipped following power loss. Flipping this switch redirects air in the four cylinders, allowing them to equalise.