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What This Guide Helps With
The ventilator does not charge normally or has unexpectedly short battery operation because of AC power, connection, battery condition, or charging-system problems.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Maintain Ventilation
Do not rely on a ventilator with questionable battery capability during transport or where loss of AC power could interrupt therapy.
If the device is supporting a patient, ensure reliable AC power and arrange another verified ventilator before troubleshooting or transport.
Expected outcome: Patient ventilation is not dependent on an unreliable battery.
2. Confirm the Battery Complaint
Determine whether the problem is:
- Battery not charging
- Battery not recognized
- Charge level not increasing
- Battery discharges unusually quickly
- Ventilator shuts down sooner than expected on battery
Record any battery-related indicators or messages.
Expected outcome: The exact battery symptom is reproduced and documented.
3. Verify AC Power
Connect the ventilator to a known-good AC outlet and confirm the outlet is functional.
Inspect the power cord, plug, and accessible power inlet for looseness or visible damage.
Expected outcome: Reliable AC power reaches the ventilator. If charging resumes after correcting the outlet or cord connection, troubleshooting can stop after verification.
4. Observe Charging Indication
With verified AC power connected, observe the ventilator's normal battery and charging indicators over an appropriate period.
Do not judge charging status solely from a brief connection if the displayed state has not had time to update normally.
Expected outcome: The ventilator recognizes AC power and indicates battery charging or normal battery status.
5. Inspect Accessible Battery Installation
If the battery is user-accessible under approved procedures, confirm it is correctly installed and fully seated.
Inspect for swelling, cracking, leakage, excessive heat, damaged contacts, or other visible abnormalities. Do not use a physically damaged battery.
Expected outcome: The battery is securely installed and shows no visible damage.
6. Compare With a Known-Good Compatible Battery
Where allowed and available, install a known-good compatible battery and verify recognition and charging.
Expected outcome: If the known-good battery operates normally, the original battery should be removed from service and evaluated or replaced according to facility procedure.
7. Evaluate Runtime Using Approved Testing
If short runtime is the complaint, perform an approved battery-capacity or operational test under controlled bench conditions.
Do not intentionally deplete the battery while the device is needed for clinical support.
Expected outcome: Battery performance is verified against the applicable service or facility acceptance criteria without inventing an unsupported runtime limit.
8. Verify AC-to-Battery Transition
Under controlled testing, confirm the ventilator continues operating appropriately when transitioning between AC and battery power, if included in approved return-to-service testing.
Expected outcome: Power-source transition occurs without unintended ventilator shutdown.
9. Escalate Persistent Charging Problems
If a known-good battery will not charge or the ventilator does not reliably recognize AC and battery power, stop external troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: The ventilator is kept out of service until the charging or internal power system is evaluated.
If the Problem Persists
External AC power, cord connection, battery seating, and known-good battery substitution have been evaluated. Remaining causes may involve charging circuitry, internal power distribution, battery communication, or related service-level electronics.
The ventilator should be:
- Removed from service when dependable battery operation is required
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation
- Evaluated using appropriate Getinge documentation and approved test equipment
- Repaired only by qualified personnel
Complete applicable battery, power-transition, ventilator-performance, alarm, and electrical-safety testing before return to service. Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
A ventilator with questionable battery runtime should not be selected for patient transport even if it operates normally while connected to AC power.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Respiratory Therapy reported that the Servo-c battery charge level did not increase while connected to AC power."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the installed battery was not fully seated."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"The battery was reseated, normal charging indication returned, and battery operation and AC transition were verified before return to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Battery-related message
- AC outlet tested
- Power cord condition
- Charging indication
- Battery seating
- Visible battery condition
- Known-good battery result
- Runtime test result
- AC-to-battery transition result
- Final device status
Final Thought
Confirm dependable AC power and battery installation before assuming an internal charging failure, verify battery operation under controlled conditions, and do not return a ventilator with unreliable backup power to service.
That is successful troubleshooting.