Do you have numerous excursions to the breaker on your treadmill? When the treadmill trips the breaker more regularly, treadmill owners know how annoying it can be. Tripping the circuit on a treadmill is common, but it should be taken seriously if it happens repeatedly. The good news is that there are a number of techniques to keep the circuit breaker from tripping.
Why Does A Treadmill Trips the Breaker?
The average wattage of a treadmill is between 300 and 900 watts. However, the likelihood of a treadmill breaker trip might vary widely from model to model.
There are three possible causes for a treadmill circuit breaker to trip.
Overloaded Circuit
There is a good chance that the treadmill’s breaker will be tripped by an overloaded circuit. A treadmill can trip a circuit if it draws more power than your power outlet can handle. When the circuit overloads or burns out, it trips to protect the wire from being harmed.
All that’s left to do is find the appliance that is causing the overload, therefore the journey is worthwhile. Ovens and microwaves have also been reported to trip a circuit in the home.
There are two types of electrical outlets in most modern homes in the United States today:
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
Treadmills and elliptical machines often employ GFCI outlets, which have been praised for their exceptional performance.
These outlets are commonly seen in kitchens and bathrooms in new and modern homes. Reset switches in either white or red are found on their plates. When the power flowing to the earth reaches a certain limit, they, like other interrupters, will flip their breaker.
As a result, machines like treadmills draw a lot of dirt, trash, and pet hair from the surrounding area. Because of this, they need a ground wire to distribute some of the current. However, if you connect your treadmill to a GFCI outlet using a ground wire, the GFCI outlet will likely trip the breaker and shut down your treadmill.
You can fix this problem by moving your machine to a different location in your home. Even if they don’t have a red switch, the majority of outlets near GFCIs are the same type.
In order to stay clear of this issue, you may want to consider storing your treadmill in a different room or hallway. Treadmills require their own dedicated circuit, therefore check sure no other devices are connected to that source before using one.
AFCI (Arc Circuit Interrupter) Outlet
To prevent deadly arc-faults that could cause an electrical fire, an AFCI is designed to protect persons and property. A common cause of arcing failures is a fault with the system’s wires or cords.
All new homes must now have AFCI outlets in order to comply with construction rules.
GFCI and AFCI circuit breakers are excellent for protecting you and your loved ones against electrical hazards in your house. GFCI and AFCI outlets, on the other hand, are not compatible with most treadmills or incline trainers due of their construction. In this case, both outlets interfere with your treadmill when it is running.
Static electricity is generated when people use treadmills or incline trainers, and this trips GFCI/AFCI plugs. Treadmills, incline trainers, and other home gym equipment require a lot of energy, which is then sent to the ground via the ground port. Because of this, the treadmill shuts off as soon as one of the GFCI or AFCI plugs hits the breaker.
The circuit can become overloaded if the treadmill malfunctions on occasion, causing it to trip. Circuits can be triggered if your treadmill is struggling with an old conveyor belt, for example, because it will have to work harder than usual.
Tripping a breaker is a regular occurrence in older treadmills. Treadmills can malfunction if you’ve been using them for a lengthy period of time. Treadmill circuits can also be tripped by the following:
- Running on a treadmill with a greased belt that is too old
- Running on a treadmill with an excessive amount of body weight
- The power cord is faulty.
Short Circuit
When the black wire comes into touch with another wire, but not with the ground wire, a short circuit develops. A device, the power cord, or a power outlet might all be affected by this.
It’s more dangerous than an overloaded circuit since it emits a noxious odour. Before you begin your examination, disconnect the equipment fully. If you can’t figure out what’s wrong, you may need an electrician.
Ground Fault
Lastly, a ground fault could be the cause of treadmill circuit breakers trip. At this point, the black wire comes into contact with either a grounding wire or metal covering. An electrician is likely to be needed to fix this problem..
How to Prevent Treadmill from Tripping the Circuit Breaker?
- GFI outlets are located in garages and outdoor areas, while AFCI outlets are commonly found in living rooms and bedrooms. If your treadmill keeps tripping a circuit, try moving it to a new electrical outlet. In most cases, AFCI outlets are necessary by construction codes to suit the needs of most homes.
- It is tripping because the circuit is drawing more current than the breaker can handle. As a result, you may have an overloaded breaker because your motor is drawing more current than the circuit can handle. Using more than 80% of your breaker’s capacity, such as 16 amps on a 20 amp circuit, is not safe.
- The treadmill’s high amperage demand is likely to have pushed the breaker above its maximum, thus you’re most certainly overloading the circuit by running many gadgets at once. To determine the total load on a circuit, add the wattages of all lights, fans, air conditioners, computers, and any other devices that rely on it. The circuit breaker will trip if the aggregate load of all devices on the circuit, including the treadmill’s initial demand, exceeds the breaker’s rating.
- Make sure your treadmill doesn’t consume too much electricity from your power supply to avoid triggering a circuit. Take a look at the treadmill’s specifications. Find out the motor’s horsepower rating. Ideally, it should be affixed to the motor or power wire. An important factor is the motor’s maximum permissible amperage rating. When an electric motor is first turned on, it draws more current than when it is in operation.
- Amount of power that the circuit is capable of handling The treadmill’s wattage needs to be figured out. Do not attempt to utilise a UPS or any other workaround if the breaker’s rating is exceeded. Alternately, visit an electrician about increasing the circuit’s amp rating.
- Some people use a surge protector like the Tripp Lite ISOBAR4ULTRA from Amazon.com, which is available for purchase, to prevent treadmill overloads and tripping the breaker.