The Untold Secret To Prevent Treadmill Trips Breaker In Less Than 10 Minutes In 2023
There is nothing more irritating than working out only to have your treadmill continuously trip the breaker. Not only does this make working out impossible, but walking back and forth to flip the breaker back on can be highly time-consuming.
No one wants to spend their workout time flipping breakers back on, so let’s take a look at how to prevent it in the first place. So in this guide, you will know everything about treadmill trips breaker and how to prevent them.
Luckily, there are quite a few different solutions to this problem. Hopefully, one of these will work out for you and let you get back to your treadmill session. With that said, the key to fixing this situation is figuring out why it is happening to begin with.
Therefore, many of our solutions only work in certain situations. You may need to try more than one before you find something that works for you!
Contents
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
GFCI outlets are commonly found in the kitchen and bathrooms of modern homes. You can tell them apart from other outlets because they have a white or red reset switch. As you might guess, these outlets are designed to flip a breaker if the power flowing through them is too high.
A GFCI outlet’s role is to prevent electrical shocks.
The problem is that treadmills need a lot of power. Therefore, they tend to flip the breaker on these outlets. Sometimes, they work just fine. Other times? Not so much.
Therefore, if you’re plugging your treadmill into one of these outlets, you may simply need to plug them in somewhere else. Sadly, most outlets around the GFCI outlet are likely to be the same kind. Therefore, you may need to switch to a different room.
Treadmills are pretty large, so be sure you have a friend to help you move them.
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)
Similar to the GFCI outlets, many treadmills do not work well in AFCI outlets. Sadly, though, it is difficult to tell these outlets apart from other outlets.
Many homes and apartments come with AFCI outlets. These shut down the flow of electricity when they detect an electrical arc, hence the name. Usually, this problem occurs when there is a problem with wires or cords. However, the treadmill “tricks” the outlet into thinking there is an issue when there isn’t.
Usually, all the outlets in the home will be this type when one is. Therefore, it isn’t as easy as moving your treadmill somewhere else.
You may end up with the same problem even after trying a different outlet.
For this reason, the only way to fix this problem is to install a different kind of outlet. Usually, this is the cheapest and easiest option. Alternatively, you could ask an electrician to install a Tripp lite isobar, which may prevent the AFCI from shutting down.
Treadmill Issues
If your outlet isn’t the cause of the problem, then it is likely the treadmill itself. There are several reasons your treadmill may be tripping the circuit, but most of them have to do with the treadmill drawing more electricity than usual.
When this happens, you may trip a breaker.
Several issues may cause your treadmill to draw more electricity than it would typically need otherwise. For instance, excessive weight on the treadmill will make the belt more challenging to move, causing the motor to work harder. Similarly, an unlubricated treadmill belt will also cause issues.
Here is a short list of problems that may lead to tripping a breaker:
- Power cord problems
- Too much weight on the treadmill
- Unlubricated power belt
- Older treadmill
To prevent further tripping of the breaker, you’ll likely need to fix this underlying problem. There isn’t much you can do in some cases, as is often the case with older machines. Sadly, your only option may be to purchase a new treadmill.
FAQs of Treadmill Trips Breaker &How to Prevent It?
Can I Plug My Treadmill into a Regular Outlet?
The outlet you need to plug your treadmill into varies from model to model. It depends mainly on the electrical requirements of the treadmill. Plugging your machine into an improper circuit can cause the breaker to trip.
Many treadmill brands require a 120-volt or 110-volt circuit. Luckily, the average outlet in the United States is 120 volts. However, the voltage of an outlet can vary. Therefore, your standard outlet in a U.S. home is usually compatible with 110-, 115-, or 120-volt treadmills.
If you purchase a treadmill that falls into this group, you can likely plug it into any standard outlet in your home.
If you don’t have an outlet in your home that fits this requirement, you’ll likely need to call an electrician. Similarly, if you purchase a treadmill with a different requirement, you may also need to call an electrician. Either way, this fix can be somewhat costly.
Therefore, your best bet is to purchase a treadmill that works with a 120-volt outlet to begin with. Then, you won’t have to worry about having an electrician change the plug.
Do Treadmills Need a Surge Protector?
Technically, you don’t need a surge protector for your treadmill to work. However, they are vulnerable to surges due to all the power that they pull. Therefore, it is highly recommended that they are plugged into a grounded outlet or surge protector.
Luckily, most homes have grounded outlets, and most treadmills come with the extra prong that makes them useable in a grounded outlet. Therefore, you won’t need to purchase a separate surge protector.
However, if your treadmill doesn’t come with a grounding prong, then you may want to invest in a surge protector.
For treadmills that have a grounded prong, you should never plug them into an outlet without the extra recess for the prong. Do not attempt to change the plug to work in an ungrounded outlet. After all, the treadmill was made with a grounding prong for a reason!
Do Treadmills Use Up a Lot of Electricity?
As larger machines, treadmills do use up quite a bit of electricity. These are some of the biggest guzzlers of electricity. Typically, you can expect a treadmill to use about 650-watts. However, it can vary a little bit between treadmills.
Furthermore, older treadmills will use more energy. Generally, the pieces begin to wear down, and the motor must work harder to move the belt. Not keeping up with regular maintenance, like lubrication, will lead to more energy usage as well.
Of course, the faster you run, the more you use the treadmill, and the more energy you will use.
For this reason, treadmills are generally considered the most power-hungry exercise tools, which also makes them less environmentally friendly than other options. However, it is essential to point out that most treadmills only use about 1% of the amount of energy that your average car does.
Do Treadmills Require Electricity?
Usually, treadmills do require electricity to operate. They are not self-powered like some other pieces of exercise equipment. Usually, treadmills run with a motor, which needs electricity to drive the treadmill belt and make the machine work.
However, there are some styles of treadmills that don’t require any electricity. These machines are called manual treadmills, which means that they don’t need any sort of electricity to run. However, these treadmills are rarer and much less popular, mainly because they can be more challenging to use.
With that said, if you’re looking for a treadmill that doesn’t need to be plugged up, they are possible to find. You may just need to compromise on other features to get what you’re looking for.
Conclusion of Treadmill Trips Breaker and how to Prevent It
There are two main reasons a treadmill may continuously flip the breaker: either the outlet is not suitable for the treadmill, or there is a problem with the treadmill.
While you may not recognize them in your day-to-day life, there are many different outlets. Some of these outlets work in a way that makes them unsuitable for treadmills. For instance, both GFCI and AFCI outlets cannot be used with treadmills.
If you plug your treadmill into one of these outlets, the odds are that you will flip the breaker sooner rather than later.
However, even if you use the proper outlet, you may need to consider problems with the treadmill. Anything that causes the treadmill to use more energy than average may flip the breaker. A lack of lubrication and excess weight on the treadmill are both common causes of this.
Older treadmills tend to use more energy than younger treadmills as well. Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about this issue except purchase a new treadmill.
