How Many Amps Does a Treadmill Use

The ampere requirements on manuals are there for a reason. This is more so the case for many of our gym equipment, such as your treadmill.

When we carelessly plug in our purchased devices straight into the outlet, we take the risk of overusing or underusing the current (i.e., ampere or amp) needed as we do not meet the stated requirements.

This is usually why many of the treadmills that we buy have short lifespans- especially the imported ones.

So, how many amps does a treadmill use?

We’ll find out that in our article.

Why Does The Amp of the Treadmill Matter?

As stated before, most of the problems that do not arise from daily wear- and- tear result from electrical problems. These include your treadmill experiencing a sudden dysfunction of the treadmill motor, display problems, inconsistent speeds, or even having that weird smell of something burning.

These are usually symptoms that signal that something is wrong with the circuits within the system and can be prevented by equipping ourselves with the following information:

Know Where Your Product is From

This is crucial since different regions have different practices as to how they design their circuits to work based on the power output they can provide.

By rule of the thumb, these regions are usually divided into 2 major systems; the US & Japan who run their voltage around 100-127 V, and the rest of the world, who run their voltage usage around 220- 240 V.

Some products may fall within the dual voltage system where it works on either of the systems. Even then, it would do you wonders to just check the product description, which will usually have a label such as in the example given below:

 INPUT: AC 100-240V ~ 1.0A 50/60 Hz

Translation: The first part will tell you that it runs on an Alternating Current (A.C) and works on dual voltage, on 1 A (Ampere or Amp) current at 50-60 Hz frequency.

Knowing How to Calculate Power Requirements

Figuring this out is a must as such energy requirements can be used to gauge the total energy drawn and the related costs of that energy load.

The calculation of these electrical output requirements can help you manage your electric bill a bit better and assist you in finding the right PV, battery backup, or another alternative energy system if you need a lot of power for all your electronics combined.

If you do not remember your high school physics, power is calculated using the formula below:

Power = Voltage (V) x Current (A)

This means that once you know the system your treadmill runs on, you can figure out the amount of electricity it uses.

Thus it is important to know how much current your treadmill runs on. If the voltage is too high, it can cause overheating and thus can even lead to short-circuiting. Retrospectively, if it is too low, then the treadmill might not work properly.

How Many Amps Does a Sole Treadmill Use?

Now that we know the voltage variations, we must figure out the current usage. An average treadmill will use about 15 to 20 A of current. It is recommended that a device of this requirement should not be run on the same outlet as other devices.

One other thing that is advised is that one should not use a circuit breaker that is of a higher current than the requirement for these types of devices. Unless you want to burn your house down- in which case, do make sure your insurance covers as much.

For example, do not even think about running a 20 A circuit breaker for a 15 A treadmill.

Not only will you risk overloading the existing 15 amp wiring to the point of overheating the wire, but you will also risk burning out the motor on the treadmill due to a lack of the required power. This situation, of course, will void your warranty as well as your home.

We want you running to stay fit, not running for your life.

If you smell burning or the device is not working properly due to the motor having problems, stop the usage immediately and unplug your treadmill for further investigation.

Power Requirement of the Treadmill

This brings us to our final requirement of understanding; what is the power requirement of our respective treadmill? Statistically, a treadmill will run on 300 to 900 watts depending on the specific model and output you are using.

Multiply that number with the number of hours you use it in that month and divide by 1000 for a simple way to calculate your monthly power consumption. Perhaps this can aid you in choosing the optimal treadmill for your home and your budget.

Common Problems and How to Deal with Them

Let’s get to know about some common treadmill issues and how to fix them.

If the Display Stops Working Properly

First, try seeing if the treadmill is properly plugged in. If that isn’t the problem, then you should try replacing the batteries

Inconsistent Speed

First, check if the treadmill is the only thing that is connected to the output. If that is not the problem, connectors connecting PCB to the motor should not be loose. Persisting problems then may be related to wear and tear

Faulty Elevation

Check if the connectors between the PCB and the motor are connected properly. If it is and the elevation is still faulty, there is something wrong with the motor

Burning Smell

This could be caused by a power surge causing a short circuit in the motor, wiring, or electronics. Turn off the treadmill and unplug it immediately

Final Words

Hopefully, this article will have helped you learn how many amps does a treadmill use.

Hope you put that knowledge into use and keep your treadmill safe.

GYM Equipment Power Hecks

Alternatives to Using a Surge Protector

Outlets of Surge Suppressor