USING POWER SURGE STRIPS WITH TREADMILLS

Connecting a treadmill to a power surge strip poses somewhat of a dilemma. While the power surge strip will go a long way to protecting the electronics in your treadmill from transient fluctuations in voltage, just like it would for your computer, the problem is that treadmills sometimes cause small voltage changes and small power surges as power delivery systems attempt to cope with power demand changes of a treadmill. The power demands of a treadmill constantly fluctuate when the treadmill is used. It increases when a foot comes in contact with the running belt and continues to increase as the full bodyweight is applied , pressing the running belt against the treadmill's deck. The power demand of the treadmill is reduced as the foot is lifted and the load on the treadmill drive motor is reduced. The cycle repeats with each step. The differential in more pronounced on older treadmills that have worn treadbelts and decks and when the user is running on the treadmill. This can cause the power surge protector strip to trip and cut off the power supplied to the treadmill, which in turn causes the treadmill to stop rather abruptly and unexpectedly, in effect causing the user to walk or run into the treadmill's display housing and possibly resulting in injury.

Additionally, most power surge strip have several receptacles. Treadmills should be on dedicated circuits and the extra electrical outlets offer an opportunity to plug other appliances into the strip. This can cause an overload on the circuit and sometimes, the other appliances generate electrical noise on the line that can cause elusive treadmill error codes, when there is actually nothing wrong with the treadmill.

So, the best procedure is not to use a power surge protector with a treadmill, but unplug the treadmill's power cord from the wall outlet when the unit will not be used for an extended period of time.