... a residential outlet handle that much horsepower? The machine is sold to residential users only but it powers off, unexpectedly and randomly. Manufacturer says the outlet is at fault. But is it? If residential outlets can't operate such a machine, why can they sell it as such is where I'm going.
Electrical - I have a 4.5 horsepower treadclimber in a residence. It shuts off intermittently. Can?
- Posted:
- 3+ months ago by genej101
- Topics:
- machine, power, residence, handle, outlet, shut, residential, electrical, user
Details:
Responses (1)
That equals 3400 watts, which means close to 30 amps. Residential outlets are usually fused for 15 amps and will carry 30 amps for a short time, so that is your problem. You need to find an outlet with the higher rating, or get one installed. The manufacturer is goofy to suggest that machine for residential use without a notice that it requires a special outlet.
I know how annoying it can be when something doesn't work right. It's not such a big deal to get an upgraded outlet installed and that is what you need to do to use this beast.
I don't quite understand why you need a 4.5 hp machine to exercise your 1/4 hp body. I don't understand why you got a running machine when you are having trouble with your knees. Aerobic dance gives almost the same results with less stress and you only need an mp3 player.
Hi and thanks. This isn't a treadmill, I can't use those because of my knees. It is a treadclimber which has no impact on my knees, two separate treadles, that work sort of like a combination of an elliptical and a tread mill. So there is no impact at all on my knees, I get none of the issues I had running with this machine but a workout that equals running, the kind where you sweat two hours after a cold shower, I thought I'd lost that forever after the two knee surgeries. It is an amazing machine and Nautilus does not sell it to health clubs only residential.
I didn't know I could get an outlet upgraded. I will look into that, thank you. They're send a technician to try another motor, they think it overheats and then shuts down. But the thing about that is that it has done this since I've been able to do 10 minutes on the machine - and that took two weeks almost. Since then it shuts down anywhere from 7 minutes to 85 minutes. All I do is flip the switch and it works again, it has never shut down twice in a day and the times are completely random. I've lost 30 pounds on this machine with no knee or lower back issues at all. The thing is a marvel, if I could just get it to work properly. When it shuts down I lose all the tracked data, time, distance, calories, but then works fine when I just flip the switch and restart it. Which makes me think it is not an overheating issue at all. Upgrading the outlet might do it. Thanks for the idea! I appreciate it. :^)
Thank you. This is a Bowflex Treadclimber, Nautilus insists it can be operated residentially. They don't sell it to fitness clubs. Their ads, and their staff, insist it can be operated in a home. Reviews say it is wonderful, and I have to add that I think so too. When it works. It is a long story but short version is, I used to run - a lot - but my knees gave out. This was advertised as something that would approximate a running workout without the stress on knees.
It does that, for me, I've great results with it, but it keeps shutting down, not predictably, it can happen at 7 minutes or 85 minutes, no warning, just stops and the screen goes black. I turn it off and turn it back on and it works fine. I've never had it stop twice in a day. It is just so weird and I don't think the outlet (which I've owned since I bought this place new in 1994) is the problem. I've tried two along that wall, both of which have been used for lamps, vacuum cleaners and such, with no problem. I get that 4.5 HP is a lot, or I do now, but if a normal household outlet can't handle that, then they shouldn't advertise it saying that it can. They just say plug it in and go. And it does, until it doesn't.
Maybe exercise machines really can't be used in a residence? But if that is true, then, they shouldn't be able to say they can. I've spent $4000 in purchasing and repairing this thing and I just want it to work.