Q:
What size circuit breaker should be used for Cybex Treadmills?
Cybex Power Requirements by Country LT-17789 Rev K
Why a 20 Amp circuit can be used for a 19 Amp load: An electrician was concerned that the circuits he was planning for a gym would not pass code because our 550T has a decal on the front that states. 115V 19A single phase. His point was that the NEC (National Electrical Code) states that a breaker must have a 20% buffer for the load. In this case, we recommend the use of a 20amp circuit but rated the max load as 19 amps therefore the 20% buffer was compromised. The 125% sizing of the over current protective devices (OCPD) (or 80% loading) is only applicable when continuous loads are involved. Circuit Breakers and other OCPDs can be sized at 100% of their rating for non-continuous load applications. A treadmill is not a continuous load.
According to the NEC: NPFA 70 (NEC 2008) 210.23 Permissible Loads states "In no case shall the load exceed the branch-circuit rating. An individual branch-circuit shall be permitted to supply any load for which it is rated. A branch-circuit supplying two or more outlets or receptacles shall supply only the loads specified according to it's size as specified in 210.23 (A) through (D) and as summarized in 210.24 and Table 210.24." Since a dedicated (or individual) circuit is specified for the 550T, the underlined sentence above is the governing sentence. 210.23(A) applies to branch-circuits supplying two or more outlets or receptacles and is therefore not applicable to the 550T.
Note: The decal on a treadmill shows 16 Amps on the 110 / 115VAC rating for example (shown below), where the product manual states 20 Amps. The rating marked on the product is the rating allowed per our ETL Listing to UL1647 and regulations in other International safety reports. The circuit ratings in the manual are for the supply circuit requirements for the different regions we sell to.
Why a 20 Amp circuit can be used for a 19 Amp load: An electrician was concerned that the circuits he was planning for a gym would not pass code because our 550T has a decal on the front that states. 115V 19A single phase. His point was that the NEC (National Electrical Code) states that a breaker must have a 20% buffer for the load. In this case, we recommend the use of a 20amp circuit but rated the max load as 19 amps therefore the 20% buffer was compromised. The 125% sizing of the over current protective devices (OCPD) (or 80% loading) is only applicable when continuous loads are involved. Circuit Breakers and other OCPDs can be sized at 100% of their rating for non-continuous load applications. A treadmill is not a continuous load.
According to the NEC: NPFA 70 (NEC 2008) 210.23 Permissible Loads states "In no case shall the load exceed the branch-circuit rating. An individual branch-circuit shall be permitted to supply any load for which it is rated. A branch-circuit supplying two or more outlets or receptacles shall supply only the loads specified according to it's size as specified in 210.23 (A) through (D) and as summarized in 210.24 and Table 210.24." Since a dedicated (or individual) circuit is specified for the 550T, the underlined sentence above is the governing sentence. 210.23(A) applies to branch-circuits supplying two or more outlets or receptacles and is therefore not applicable to the 550T.
Note: The decal on a treadmill shows 16 Amps on the 110 / 115VAC rating for example (shown below), where the product manual states 20 Amps. The rating marked on the product is the rating allowed per our ETL Listing to UL1647 and regulations in other International safety reports. The circuit ratings in the manual are for the supply circuit requirements for the different regions we sell to.