Treadmill (Peloton) popping GFCI

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VirutalElectrician

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Location
Mpls, MN
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Sparky - Trying to be retired
Well, this was a new one on me....

Got a service call that a GFCI kept popping. Went on site and replaced the GFCI outlet. Lady started up her Peloton and 5 seconds later it popped again. I scratched my head and stuck in another just in case and that popped.

Well I'll be...Googled it up, and sure enough, about 20-30 hits for these darn things, including their own website!

Peloton states that they drain the static electricity from their belt out the grounding conductor so it will pop GFCI protected circuits! So they recommended using their products only on dedicated non-GFCI protected circuits!

https://support.onepeloton.com/hc/e...92-Peloton-Tread-and-Tread-Usage-Requirements

Seeing as these things are generally installed in basements, which are required to have GFCI protected circuits, how are they proposing you get around the NEC?

I had to leave her without a solution as I couldn't remove the GFCI and violate the NEC.

Thoughts?
 
Maybe have her put in a humidifier to reduce static buildup and subsequent discharge that could be tripping the GFCI.

FYI, Van de Graff generators use a moving belt to build up charge on a terminal, often of a spherical shape.
 
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I expect that there is another issue with the equipment and the static claim is just that ...some static from the manufacturer. The GFCI does not look at current on the EGC and they should not be using the neutral conductor as the static discharge path.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
I expect that there is another issue with the equipment and the static claim is just that ...some static from the manufacturer. The GFCI does not look at current on the EGC and they should not be using the neutral conductor as the static discharge path.
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Makes me wonder if they have a 2 prong plug then. That would possibly explain it. Maybe they made it Double Insulated to accommodate older homes with ungrounded outlets, but that means using the neutral as the static discharge path.
 
Jraef said:
Makes me wonder if they have a 2 prong plug then. That would possibly explain it. Maybe they made it Double Insulated to accommodate older homes with ungrounded outlets, but that means using the neutral as the static discharge path.
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I can't imagine that the product standard would permit that.
 
I imagine the treadmill uses a VFD. And so they may not have enough filtering of the common-mode noise produced from the PWM drive signal. I agree with Don that it's most likely not a static electricity issue.
 
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I use my treadmill as a standing desk. The static is bad enough to cause computer crashes; I need to use an static control wrist strap connected to the treadmill frame in order to use my computer.

I agree that what a GFCI is supposed to measure should not trip on static discharges. However strong enough discharges may play havoc with the GFCI electronics.

A heavy duty plug in noise filter _might_ solve the problem, weather caused by treadmill control electronics or static discharge.

-Jon
 
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