Treadmill Tripping Breaker
We just bought a new mid-range treadmill rated for 11 amps. Our house is relatively new (about 2 years) and the electrical was checked for code by a home inspector when we purchased the house.
The treadmill manual stated it was required that it be plugged into a single outlet surge suppressor (which we did) into a 2 plug outlet that is grounded (which we did).
The room in which the treadmill is plugged in also has other electronics, TV, stereo, etc. plugged in as well as a ceiling light on the same breaker (one breaker for the room). The breaker was a 15 amp arc fault breaker (spare bedroom/media room - arc fault required by code).
Intermittantly, not when first powered on, but when treadmill belt starts running, the treadmill will pop the breaker for the room. This occurs randomly and with no pattern. It occurs plugged in with AND without the surge suppresor as well as NOT plugged in with the surge suppressor but plugged in with a heavy duty outdoor extension cord (we were trying the other outlets in the room). It occurs when the TV and cable box are on, when they are off and when they are completely unplugged from their outlets.
The store sent a repair man who checked the treadmill and said that it's "continuity" was fine, the treadmill was correctly grounded and the treadmill itself was not the cause. He recommended that either the outlet itself was bad (we checked it with an outlet tester and it was fine) or that the room needed a 20 amp circuit.
A friend who was an electrician's apprentice said it was due to the arc fault breaker and that we should change that to a standard 15 amp breaker until we sell the home and put the arc fault breaker back at that time to stay within code.
The home improvement store electric department person suggested putting in a 20 amp arc fault breaker to stay within code. I thought this was not possible as that circuit has 14 gauge wiring - he stated this was fine.
Please help! We are not certain where next to turn and want the "fix" to be safe for us and our home but be able to use the treadmill without constantly tripping the breaker and $500 worth of electrical work. (quote we received to come out and assess and resolve the issue)
Thank you.