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Gyms are stressful places to work. Treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, and all the other strength machines are pushed to the limit, around the clock. Power disturbances-caused by the grid, or other equipment starting and stopping-can cause damage to sensitive electronic equipment, a safety risk or cause expensive downtime. A robust free-standing voltage stabilizer is the answer. Unlike the socket-mounted devices found in home offices, freestanding stabilizers provides a high power capacity to gym equipment and has built-in safety features. Here is your guide to protecting gym machines with the right stabilizer:
Understanding Voltage Risks in Commercial Gyms
Knowing the potential issues beforehand makes choosing a stabilizer a little easier.
Typical voltage problems in gyms include:
Sags (brownouts): These lower than normal voltages cause motor to draw too much current in attempt to maintain performance. This could be overheating the tread mill motors and trips breakers mid- workout.
Surges and spikes: spike or burst in voltage is often due to a system like an elevator, HVAC system etc. that is powering up/down, can quickly overload control boards, touch screens and LED display.
Voltage fluctuations: Unstable power supply causes modern electronic controls and displays to function erratically, even speed up and slow down the treadmill unexpectedly.
The resulting hazards:
Sudden increase in speed of a treadmill could throw the user off.
Erratic resistance of the elliptical machine leads to the wrong kind of workout and possible injury.
Electrical shorts and resulting sparks in a machine contain potential fire hazards in a place with synthetic materials.
Free-standing voltage stabilizers prevent these by regulating power output to within ±3% to ±5% of desired voltage.
Core Safety Features to Look For
Not all stabilizers were created equal. When looking for a stabilizer to protect your gym equipment, make sure the unit includes the following safety features:
Over-voltage and under-voltage protection.
Stabilizers that protect gym equipment automatically shut off output power when the grid voltage is too high or low. This is key to protecting equipment from being exposed to voltage levels that can damage its internal components. This either resets automatically when the power returns to its desired levels or allows for a manual reset depending on your choice.
Short circuit and overload protection.
It is important to choose a high quality stabilizer with built in circuitry (breaker or fuse) that trips when the voltage supply has gone up above what is recommended for safety. When looking for devices to protect gym equipment, resettable circuit breakers should be chosen over single-use fuses for efficiency in times of down time.
Surge suppression.
Lightning strikes and electrical switching events have the potential to push thousands of volts through your gym equipment. Within the stabilizers is built in surge suppression to clamp out any over-voltage spikes that could damage your delicate electronic controls. For use at the gym, a surge rating of 1000 Joules minimum should be obtained.
Thermal protection.
A free-standing stabilizer generates a certain level of heat, particularly during sag correction. Automatic shut-down of the stabilizer occurs at excessive internal temperatures so that it is protected from damage or fire. The units can be re-activated automatically when there is a cooling period.
Zero-crossing switching (SCR models).
As these thyristor based voltage regulators are switching when the AC voltage is passing zero, there is almost no electrical arcing and electrical noise is minimized. This is really handy on modern gym machines which have a digital display.
Emergency manual bypass.
In the event that the stabilizer fails during an emergency, the unit may be switched back to utility power and you may still be able to run your gym equipment while it is being repaired.
Device Compatibility: Matching Stabilizers to Gym Equipment
Gym machines can differ in how they function, and their power demands vary too. Match your stabilizer to your needs.
High-inrush load devices.
The power requirements on startup for treadmill, stair climber, or rowing machines are 3 to 6x their rated current draw. A servo motor voltage stabilizer can easily overcome this demand while maintaining consistent output voltage. The most accurate control offered by servo designs is 1-3% and is perfect for equipment with variable speeds.
Continuous moderate loads Machines with electronic resistance like elliptical, spin bike and strength equipment always consumes current when on. Relay voltage stabilizers can give a stable and economical power to such machines. The faint click you may hear from the unit performing its voltage correction duty should not be noticeable over normal gym sound levels.
Three-phase equipment Most large gym equipment and AC systems utilize 3-phase power. Spin bike banks, high-duty treadmills and larger air conditioning systems often use this type of power. Always select a 3-phase voltage stabilizer to meet their demands. Never use single-phase stabilizers on 3-phase equipment.
Low priority devices.
Fans, lighting fixtures and water dispensers don't typically suffer from small variations in voltage. Allocate the full capacity of your stabilizer to your powered and electronically controlled equipment.
Sizing guideline: Calculate the total wattage demand and add 25-30% for capacity. Four to six standard treadmills will require a 10kVA stabilizer.
Long-Term Reliability and Installation Best Practices
Your gym equipment will benefit from many years of trouble free operation if it is protected with the purchase of your own freestanding voltage stabilizer. The installation and servicing is simple and should result in years of use.
Environmental conditions:
The preferred location should be far away from steam, moisture (pool side, steam rooms) and a high level of dust.
The unit must have ample ventilation on all sides. Keep at least 30cm (12 inches) of clear space all around it.
Make sure it is accessible for routine monthly visual inspections and an annual technician visit.
Maintenance checklist:
Monthly check should contain a hearing test to ensure no vibrations, noises or smells. Ensure fans spin free.
Quarterly, check and tighten electrical connections.
Check with an electrician annually on the condition of your surge protection. Its effectiveness decreases after each surge it takes.
Why choose our stabilizers?
For over 20 years, these stabilizers have been made in the 50,000 m(2) factory of a technology company. We manufacture our own machines using heavy-duty housings with hard wearing sprayed finishes (corrosion resistant) and intelligent software capable of running power grids across the globe. We write industry standards, have been identified as an 'Industry Champion' and own the IP fully.
Conclusion
Voltage consistency is a key factor in gym equipment function and safety. A stand-alone voltage stabilizer can prevent electrical sags, surges, and fluctuations that can lead to equipment malfunction, over-heating and even fire. By selecting stabilizers that include over-voltage cutoffs, surge protection, thermal protection and manual bypass, the risk and safety for your members will be greatly increased and costly down-time diminished.
Your gym's electrical demands-whether for an SCR, relay, servo motor, or 3-phase voltage regulator-we have the electrical solution customized and powered by a decade of industry leadership.
Contact us today to find out how to meet the unique power requirements of your gym.