Is my push button circuit breaker the problem?

[giantspider]

Hi,

My treadmill has stopped providing power to the motor. When I put a meter across the Zing Ear circuit breaker I got no reading (set to 220ac and power on). Can I bypass this CB to see if it is the reason I have no power to my motor - ie am I "safe" to connect the in (red) wire of the CB directly to the out (white) wire without causing damage elsewhere?

Thanks.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Welcome to the forum, without any make, model, wiring diagrams or photographs the information you have given is probably a bit to vague to offer many suggestions. If what you call a circuit breaker is what we in the electrical trade call a circuit breaker then this is an important safety device and should never be bypassed to try and fault find. Also fault finding on live equipment powered at 230v can be a very hazardous activity. The forum would very strongly recommend as per industry standard guidance, Never work or on any live equipment unless there is absolutely no other possible way to carry out the work. Normally there are other safer ways to trace faults and test wires and components. 230v can kill a healthy adult in less than a few seconds. Can you post some photos of the treadmill and the test meter(s) you have got to work with. Then maybe we can help point you in the right direction.

Doc H.

 

[ProDave]

The obvious thing is to try pusing it in, to see if it resets.

First with NO POWER on, does the circuit breaker push in and latch? if not, then it's faulty.

If it successfully latches with no power on, then plug it in and try it. If it pops out as soon as you try and turn it on, then there is almost certainly some other fault, and the circuit breaker is doing it's correct job.

Try those tests and report back.

As already stated, do NOT bypass the circuit breaker. If there is a fault, doing so will cause a lot more damage and would be dangerous.

 

[giantspider]

Hi,

The push button circuit breaker is a Zing Ear ZE700 -7. I had researched what it did. And I have tried pushing the button.

Initial reactions from my equipment supplier was that the problem might be the main (pcb) board and that is no longer available. I therefore have looked at the various parts in the treadmill that I feel able to check, for example, I removed and cleaned the pcb - since dust is supposedly a major cause of malfunction. I removed and reconnected all the connector, I checked the motor brushes since someone else had found that to be their problem. When I first tried the Zing Ear there seemed to be no resistance at all to the button. It seemed almost to be loose. Obviously I pushed the button - several times in fact. I have just taken it into an electrical factors who believed the Zing Ear was "on" all the time, ie as a safety breaker it was failing. When I applied my meter to the two poles on the Zing Ear (with power on) I failed to register any current, yet when I test it for resistance (with no power as I might a fuse) I find no resistance and irrespective of whether I hold the button in or not.

My problem is that the treadmill is old, yet until this week extremely reliable. Built in the early 2000's means in terms of repair possibilities I am wasting my time. Hence my search for some other possible cause for their being no power to my motor.

Anyway, thanks for your comments so far.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Any chance of a picture of the pigs ear breaker. The two poles you refer to may be a single pole device and you would not get a reading even if it was live and operating correctly dependent on where the probes are placed.

 

[kme]

You need an appliance repair person to fault-find this for you, me thinks - not necessarily to repair it, but to tell you wherein the fault lies

 

[giantspider]

kme, you are probably right. I did try this route initially. The problem was that those I asked who were familiar with this area (treadmills/fitness equipment) were dubious about being able to repair/replace parts because machinery built in 2002 is now obselete!! Even my circuit breaker is no longer available. And this for a treadmill that today would cost

 

[ProDave]

What you need is a proper repair man, possibly a tv repair man might take it on (I gather the tv repair trade is not doing well so they may be desperate and take on anything)

It's probably not a job for an electrician, it needs someone with electronics knowledge and able to fault find to component level, and probably without service data either.

I would take it on but I'm way too far from you.

 

[Sidewinder]

giantspider,

Where abouts in Powys are you?

It looks like the circuit breaker you refer to is not what would "normally" be called a circuit breaker on here, it is more of an overload.

Without knowing how you are testing it, exactly it is difficult to tell if it is faulty.

I can get you a replacement if you need one.

 

[giantspider]

Sidewinder,

My understanding is that you are right in that it is an overload breaker. My tests have involved placing my meter leads on each of the 2 terminals and looking for resistance. My meter went to zero. And placing my meter on neutral where the power comes in and the out part of the breaker and I got a 220v reading. Both these suggest to me that there is power getting through the breaker and so I concluded that the breaker cannot be the cause of my lack of power.

Re ProDave's suggestion to try a TV repair man. That I will do.

THanks.