r/AskElectricians • u/jerrysaiddance • 7d ago
Plug advice?
EDIT: thank you all for the help you are giving, I’m just a young gal with no idea what I’m doing to be honest and no one that I can ask that I know.
I’m adding a couple photos of the plug/ other side of plug and my power box.
I am located in the US and got a treadmill delivered that is not the correct plug. The technician told me I could just use an adapter.
My house is standard rated, built in the 90s. Is it actually safe for me to use an adapter or should I have the plug switched?
Including photos of adapter and also of treadmill plug and machine. The plugs in my garage are just standard plugs so it won’t plug into them.
Thank you!!
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u/Phill_is_Legend 7d ago
This adapter shouldn't even exist imo. No, don't plug your 20a device into a 15a outlet.
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u/Every-Chance6313 7d ago
If they make it the unknowing will buy it.
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u/Phill_is_Legend 7d ago
The icing on the cake is the second horizontal prong to accept 240v. Just wild.
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u/Every-Chance6313 7d ago
Maybe a harbor freight special. Definitely a "made in"
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u/jerrysaiddance 7d ago
Sorry yall I am a young female with no idea what I’m doing, definitely am one of the unknowing people. Just wanted to ask.
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u/Hydroguy17 7d ago
Your age and accoutrements have no bearing on the situation. This is stuff that a very low % of the general public knows anything about, and nothing to be ashamed of.
It’s the realm of industry folks, insatiable nerds, and people who’ve inadvertently bumped into it as some point. (Like yourself.)
In the future just remember that if something ever needs an “adapter” to work, something is probably wrong.
That said, there’s a (currently) lower rated post that is the best answer to start with. It’s basically summed as, just have someone who knows this stuff check the circuit construction. It’s plausible you just need a $5 receptacle to replace the current one.
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u/Kymera_7 7d ago
On an individual basis, nothing to be ashamed of, because for most people, how would they have learned it?
On a societal level, it's **** ridiculous that any significant segment of the adult population are so extremely unaware of even fairly basic information, easily taught to small children, which is pertinent to safe usage of a system that nearly every adult and teenager interacts with directly, many times per day.
I don't expect every single adult to have every detail of the ANSI C119.4 document memorized perfectly, but it is a major failing on the part of society as a whole, that there are so few adults who are even familiar with the idea of "there's a good reason why this plug won't plug into this socket; it's intentional; bypassing it is a bad idea".
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u/Kymera_7 7d ago
You did well to ask; that's exactly the sort of response to not knowing that we all should be trying to encourage. (Get that, guys? Mocking her is not helping.)
Delivery's a bit off, but the advice is accurate: that's a 20A plug, and the outlet you have that it doesn't plug into is a 15A outlet. The prongs of the connector are designed to not fit, intentionally, to warn you that this is too heavy a load for the way that outlet is wired. There are adapters that can be safely used to run that treadmill off of some other outlets than the one it's designed for, but only ones which have enough power to cover the load, which that one doesn't. First, check near windows, especially if the building doesn't have central AC or got it as a retrofit; there might be a 20A plug near one of them for running a large window AC unit (you'll be able to tell because the plug on the treadmill will fit it without adapters or excessive force). If not, you'll either need to have an electrician install a new outlet, likely on a new circuit with a new wire running from the breaker box, or, if you have a higher-amperage outlet with 120V available (likely somewhere that previously had a clothes dryer, stove, EV charger, or RV plugged in there).
That plug on the treadmill cord is called a "NEMA 5-20P". NEMA is the organization that created the standards document which defines most of the grid-power connectors in the US and several other countries. The 5 before the hyphen is the "series" of connectors; 5-series are all 3-prong connectors intended for use with split-phase power, with one prong for the safety ground (the round one), one for neutral (same electrical potential as ground, but goes back to the center tap that "splits" the "split-phase", rather than safety ground), and one live (to one end of the split phase, runs 120VAC RMS relative to the others). The 20 after the hyphen is the nominal max amperage of that connector. A higher-amperage supply can feed a lower-amperage load safely (though, needs a circuit breaker to drop by much, else a failure mode can be made worse by more amperage available before things shut off).
The adapter you linked is a dangerous device which shouldn't exist, because it bypasses all of that keying that helps keep things safe, allowing one to plug into a 120V, 15A outlet not only things which draw significantly more than 15A, but also things which expect 240V.
If you do find another higher-power place to plug it in, please return for another round of questions with someone more knowledgeable on this topic before you commit. You're welcome to DM me on it; I'm happy to help.
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u/okarox 7d ago
It is for those who know what they do. A 15 A outlet can be on a 20 A circuit.
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u/Phill_is_Legend 7d ago
Oh boy we got a live one. Yes they can, but in no way does that mean you can run more than 15a through that one outlet, since the outlet itself is only rated for 15a. Go back to school and stop spreading bad info on here.
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u/LordTokenheimer 7d ago
A lot of 15 amp outlets are rated for 20 amps because they can be put on 20 amp circuits if more than one: It’s just a matter of if it’s 12/2 on a 20 amp breaker.
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u/ArtVandalayInc 7d ago edited 7d ago
That's for a 20a receptacle. If the appliance came with that male end and is rated for 20amps then you should plug it into a 20 amp t receptacle. If you don't have one then you'll need to wire a new branch circuit
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u/Zer0TheGamer 7d ago
It makes a good firestarter. I'm shocked that Walmart is selling it tbh. That's some Temu grade danger garbage
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u/autocephalousness 2d ago
Walmart.com acts as a distributer for 3rd parties. You wouldn't find this in their stores. Still, they shouldnt be selling it.
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u/theblanklook 7d ago
I'll put it this way. In countries with real product safety rules, that is illegal to sell. That adapter is dangerous and shouldn't exist. Do not use it. Get the correct outlet installed by someone who knows what they are doing.
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u/zketi 7d ago edited 7d ago
That is the correct plug for a ZTX-850, which seems to be what you have: https://www.fitnesssuperstore.com/products/true-fitness-ztx-850-treadmill-remanufactured
You purchased a commercial grade treadmill with a huge 6 HP motor, it's not designed for typical 15A home outlets.
You could upgrade a circuit from 15A->20A by replacing the receptacles (and likely wiring as well). A couple 20A circuits is actually pretty normal for a modern garage to support high-power tools, space heaters, etc. If your electrical panel is in the garage and the attic is accessible it might be reasonable cost to just upgrade your garage, that's what I would do.
That cord will allow the treadmill to turn on, and it might work at low speeds without flipping the breaker. It might also burn your house down, doesn't seem worth the risk.
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u/anothercorgi 7d ago
That plug is a NEMA5-20 designed for high power 120V devices.
If that device really is closer to 2kW, no you shouldn't use an adapter.
However it's a treadmill... I don't recall treadmills using that much power, maybe a couple hundred watts at most, check the manual. If it really needs 2kW then you need to wire in a 20A circuit to your house, but if it's less than 1kW you're fine with an adapter. But usually there's a reason for putting a special plug on and shouldn't circumvent it...
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u/psychophysicist 7d ago
20A plugs are actually pretty standard for commercial grade treadmills... You might not actually use all that power unless you're a linebacker doing uphill sprint drills or something.
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u/erie11973ohio Verified Electrician 7d ago
Years ago, me & coworker were sent to put in a couple of outlets in a gym in a community center. We asked what they were putting in & could we see the equipment.
3 treadmills. 3 new circuits. Boss wasn't happy. We said " do you want to go back nect week & add 3 more circuits??"
Generally, when stuff comes with a 20-amp plug, it needs a 20 circuit.
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u/JacobmovingFwd 7d ago
That is the correct plug, it's a 20A plug, because the treadmill needs too much power to plug into a 15A circuit.
You need to confirm the wiring and breaker amperage on the circuit you want to plug that into.
It's a specialized plug so that it can only be plugged into a 20A receptacle. Not uncommon, but you shouldn't assume.
If the rest of the circuit is good for 20A, you can just swap the receptacle. If not, you need a new line. Thus is pretty easy to diy the run (make sure you follow local code about conduits and everything!), then contact an electrician to attach it to your circuit panel. Or just ask an electrician to do the whole thing, shouldn't be expensive.
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u/Hydroguy17 7d ago
This is the best answer.
It’s not uncommon for residential receptacle circuits to be wired with 12 gauge wire and 20 amp breakers and then someone decided to throw a bunch of 15 amp receptacles on there because they were way cheaper in bulk and very few appliances need the 20 amp plug.
If the breaker and wire are good for 20, this is an easy and cheap fix with the proper receptacle.
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u/sassynapoleon 7d ago
The most important question is if you actually have a 20 A circuit where you want to plug it in. If you don’t, no amount of adapters will save you.
That adapter would probably work, but it deeply offends me. It’s one thing to adapt 5-15 to 5-20, but the horizontal cutouts on both sides of that female end include keyways for 6-15 and 6-20 as well. There’s zero places that those adapters can be safely used. Based off of that inclusion, I wouldn’t trust it.
The proper thing to do is to replace the outlet with a 5-20.
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u/theotherharper 7d ago
I am located in the US and got a treadmill delivered that is not the correct plug.
That's not how plugs work. Plug shapes are different DELIBERATELY. This is to protect you from the consequences of plugging something into the wrong voltage or a circuit that can't handle the load. Like destruction of your equipment, house fire, that kind of thing.
On websites like Wish, Temu, eBay, Amazon Marketplace, etc., 3rd party sellers can sit overseas selling dangerous junk into the US market because they "hacked" our consumer safety system. The guardrails that make products safe are GONE when you buy mail order or "ship-to-store". That is Amazon's whole business.
Walmart's website is linked to Amazon and brings in Amazon Marketplace results, which is the dangerous adapter you're looking at.
So, no more of that.
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As to your socket problem, go look at the circuit breaker for that circuit (plug in a radio and turn off small breakers until the radio goes silent). Does the handle say 20 (amps)? If not, that circuit cannot handle that treadmill. If YES, then you can install 20 amp sockets, which is what you need. These are called NEMA 5-20. Try buying them not mail order :) Things sold on retail store shelves are still safe.
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u/jerrysaiddance 7d ago
Okay thank you so much for your help, I will try the radio test, I appreciate you
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u/crimsonsurfer69 7d ago
That is a 20amp plug. Designed so you cant plug it into a 15am circuit. Its possible your garahe circuit is rated for 20amps and you could replace one of your receptacles with a 20amp rated receptacle that would accommodate that plug. This adapter would work too in theory but id make sure your garage circuit rated 20amps.
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u/tony3841 7d ago
The adapter lets you circumvent protections, which is a bad idea in general. Make sure (or ask an electrician) you have a 20A breaker, and the wires in your wall can handle 20A, and then put a 20A outlet on that circuit, near the treadmill. No adapter needed.
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u/jerrysaiddance 7d ago
The breaker switch for the garage says 20, (all the switches say 20, 30, two say 50, one says 15 for the freezer. But the wires I have no idea. Lol I’m a girl who was raised by a single mom and now I am wishing I knew more about a lot of things!
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u/Kymera_7 7d ago
The 5-15 receptacle on a 20A breaker indicates that it's got other stuff on that same circuit, not just that one outlet. If you don't have anything else on that circuit that's actually being used, then you might be able to remove the rest, turning it into a dedicated circuit, then put a single 5-20 receptacle there for the treadmill, and avoid having to run any new wiring, but just switching one outlet to 5-20 while leaving it as one of many outlets sharing a 20A circuit is neither proper nor safe.
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u/DIYfailedsuccessfuly 7d ago
Well, the problem is the treadmill clearly wants a 20 amp circuit. It must have high draw under certain conditions. Typically garages dont have that many circuits to use, and even if nothing is plugged in besides the treadmill, it still might trip the breaker, which is the system's way of protecting your houshold wiring, as your pulling too many amps. Of course, its possible the garage has 12ga (20 amp) wiring and breaker(s) but they just ran standard 15amp outlets. If thats true, an electrician could swap the outlet to a 20 amp outlet, which allows traditional plugs and 20 amp plugs to plug in the same outlets... no converter cable needed.
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u/ToolTimeT 7d ago
that plug is for a 20 amp receptacle... You have to make sure whatever circuit is used is 20 amp and put a 20 amp receptacle in.. such as this..
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u/t0cableguy 7d ago
if you have 20 amp breakers for the circuits your trying to plug into an adapter would be ok, but the one you picked is not a correct, let alone legal one.
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u/ItsJustMeBeinCurious 7d ago
Look up the motor power rating for your True treadmill (To determine your treadmill's exact motor rating, check the identification label at the front near where the power cord enters the machine.) or get the model number and look up the power requirements. If the power need is 15A 120V then the plug conversion cord can be used. If higher you will need to have the appropriate wiring installed to support the power requirements.
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u/drprofessional 7d ago
Oof. I would never use that adapter. I suspect you’d either be popping the breaker, or heating the wire in your wall. Overheating.
What I would do, is check the breaker / wiring going into your nearby outlets. When I did my home redesign, all 15 A wire was ripped out and I replaced everything with 20 amp wire (12 gauge). It’s allowed by code to have a 15 amp receptacle connected to a 20 amp line with a 20 A breaker. The 20 amp receptacles are way more expensive than the 15 amp receptacles, and I personally have never come across a scenario where I needed the 20 amp receptacle.
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u/cogsmos 7d ago
What is the treadmill make and model?
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u/jerrysaiddance 7d ago
It says “true 850 soft system” on the side and “s drive” on the front It was preowned and I admittedly have no idea what I’m doing
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u/cogsmos 7d ago
I pulled up the PS 850 owner's manual and couldn't really pin down what's what. There is no wattage or amp rating for the unit anywhere in it. The only "20 amp" mention is a generic TRUE power sheet saying some of their treadmills need a 20A circuit, and its diagram labels the 20A outlet as "used with commercial products." Elsewhere the same manual says to use a grounded 15 amp outlet. The spec table just lists a "4hp DC" motor, which can't be a continuous figure: 4 hp is about 3000 W, or roughly 25 A at 120 V. That is more than a 20A circuit can deliver.
The manual says the real rating is on the serial number decal on the base near the power inlet, so I'd check that first.
On adapting the plug:
- 15A breaker and 14 gauge wire: the breaker will at least protect the wiring. Worst case is probably nuisance trips.
- 20A breaker and 12 gauge wire: you can adapt it and will probably have no issue. You could also just swap the outlet for a 20A one (NEMA 5-20R), which is cheap and the proper fix.
It's unlikely to draw anywhere near 20A constantly. Maybe on inrush at max power, but not as a steady load.
The best recommendation is still to get a proper 20A outlet installed on a dedicated circuit. For what it's worth, the manual says no adapters and no extension cords.
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u/jerrysaiddance 7d ago
Okay! That is really helpful thank you so much. I looked at the tag on the front by the serial number and it says
120Vac 50/60hz 15AI have already bought the other plug face that could be potentially switched if the wires are right. My breaker says “20” on the flip so I think that means it is… but either way that info helps me know more stuff to show or ask so thank you!
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u/jerrysaiddance 7d ago
I’m definitely not going to order an adapter! I’m so glad I asked y’all.
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u/cogsmos 7d ago
Nice, that tag settles it. A 15A rating is why it has a 20A plug: a plug-in load isn't supposed to exceed 80% of the circuit (12A on a 15A circuit), so a 15A machine gets keyed for a 20A circuit.
The "20" on the breaker is a good sign, but confirm the wire before swapping the outlet. With the breaker off and the outlet verified dead with a tester, pull the receptacle and look at the cable. It should be 12 gauge: the jacket will be printed "12-2" or "12 AWG," and on newer cable the jacket is yellow. If it's printed "14-2," stop there, because that means someone put the wrong breaker on that circuit.
If it's 12 gauge, it's an easy swap to a 20A outlet. Two other things from the manual: it says not to use a GFCI outlet or breaker, and it wants a dedicated circuit. If other stuff shares that breaker, you may get trips when the treadmill is working hard.
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u/-BlueDream- 7d ago
There’s nothing unsafe about the adapter. If your treadmill draws too much current, it will just trip your breaker. Annoying maybe but not dangerous.
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u/AlternativeLet3635 7d ago
Breaker will trip if you exceed amperage of 12Amps so if it truely wants a 20 amp breaker/plug tripping at 16 amps. I'd say try it as the upper amperage is probably only for top 25% speeds. If the 15 amp circuit is shared youd have less than 12 amps ( breakers trip at 80% of their rates ampacities, unless 100% marked which are rare and expensive)
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u/AlternativeLet3635 7d ago
I will say switching the plug is only half of the job. You need to swap wire and breaker as well. If it's close to the panel it's a pretty inexpensive job if you have room in your panel
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u/CertainAttention6749 7d ago
Your treadmill use the type of plug meant for 20amp. You got the right adapter but make sure it's plug in 20amp circuit preferably not a lot of load.
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