The reasons treadmills have speed sensors are first for the user's safety and to measure the speed, you are moving and send the data to the computer to adjust the belt speed.
But often, people will want to run at a speed that is more or less from the one the speed sensor is programmed to allow. And for this to happen, you need to know how to bypass the speed sensor of a treadmill.
Depending on your treadmill, you can bypass the speed sensor by taping over it or disabling the treadmill's speed sensor.
The First Method Is the Simplest. Here's How to Do It.
Step One
Find where the speed sensor is placed on your treadmill. On most treadmills, it's where you step on when running on the deck. (Some have it on the side of the treadmill's front edge)
Step Two
After locating the speed sensor, it's time to tape over it. Ensure that the tape is tight and firmly holds the speed sensor down and covers all areas.
Step Three
5 Steps to Bypass Treadmill Sensor by Disabling It
Start by making sure the treadmill isn't connected to any power outlet. This way, you can guarantee your safety from an electric shock.
Step 1: Finding the speed sensor
Now you know where the speed sensor is located in your treadmill. If you can't find it, check the treadmill's manuals script that you bought with the treadmill. Speed sensors are usually placed at the treadwheels' bottom. If you can't reach it with ease, remove the shroud or decking covering the treadmill motor.
Step 2: Disabling
To disable or bypass the sensor, slide a jumper wire above the connectors located at the underside of the treadwheel covers on both ends. This should disable and bypass the speed sensors making it go slower or faster than the default settings of the speed sensor.
Step 3: Reconnecting the wires
You must reconnect the wires you disabled using the reverse order of the wires you disconnected first. (This step only applies if you disconnect some wires to reach the speed sensors).
The reason is to avoid mixing up the process and ensure each wire is connected to its rightful place.
Step 4: Testing treadmill sensors
Here the aim is to know if you have successfully disabled the speed sensors. You must power on the treadmill and increase the speed gradually until you reach your desired speed.
Step 5: Confirm by-pass
You can manually test the difference by enabling the sensors and trying out the treadmill, and disabling them again to see the difference. But a simpler way to know if the bypass has worked is that the speed sensor won't beep after reaching the speed limit set.
You can also check if the bypass is successful by turning on the treadmill display. The treadmill won't show your current speed on the display if you have successfully disabled it.
The entire process is reversible, and that's a good thing. You can reconnect the speed sensor to your treadmill's computer and disconnect the jumper from the connectors.
What If the By-Pass Doesn't Work?
It's possible that even after this process, your treadmill won't allow the speed sensor bypass. If you experience such, check that the connections are okay. If they are, you can consider changing the speed sensor.
Another alternative is unplugging the treadmill from a power outlet allowing it to reset, then plugging it back again after a while. If this doesn't solve the bypass problem, it's time to call a technician to see if they can offer a different perspective.