Precor EFX 5.23 User Manual 2

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Important Safety Instructions

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When using an electrical appliance, always take basic
precautions, including the following:

®

• Read all instructions before using the EFX
instructions are written to ensure your safety and to
protect the unit.

• Before beginning any fitness program, see your physician
for a complete physical examination.

Il est conseillé de subir un examen médical complet avant
d’entreprendre tout programme d’exercise. Si vous avez
des étourdissements ou des faiblesses, arrêtez les
exercices immédiatement.

DANGER

WARN IN

• Do not allow children or those unfamiliar with its
operation on or near the EFX. Do not leave children
unsupervised around the unit.

To reduce the risk of electrical
shock always unplug the EFX from
the electrical outlet immediately
after using and before cleaning.

To reduce the risk of burns, fire,
electric shock, or injury, take the
following precautions:

. These

• Never leave the EFX unattended when it is plugged in.
Unplug the EFX from the power source when it is not in
use, before cleaning it, and before putting on or taking off
parts.

• Assemble and operate the EFX on a solid, level surface.
Locate the EFX a few feet from walls or furniture.

• Maintain the EFX in good working condition. Refer to the
Maintenance section. Make sure that all fasteners are
secure.

• Use the EFX only for its intended purpose as described
in this manual. Do not use accessory attachments that
are not recommended by the manufacturer, as such
attachments may cause injuries.

• Never operate the unit if it is damaged, not working
properly, when it has been dropped, or has been
dropped in water. Return the EFX to a service center for
examination and repair.

• Keep the power cord and plug away from heated
surfaces.

• Do not operate the EFX where aerosol (spray) products
are being used or where oxygen is being administered.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Owner’s Manual: Important Safety Instructions 1

• Do not use outdoors.

• Do not attempt to service the EFX yourself except to
follow the maintenance instructions found in this manual.

• Never drop or insert objects into any opening. Keep
hands away from moving parts.

• Keep all electrical components, such as the power cord
and I/O switch, away from liquids to prevent shock. Do
not set anything on the handrails, display console, or
casing. Place liquids, magazines, and books in the
appropriate receptacles.

DANGER

• Wear proper exercise clothing and shoes for your
workout and avoid loose clothing. Do not wear shoes
with heels or leather soles. Tie long hair back.

• Use care when getting on or off the EFX. Use the
stationary handrail whenever possible.

• Keep your body and head facing forward. Never attempt
to turn around on the EFX.

• Do not rock the unit. Do not stand on the handrail(s),
display console, or casing.

The EFX must be connected to a
properly grounded outlet. See
Grounding Instructions.

• Never place your hands or feet in the path of the roller
arm because injury may occur to you or damage may
occur to the equipment.

• Do not overexert yourself or work to exhaustion. If you
feel any pain or abnormal symptoms, stop your workout
immediately and consult your physician.

• When the EFX is not in use, disconnect the unit by
turning the power switch to the OFF (O) position, and
then remove the power plug from the wall outlet.

Safety Approval

When identified with the ETL-c logo, the unit has
been tested and conforms to the requirements of
CAN/CSA-E-335-1/2-94, Safety of Household and
Similar Electrical Appliances.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Owner’s Manual: Important Safety Instructions 2

Grounding Instructions

The EFX must be grounded. If the unit malfunctions or
breaks down, grounding provides a path of least resistance
for electric current, which reduces the risk of electrical
shock. The unit is equipped with a power cord having an
equipment-grounding conductor and a grounding plug.
The plug must be inserted into an outlet that is properly
installed and grounded in accordance with all local codes
and ordinances. Failure to properly ground the EFX could
void the Precor Limited Warranty.

120 V Units Designated for U.S. Markets

The EFX uses a circuit with a nominal 120-volt rating.
The unit’s grounding plug looks like the plug shown in
Diagram 1. The power outlet must have the same
configuration as the plug. No adapter should be used
with this product.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

DANGER

Owner’s Manual: Important Safety Instructions 3

Improper connection of the
equipment-grounding conductor
can result in a risk of electric shock.
Check with a qualified electrician or
service person if you are in doubt as
to whether the unit is properly
grounded. Do not modify the plug
provided with the EFX. If it does not
fit the outlet, get a proper outlet
installed by a qualified electrician.

Diagram 1: 15 amp 120-volt plug

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)

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Federal Communications Commission, Part 15

The EFX has been tested and found to comply with

• the IEC EMC Directive (international electromagnetic
compatibility certification)

• the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. The EFX generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the owner’s manual instructions,
may cause harmful interference to radio communications.

If the EFX does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning
the unit OFF and ON, you are encouraged to try to correct
the interference using one or more of the following
measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna for your TV,
radio, VCR, etc.

• Increase separation between the unit and the receiver
(TV, radio, etc.).

• Connect the EFX into a different power outlet on a
dedicated circuit different from the one used by the
receiver (TV, radio, etc.). No other appliance should be
plugged into the same power outlet as the EFX.

• Consult an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

WARN IN

Per FCC rules, changes or
modifications not expressly approved
by Precor could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.

Canadian Department of Communications

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for
radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the
Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian
Department of Communications.

Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits
radioéélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux
appareils numériques de la class B prescrites dans le
Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le
ministére des Communications du Canada.

ATTENTION: Haute Tension

Débranchez avant de réparer

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Owner’s Manual: Important Safety Instructions 4

Obtaining Service

You should not attempt to service the EFX yourself, except
for the maintenance tasks described in this manual. The
EFX does not contain any user-serviceable parts. For
information about product operation or service, see the
Precor web site at www.precor.com.

Should you need more information regarding Customer
Support numbers or a list of Precor authorized Service
Centers, visit the Precor website at www.precor.com.

You will need the model and serial numbers whenever you
contact Precor Customer Support. The serial number is
printed on a label located on the rear cover (Diagram 2). For
future reference, write the model and serial number and
date of purchase in the space provided.

Model #: _______ Serial #: _______________________

Date purchased: _________________________

Serial number
label

Diagram 2: Location of serial number

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Owner’s Manual: Important Safety Instructions 5

Table of Contents

Important Safety Instructions ............................. 1

Safety Approval .......................................................... 2

Grounding Instructions ............................................. 3

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) ....................... 4

Obtaining Service ...................................................... 5

EFX Safety Features .............................................8

The Locking Pin ..........................................................8

Using the Stationary Handrail .................................. 9

Turning the Unit ON and OFF ................................. 9

Heart Rate Features ............................................10

Guidelines ..................................................................10

Using SmartRate ......................................................11

Exercise to Your Target Heart Rate .....................12

Display Console ....................................................13

Scanning and the Display ......................................15

CrossRamp

Keypad ........................................................................17

Changing the Display Features

Using the SELECT Key ...........................................19

®

Display on the EFX5.23 ................16

Workout Options .................................................. 21

Choosing QUICKSTART ....................................... 22

Selecting a User ID ................................................. 23

Selecting a Program ............................................... 24

Cooling Down After a Workout ............................ 25

Pausing During a Workout or the

Cool-Down Period ................................................... 26

Ending a Workout ................................................... 26

Programs ................................................................ 27

Choosing a Program ............................................... 27

Program Tips ............................................................ 29

Manual (MANL) Program ....................................... 29

Crosstraining (XCTR) Program ............................ 30

Gluteal (GLUT) Program ....................................... 31

Hill Climb (HILL) Program ..................................... 31

Interval (INTn) Program .......................................... 32

Random (RAND) Program ..................................... 33

Weight Loss (WTLS) Program ............................ 33

Fitness Test (FITN) .................................................. 34

Heart Rate Control (HRC) Program .................... 38

Owner’s Manual: Table of Contents 6

Custom (CST1 or CST2) Programs ....................39

Calories (CALS) Program ......................................41

Distance (DIST) Program .......................................41

Advanced Programming

and Troubleshooting ...........................................42

Advanced Programming Tips ................................42

Selecting a U.S. Standard or Metric Display .....43

Informational Displays .............................................44

Troubleshooting Error Codes ................................47

Troubleshooting Heart Rate ...................................47

Maintenance ..........................................................48

Inspection .................................................................. 48

Cleaning the Equipment ........................................ 48

Storing the Chest Strap ......................................... 49

Servicing the EFX .................................................... 49

Long-Term Storage ................................................. 49

Precor Residential Equipment

Limited Warranty.................................................. 50

Owner’s Manual: Table of Contents 7

EFX Safety Features

The EFX is equipped with certain items that, when used
properly, help sustain an enjoyable workout. These items
include:

•Locking pin

• Stationary handrail

•I/O power switch

Important: Before exercising, review the Important Safety
Instructions found at the beginning of this manual.

The Locking Pin

CAUTION: Injuries can occur from the roller arm
movement. Always use the locking pin to secure the
roller arm when the EFX is not in use.

The locking pin secures the roller arm to keep it from
traveling up or down the ramp. Before beginning your
workout, pull firmly on the pin to slide it out of the roller arm.
Refer to Diagram 3. A lanyard attaches the locking pin to the
ramp.

Store the locking pin underneath the ramp once it is removed
from the roller arm. Refer to Diagram 4.

After exercising, use the locking pin to secure the roller arm.

Roller arm

Locking
pin

Diagram 3: Remove locking pin before exercising

Ramp

Storage location

Lanyard

Diagram 4: Store the locking pin under the ramp

Owner’s Manual: EFX Safety Features 8

Using the Stationary Handrail

To maintain your balance, always grasp the stationary
handrail when you step on or off of the foot pedals, and when
you use the keypad.

Turning the Unit ON and OFF

To turn the unit ON and OFF, use the I/O power switch
located at the rear of the unit, near the power cord
receptacle. Refer to Diagram 5.

Important: When it is not being used, turn the unit OFF.

I/O power switch

Diagram 5: I/O power switch

Owner’s Manual: EFX Safety Features 9

Heart Rate Features

114

Heart rate and SmartRate® features are available when the
heart rate receiver is installed in the display console and you
wear a chest strap. When a heart beat is detected, the heart
rate display shows your heart rate and the SmartRate LED
pulses and indicates your target zone.

Guidelines

Read the following before using the heart rate feature.

• Consult your physician before engaging in any vigorous
exercise. Do not use the heart rate features until
authorized by your physician.

• Know your heart rate (pulse) and your physician­recommended heart rate target zone. Individual heart
rates vary according to several physiological factors and
may not correspond directly with Diagram 6.

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

90

80

70

20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75

Diagram 6: Heart rate target zones

• The target heart rate is determined using a simple
calculation:

(220 minus age) multiplied by 70%

Owner’s Manual: Heart Rate Features 10

• After you put on the chest strap, face the display console
for a minimum of 15 seconds. This allows the receiver in
the console to recognize the signal from the chest strap.

• Always face forward on the EFX and use the stationary
handrail for balance.

• If three dashes (— — —) appear on the display, the EFX
cannot detect a heart rate. Make sure the chest strap is
positioned properly around your chest and against your skin.

• Maintain a constant stride rate while exercising. Find a
comfortable stride rate between 100 and 150 strides per
minute.

Using SmartRate

The SmartRate feature helps you monitor and maintain your
heart rate in the target zone best suited to your specific
needs. All 15 LEDs light during a workout. When you wear
the chest strap, a single LED blinks and indicates the zone
that your heart rate is in, either weight loss or cardiovascular.

The 15 LEDs in the SmartRate display are color-coded.
A pulsating red LED indicates you are outside the
recommended heart rate target zone. Yellow LEDs indicate
when you are exercising within the weight loss zone. Green
LEDs indicate when you are exercising within the
cardiovascular zone.

Refer to Table 1 to see the relationship between the
pulsating LED and your target heart rate.

The SmartRate indicator lights do not appear when:

• You press QUICKSTART at the banner.

• You bypass the AGE prompt.

• You do not wear or improperly position the chest strap.

Note: Review the information on the QUICKSTART card that
accompanies your literature packet. It explains how to adjust
the chest strap.

CAUTION: Your heart rate should never exceed 85% of
your maximum aerobic heart rate. If it does, immediately
reduce your strides per minute or, if possible, adjust the
ramp incline to return your heart rate to your physician­recommended target zone.

Owner’s Manual: Heart Rate Features 11

Table 1. Heart rate target zones and SmartRate LEDs

Heart Rate Target
Zone Percent

Below 50 First Red
50 to 54 Second Red
55 to 57 Third Ye l l ow
58 to 60 Fourth Ye l l ow
61 to 63 Fifth Ye ll o w
64 to 66 Sixth Ye l l ow
67 to 6 9 Seventh Ye l l o w
70 to 71 Eighth Green
72 to 74 Ninth Green
75 to 76 Ten th Green
77 to 79 Eleventh Green
80 to 81 Twe lf th Green
82 to 84 Thirteenth Green
85 to 87 Fourteenth Red
Above 87 Fifteenth Red

LED Lit

LED
Blinking

Exercise to Your Target Heart Rate

The EFX includes a program that lets you exercise based on
a specified heart rate. You set your target heart rate at the
beginning. As you exercise, the Heart Rate Program
monitors your heart rate and automatically maintains it within
a few beats per minutes (bpm) of your selected target. Your
actual heart rate (pulse) appears in the Heart Rate display.

To use this program, select HRC. You must also wear the
chest strap so the program can monitor your heart rate
throughout the workout. For more information, refer to Heart

Rate Control (HRC) Program.

Owner’s Manual: Heart Rate Features 12

Display Console

Center display: When you begin a
program, the workout time and

LEDs: Light and clarify what
appears on the display.

Keypad: Use the keypad to:

• Control your workout session

• Answer prompts prior to starting a program

• Determine which display features appear

• Prematurely end a program

• Adjust the resistance or ramp incline

program profile appear and remain
until the scanning process is initiated.

CrossRamp display (EFX5.23):

Target specific muscle groups by
adjusting the ramp incline.

SmartRate display: LEDs
light in this column when
the SmartRate feature is
activated.

USER 1 or USER 2: Select a user ID (1 or 2) at
the Precor banner to personalize your workout
session.

SELECT: During your workout, press this key to
sequentially scan the features in each column.

Heart Rate display:

If a heart rate is
detected, this area
displays your heart
rate.

Owner’s Manual: Display Console 13

The following information describes the information that
appears in the center display. The information is shown in
alphabetic order.

PROFILE—appears on the display and corresponds to the
program you selected. As you continue your workout, a
blinking column indicates your position in the program.

CALORIES—displays the estimated cumulative number of
calories burned. The calorie calculation is derived from the
pedaling speed, resistance level, and your weight. An
accurate weight entry results in a more accurate calorie
count. When using QUICKSTART and a weight has not
been specified, the default weight is 150 pounds (68
kilograms).

CALORIES/MIN UTE—displays the approximate number of
calories burned per minute.

DISTANCE—shows a linear distance in either miles or
kilometers. The distance is calculated based on the amount
of energy you expend during your workout, and is equal to a
distance that you might run or walk using the same amount
of energy.

• On the EFX5.23, the height of the column indicates the
level of incline.

• On the EFX5.33, the height of the column indicates the
level of resistance.

If the profile is only one cell high, then markers ( )
appear occasionally and provide a sense of movement
through the program.

STRIDES—shows the total number of strides completed,
which is always an even number since two strides create one
complete revolution of the flywheel. A stride is an
exaggerated walking movement. On the EFX, if you start in a
position with one foot pedal forward, a stride is completed
when you move the rear foot pedal all the way forward while
the other foot pedal moves to the rear.

Owner’s Manual: Display Console 14

STRIDES/MINUTE—displays your current pedaling speed
(strides per minute) up to a maximum value of 510 strides
per minute. When the strides per minute drops below 20, the
EFX reverts to pause mode.

Important: The display may not change as quickly as
your stride. For example, when you stop suddenly from
a high stride rate, the display does not immediately
change to zero. Instead, it gradually decreases until it
reaches zero.

TIME—displays workout time in minutes and seconds;
however, when you exceed 60 minutes during a single
workout, the TIME display converts to hours and minutes.
For programs with a workout time limit, the TIME display
shows the amount of time remaining. For programs without a
workout time limit, the TIME display indicates the amount of
time you have been exercising.

USER 1 and USER 2—shows the current user selection
after a user key has been pressed at the banner. For more
information, refer to Selecting a User ID.

WATTS—displays the current mechanical energy generated
by the unit.

Scanning and the Display

15:32

You can conduct scans of your workout statistics by
pressing the SELECT key. Each SELECT key affects the
column above it. Indicator lights appear next to the feature
that is displayed. To select all eight features and activate the
scanning mode, refer to Changing the Display Features
Using the SELECT Key.

132

Owner’s Manual: Display Console 15

CrossRamp® Display on the EFX5.23

Diagram 7: Muscle groups affected by CrossRamp incline

On the EFX5.23, changes in ramp incline affect different
muscle groups. As you raise and lower the incline, lights
appear and indicate the muscle groups that are being
worked. For example, Diagram 7 shows the Gluteals and
Quadriceps indicator lights on when the ramp incline is set
between 10 and 12.

To target a specific muscle group, adjust the ramp incline to
the levels shown in the table below.

Table 2. M u s c le grou p s t a rgeted by CrossRamp settings

Muscle Group EFX5.23 Ramp Incline Settings

Gluteal 1 through 20

Quadriceps 1 through 12

Hamstrings 1 through 9

Calves 1 through 6

For more information about workouts and the EFX5.23
CrossRamp feature, refer to the Precor web site
(www.precor.com).

Owner’s Manual: Display Console 16

Keypad

Use the keypad to enter your workout session selections.

Note: The EFX5.33 has a stationary ramp. The
RESISTANCE keys replace the CROSSRAMP keys
shown in this diagram.

EFX5.23

RESET: During pause mode, press the RESET key to
display a WORKOUT SUMMARY. Press RESET again
to return to the Precor banner. No workout statistics are
saved.

QUICKSTART: Press QUICKSTART to bypass the
setup prompts and start your workout immediately
using the Manual Program. Refer to Choosing
QUICKSTART.

ENTER: Use the ENTER key to enter responses to
workout-specific prompts.

RESISTANCE ▼▲: Press and hold the RESISTANCE
arrow keys to increase or decrease the force applied
against your stride from 1 to 20.

SELECT: The SELECT keys have three functions:

• To select a user ID before starting a workout. Refer to

Selecting a User ID.

• To get specific information during a workout. Each
SELECT key affects the column above it. Indicator
lights appear next to the item that is displayed.

• To activate scanning mode and select the information
that appears. Refer to Changing the Display

Features Using the SELECT Key.

Owner’s Manual: Display Console 17

When changes occur, the resistance you feel through
the foot pedals is not immediate.

Note: During your workout, to view the current
resistance, tap either RESISTANCE ▼ or ▲ key. To
change the resistance, press the arrow key for more
than one second.

CROSSRAMP ▲ ▼ (EFX5.23):

Column height

Incline Setting

Press and hold the CROSSRAMP arrows to increase
or decrease the ramp incline from 1 to 20.

Changes to the ramp incline are not immediate. It
takes time for the lift to reach the target incline shown
on the display.

Important: Ramp changes occur only when the foot
pedals are in motion. The number that appears on the
display indicates the selected range, not the degree of
incline. There is not a one-to-one relationship between
the degree of incline and the CrossRamp setting.

Table 3 shows the degree of incline for each
CrossRamp setting.

Table 3. Incline movement

Unit Incline Setting Degree of Incline

EFX5.23 1 through 20 13° through 40°

EFX5.33 Stationary Fixed at 20°

The incline setting affects the column height in the
program profile as shown in Diagram 8.

15 – 20

13 – 14

11 – 12

9 – 10

7 – 8

4 – 6

1 – 3

Diagram 8: Column height affected by changes in incline

Note: During the setup phase, pressing the
CROSSRAMP arrow keys will not affect the ramp
incline. However, the arrow keys do affect what appears
on the display. Refer to Selecting a Program.

Owner’s Manual: Display Console 18

Changing the Display Features Using the SELECT Key

Use the SELECT key to choose which feature appears
on the display. When you enter a program, TIME and
PROFILE are preselected and will appear in the center
display.

You can display different information while you exercise by
pressing the appropriate SELECT key. When the light next to
the feature turns on, the information appears in the center
display.

The EFX can scan between a number of the features so you
do not need to press a key once scanning is set up. To set
up the scanning process, switch the indicator light next to an
item on or off. If the indicator light is off, the item will not
appear in the display. If the indicator light is on, the EFX
includes it in the scan.

Select TIME, STRIDES, CALORIES, or DISTANCE
with the left SELECT key.

15:32

Select PROFILE, STRIDES/MINUTE, CALORIES/
MINUTE, or WATTS with the right SELECT key.

132

Owner’s Manual: Display Console 19