Aspects of the present invention include a controller circuit for an exercise machine, where the controller circuit includes a board mounted transformer having tolerances near or below the inrush current generally present in activating one or more cooling fans. According to one embodiment, the controller circuit attempts to power on a subsequent fan after the sum of the inrush or steady state current of presently operating fan or fans, and the inrush current generally associated with powering on the subsequent fan, is within the tolerances of the transformer.