Treadmill motor, controller board, power supply....

[loftydon]

Hi all,

I disassembled a treadmill that was heading for the dump and retrieved the
120 vdc motor and accompanying electronics. I was wondering if there was an
easy way to power this thing from a battery besides getting ten 12 vdc
batteries in a string. Perhaps a buck booster setup that converts low vdc
to high vdc? It is rated at 2.5 hp. Perhaps I can analyze the electronics
and provide the required DC voltages to include the controller board in the
project? Any thoughts on these types of items?

Don in sunny Florida

 

[Q]

I use a treadmill motor and controller in a swamp cooler running on an
inverter. It uses way less power than the induction motor it replaced. I
also have a ceiling fan made from a treadmill motor running on 12V direct
from my battery bank. I've also used them as generators to charge 12V
batteries, attaching them to exercise bikes.

Q

 

[[email protected]]

hmmm

 

[Ecnerwal]

I disassembled a treadmill that was heading for the dump and retrieved the
120 vdc motor and accompanying electronics. I was wondering if there was an
easy way to power this thing from a battery besides getting ten 12 vdc
batteries in a string. Perhaps a buck booster setup that converts low vdc
to high vdc? It is rated at 2.5 hp. Perhaps I can analyze the electronics
and provide the required DC voltages to include the controller board in the
project? Any thoughts on these types of items?

[/QUOTE]


I use several of these as variable speed motors (with a controller that
takes AC and outputs variable DC - probably your electronics do the same
thing - not much use for DC input). A few points - divide the
"horsepower" by about 2; treadmill motors seem to be overstated, based
on what I and others have seen. As for the voltage you supply, it's not
too critical if you're comfortable with whatever speed you get at
whatever voltage you supply. Make sure that there is a fan, and if you
are running at slow speed, use a separate fan running at (the fan's)
full speed.