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What’s in the treadmill motor?
Perhaps the most important component of the treadmill is the motor. In fact, as stated earlier, most people tend to base their decision in determining good treadmills on motor power. So what’s the deal with a treadmill’s motor?
One difference in treadmill motors, which isn’t always reflected in the product literature, is whether the manufacturer lists horsepower in terms of “continuous duty” or “peak performance.” A manufacturer may be able to get a motor to operate up to 2 HP at peak-performance levels, but that doesn’t mean that it will perform at 2 HP consistently. Some manufacturers actually claim that they’ve got a 1.5 HP motor, but when you push it, you find that the motor can actually reach up to 2.5 HP at peak level.
If you’re on a budget and want a very inexpensive treadmill, our suggestion is you buy a treadmill with a manual motor instead of an electric. The reason is simply that manual ones are less likely to break down. However, the downside to this buying choice is that manuals have the disadvantage of being slower and more difficult to operate because the user powers the belt. And so, if the exerciser begins to tire and slows down, the belt slows down, too.
On the other hand, the belt of an electric model continues at the same speed, motivating the exerciser to keep going as well.
Other Treadmill Features to Consider
Treadmills vary according to the type of features they have. Knowing what these features are can help you in buying a treadmill, whether online or offline.
- AC or DC motor – Most home treadmill units are DC. Commercial treadmills may have either AC or DC. AC treadmills will likely require a dedicated power line, considering how their motors tend to draw more power. Not only that, AC also tends to be noisier than DC.
- The thickness of the running belt – Admittedly, you cannot maintain a straight line while running. If that were true, you can just go ahead and run on a balance beam, six inches wide. That is why the thickness of the running belt is an important feature to consider. In addition, two-ply belts are stronger and less likely to curl at the sides than one-ply belts.
- The length of the running surface – Next to the thickness is the length. If you are a taller than average person, you might need more running surface for you to make sweeping strides on your treadmill. On the other hand, if you want to really challenge yourself with short, brisk strides, then get a treadmill with a shorter running surface.
- The minimum and maximum speed – Ask yourself whether you’ll be using your treadmill for walking or running. Treadmills for walking start at 0 or .5 and go up to around 6 or 6 mph, while those for jogging or running generally start at 0, .5, or 1 mph and go up to 8-12 mph.
- The percentage of incline – It can range from a low of 2-4% to a high of 15%. The general rule is the bigger the better, but there are exceptions to the rule: Not all treadmills with high percentage of incline are good buys, especially if you take in all the other features of the product. Commercial-grade treadmills often go as high as 25%.
- The type of incline adjustment – The most high-tech incline adjustment is the automatic incline. This type of incline changes depending upon the exerciser’s heart rate, sometimes via a wireless monitor that detects the person’s heart rate and automatically adjusts the percentage of incline to keep the person within the target heart range. Other treadmills have electronic inclines that can be altered by pushing a button on the console, while less sophisticated ones have either a manual hand crack or other manual adjustment that has to be set before starting to exercise.
- Electronic feedback displays of speed, time, and distance – On most treadmills, these are generally standard, but some treadmills have added a few extras in their feedback monitor. For instance, some treadmills can display the number of calories burned or the user’s heart rate. In addition, most treadmills offer preset and/or customizable programming capabilities. This is a pretty nifty feature to have since you can now design your own program with the use of the customizing capabilities of your treadmill.
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