Treadmills are seldom the same, and one of the ways they differ is in the motor with which they are outfitted. This does not mean a treadmill motor is the sole element you should consider when buying a treadmill, but it certainly is a factor you should consider a good deal.
Continuous Duty Treadmill Motors
If you’ve done any treadmill research, you’ve probably come to discover that buying a treadmill with a continuous duty motor is pretty important. What exactly does is a continuous duty motor? A continuous duty motor is runs continuously without getting damaged. An intermittent motor, on the other hand, must stop to cool, and most can only run for a duration of 5 to 60 seconds. You wouldn’t want to stop working out on a treadmill only after a few minutes, which is why a continuous duty motor is the right kind of motor for a treadmill.
Horsepower in Treadmill Motors
Generally, treadmill motors generate between two and four horsepower. The horsepower that you need depends on how you use your treadmill and how big/heavy you are. If you’re a walker, then two horsepower is fine. If you’re a peak performance runner, however, you’ll enjoy three to four horsepower. 3.0 horsepower treadmill motors provides plenty of power for a strong runner. Any amount above 3.0 is gravy.
What Type of Warranty Should You Expect?
There is no question that having to return a purchase, especially a purchase as large and expensive as a treadmill is a major hassle. You hope you never have to do it. The reason I list warranty as a significant motor feature is a good warranty is one element of judging whether the treadmill is of good quality. A good warranty for a motor on a treadmill is a lifetime warranty.
What About AC and DC Motors?
Direct current (DC) motors run quieter than their alternating current (AC) counterparts. Treadmill motors can be loud, but the pounding of feet can be loud as well. This means you might want to choose a treadmill with one of the quieter DC motors if your treadmill will be located where others might hear it. A quieter treadmill is also a benefit if you watch TV and/or listen to music while exercising.
Most of the treadmills you buy home use have an AC treadmill motor. I appreciate that carefully examining treadmill specifications is not much fun because you need to learn about some unfamiliar concepts and terminology. But, taking the time to learn about treadmill motors if you’re buying a treadmill can be time very well spent before buying. It only takes a few minutes to read about the features of quality treadmill motors, and more importantly, to figure out the type of motor that is best for your fitness goals.
Next, research this home treadmill for running or check out this Smooth 5.65 treadmill review.