Understanding Technical Aspects of Treadmill

When purchasing a motorised treadmill, the technical aspect can be quite confusing for some people. Horsepower and technical specifications will be listed on the sales tag. But what does all this really mean?

Horsepower is the measurement used to determine the power output of various types of motors, including electric motors. Treadmills use electric motors to propel the machinery that runs the belt and other mechanical parts. Horse power will be expressed by 1HP to 3HP.

Along side the horsepower will be the term “continuous duty motor”. There are two terms that are used for all motors to describe their use over a long period of time. Continuous duty and intermittent duty are the two terms. Continuous duty motors are rated to run for long periods of time without shortening the life of the motor. Conversely, intermittent duty motors must be allowed to cool in between running’s.

When it comes to treadmills continuous duty is a more important aspect than horsepower. Treadmills are meant to be used for periods of twenty minutes or more. Therefore, durability is more important from a technical aspect than power output.

Another technical term used to describe treadmills is hydra suspension. Hydra suspension is the use of two gas cylinders within the front portion of the treadmill to control shock absorption. These gas cylinders absorb the vibrations that are causes by running or walking on the treadmill, thereby making it smoother.

Choosing The Right Treadmills

The suspension is an important aspect in choosing a treadmill. When the body absorbs the vibrations that are caused by running and walking it causes damage to the joints. Therefore, the less vibration that is absorbed the healthier exercising will be.

The last technical term that tends to confuse consumers is worm-gear elevation motor. A worm-gear motor is constructed of the worm shaft and the gear shaft. For every complete turn of the worm shaft the gear shaft only advances one tooth. This gear system is to control and reduce the speed of the motor. When the motor is not in use this system acts as a braking mechanism to prolong the life of the motor. Overall, this technical aspect is not that important when choosing a treadmill.

The most important thing to remember when purchasing a treadmill is durability. While the horsepower and gear speed are very impressive, they do not mean much where product quality is concerned. Always buy according to stability of the product over the long term.

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