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thread mill motor testing

mngundog

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Joined
Apr 25, 2011
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1,179
Location
MN, in the sticks, U.S.A.
I have a treadmill in which quite working, is there a way to determine if the motor went out or the motherboard? The motor has a hot and a neutral and two other wires hooked up to the board (which I don't know anything about). The two other wire are labeled A+ and A-.
 
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nehog

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Jan 2, 2010
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Jaffrey, NH
Most are 90 volt DC motors. Difficult to test! Usually there are two wires for power (+ & -) and two wires to a tachometer pickup so the computer knows how fast the motor is really turning.

So perhaps (carefully) check the voltage at the power wires and see how many volts are there? It won't be 90 volts usually (because 90 would be going very fast) but what it should do is ramp up from zero to perhaps 20 or 25 volts for a smooth startup. Use the higher voltage scales on your DVOM when starting your test. Don't let low voltages frighten you into thinking the voltage is too low--the computer won't send more power to the motor until it knows what speed it (the motor) is turning. Safety is the issue here.

Careful: I said most above, some are not DC motors! Some are variable frequency AC motors.
 
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Sureshot

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Jan 3, 2011
Messages
3,134
Location
Bridge Creek, OK
I have seen some that use a variable pulley like a snowmobile. It used a crank tensioner to tighten the belt to change the drive ratio.

Look for specs on the motor on on the net for that model etc.
 

velocette

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2013
Messages
12
Hi
You can test a DC motor with a car battery BUT be careful IF there is a direct short on the motor then DISCONNECT IMEDIATELY.
If the motor runs without excessive sparking then the control is NBG.

Eric
 
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velocette

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Feb 5, 2013
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MnGundog " Jokes aside Success or Failure?

Advice only is what I offered.

The choices are your responseabilty.

Eric
 
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