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A typical treadmill is comprised of seven main
components. These are:
The frame : which is that piece of metal that extends
perpendicularly from the running deck and is where the handlebars
are located
The running deck : which is the surface that you run on
The running belt : the moving portion of the running deck
The motor : the engine that makes the
running belt
The motor controller : the gadget that allows you to control
the speed of the motor
The incline motor : a tiny motor that controls the degree of
inclination as you run
The console and control computer : that part of the treadmill
which makes you do all the other stuff
Out of all these seven components, the most important is obviously the
motor. Of course, because it's what makes your treadmill work in the
first place. For this reason, you need to consider the motor first when
you buy a treadmill.
As mentioned, most treadmills have two motors - one to
drive the belt and the other to raise and lower the bed for inclines.
When you look over a few treadmills as you shop, choose one with a
continuous duty belt motor with at least 1.5 horsepower. 1.5 horsepower
is the average, but remember that more horsepower doesn't necessarily
mean better. This is particularly true if the motor is not continuous
duty. So, when the salesperson tells you that 'maximum power' is what's
it all about, don't be fooled. You know better. Get the treadmill with
the continuous duty motor.
Here are some other terms you need to familiarize
yourself with as you shop around for the best treadmill:
a) Fixed Speed Alternating Current (AC) Motors : while motor
runs at a constant speed, it uses a transmission to regulate the
speed of the treadmill
b) Direct Current (DC) Motors : directly regulates speed, using
variable voltage and not a transmission; this means that the motor
itself changes speeds as the user makes adjustments
c) Variable Speed AC Motors : also regulates speed directly and
connects directly to the drive belt
d) Peak Horsepower : the maximum horsepower a motor is capable
of reaching before stalling out
e) Continuous horsepower : the actual horsepower being used when
someone is using the treadmill
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