tread mill + kart frame = fun?

[sen2two]

I have a treadmill here in perfect condition and it never gets used. I prefer to swim, run, and do mma style training to stay fit. So im looking to strip it down and make myself a little electric kart. I'm thinking i shouldn't need anything else besides my treadmill, a battery power source to plug it into. And a Kart frame which i can pick up anywhere from $20-$50 bucks locally on craigslist. That's a low buck project that could be **** fun and i might learn a few things also...

I have never done anything like this. I'm much more of a gas powered guy. But given that the treadmill already has everything on it pre-wired, all i should have to do it mount everything and maybe extend or shorten a few wires.


I'm looking for a good battery power source that is also cheap. Is there anything else i would need besides the frame, complete treadmill, and battery pack?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I'm not an elecrical guru, but-
Isn't your treadmill motor 120 volts? Unless you happen to have 5 miles of extension cord, I see this as a problem.

 

[fowler]

do like those freight trains
tiny engine running tiny generator powering HUGE electric motor

 

[sen2two]

So there's no way to power these with a battery pack?

I knew a guy when i was in machining school who made his mountain bike electric powered. I don't know what motor he was using, but he had a back pack with the battery pack in it. When we were in class, he would plug it into the wall to charge it. So i just figured his was 120v also...???

 

[JHen]

You could use a 12v car batter run into a power inverter to make 120v AC from 12v DC.

 

[dpaxson]

there's no such thing as an ac battery. the treadmill motor is a dc motor but the controller for it is designed for ac input. You would use an inverter to turn the dc of a batter to ac, but that's going to be cumbersome, not very efficient, and expensive depending on where you get the inverter

 

[JHen]

there's no such thing as an ac battery. the treadmill motor is a dc motor but the controller for it is designed for ac input. You would use an inverter to turn the dc of a batter to ac, but that's going to be cumbersome, not very efficient, and expensive depending on where you get the inverter

If it is a DC motor, then all you would need is a potentiometer. Batter->potentiometer-> motor. Only AC motors need motor controllers because of frequency synchronization.

 

[newrider3]

I've 'heard' that TIG welder pedals from Harbor Freight make a good inexpensive throttle for a simple electric project, fyi.

 

[dpaxson]

If it is a DC motor, then all you would need is a potentiometer. Batter->potentiometer-> motor. Only AC motors need motor controllers because of frequency synchronization.

well if you can find a potentiometer that can handle the current to drive an electric motor capable of moving a go kart, that would be great, but that's going to be hard. Also, potentiometers aren't very efficient either. most electric vehicles use a solid state pwm controller

 

[vozzy]

there's no such thing as an ac battery. the treadmill motor is a dc motor but the controller for it is designed for ac input. You would use an inverter to turn the dc of a batter to ac, but that's going to be cumbersome, not very efficient, and expensive depending on where you get the inverter

Plus the inverter box would have to have a speed controller on it.....

 

[vozzy]

Only AC motors need motor controllers because of frequency synchronization.

DC motors need them for variable speeds, I.E., a motor for a conveyor belt.....

 

[fowler]

is it really worth going to this hasle for this motor
i mean i dont know about your treadmill but ours and many others are about 2/3 hp