How to: Build a DC Treadmill Motor Speed Controller for $20 

10,000 Watt SCR Motor Controller - amzn.to/2Zl3WmG Bridge Rectifier - amzn.to/2MOmViv

Thanks for showing the wiring and what to buy. I ordered the 3 piece like yours from Amazon and this video is a lifesaver on knowing how to wire it up. I'm building a 2x72 belt sander. Again thanks, enjoy your videos..

As an educator, I enjoy your communication style and your ability to communicate In a clear and understandable way. Many people are unable to do that. Thank You and keep on ďoing what you do. You really do it well.

Brian, Thank you for your excellent videos. Just wired up my grinder, using the parts you suggested. No problems, worked without issues!

Fantastic. I followed the instructions and saved my treadmill. The TM's circuitry was all messed up and not working so I just connected this set-up directly to the DC motor. Works like a charm. I don't have the display but I can tell how fast I'm going. Better than forking out a bunch of cash for a new treadmill. Thanks.

Awesome. Thank you. I had been looking for an orphan (free) treadmill at our dump for the last 5 years. I finally spied one in our scrap metal dumpster that had already been dis-assembled and just grabbed the motor and took it home. Same plan with mine, 2x72 sander. DC motor controllers seem to be constructed of solid gold.

Thank you so much! I determined that I needed a DC motor for my mini lathe project but have no clue how to wire one up! This helps me immensely!

Got my treadmill running again. Thank you very much!

What a perfect and understandable video. By far the best I’ve seen. I’ll darn sure subscribe

At the end of your video you give a glimpse into what it takes to record these videos, a lot of gear to purchase,set up and move around for different shots! I understand that this is pretty much a paid job but you choose to do this and we all benefit for it so wanted to say thanks!!!!!

I recently dismantled a treadmill for the motor ... no idea what I'm going to do with it yet but thanks for posting. That is so simple!

nice simple project. A nice addition is a reversing switch on the DC output. Thanks for sharing this.

Subbed and liked, I look forward to seeing what other content you have. Loved this one great job! Clear and to the point.

Well done, sir!! Thank you once again for another very informative video. I love the idea of a dc motor for a belt grinder because of the torque factor. Cheers!

Thanks for this great video. I watched a few but I found yours the most helpful and well presented. My attempt worked out great thanks to videos like this one.

This is such a great and simple explanation. Phenomenal!

Excellent video. Exactly what I was looking for. I'm building a grinder with a treadmill motor as well. Thank you

Great video! I like the way you work and explain things. I am on the hunt for a treadmill with good quality motor for use on a lathe. Well done.

Never knew this is how you got started with 2 x 72 grinders. Man you have came a long ways. I built a treadmill one back about 7 years ago and keep saying I am going to upgrade to one of your plans. But the damn thing still works and has plenty of power. I did mine different than anny I have seen and ran a jack shaft and geared that 7500rpm motor back down. It makes all kinds of power. I used all the electronics from the treadmill to power it. It is one of two videos I have on my channel. But I am kicking around a house made grinder with possible a brushless scooter motor. You can pick up a motor and controller around $120 for a 2.2kw 48 volt and a surplus 3k 48 volt power supply from ebay used in tella communication for less than $100

Great reminders. I have two computer cases with power supplies I'd forgotten about. After pricing boxes for projects like this, they're looking pretty valuable. One was up for sale and people would, probably, low ball. After I pull the supplies and fans, I'll just "free" the cases out. SIDE NOTE: Interestingly, one of the two free treadmills I tore apart had a common wall wart charger with its wires snipped and crimped into the system, as a 12volt power source. The first motor I scored for my dismantling efforts was a 10 amp, 90 volt DC motor ideal for some project. The second has 5/8" shafts on each end and is a true 1.5 horse motor so would make a great variable speed buffer. I already have a Redwing buffer on my Air Handler station (a floor model buffing station with lights, a blower and filter that really go a long ways to educating you on why you need dust collection off a buffer - the crap in the 12x25 inch filters is alarming. Anyway, the Redwing is designed for small wheels about 6" in diameter, though there is enough room for up to 10 inch filters, and for this motor. That and the variable speed would really up the versatility of the buffer.

Great video !!! Thank you for taking the time to produce and post !!!

Found you from the podcast love what you showed here I have a treadmill motor and this is exactly what I needed to see.

Great video Brian. Very helpful. Keep em coming!

Perfect video. Watched a few but were always lacking in some fashion. The controller from the old treadmill I have I had robbed to control an extractor for honey. Now I am in the process of building a drum sander. Thanks!

This ones a classic, thanks for sharing.

Parts ordered. Thanks for the how to!

Thanks for the help my treadmill wasn't working and I just couldn't find a circuit suitable for the job now. I know what to use and how to do it.

Thank you. Ordering parts right now.

Nice work mate! Appreciate your efforts!

Thanks for the information on the rectifier

Just got my parts from craigslist free section it was in the basement but i brought tools and a friend disassembled and now im ready to build my variable dc motor for electrical testing :) super pumped

Very helpful, Thank you so much for taking the time to explain everything in details. subscribed 👍

nice video! well explained and short enough

Helped a ton. Liked and subscribed. Thank you!!

Thank you for your video, i just bought a Vevor mini lathe and with in a week i want to modify watching guys put treadmill motors on them, i can mount no problem but the wiring escapes me. Not doing it right now but Subbed and saved your informative video.

Hey Brian, Really helpful video! On the threaded flywheel motors,what do you suggest for fixing flywheel running anti clockwise ?I'm building a linisher and will probably just use the flywheel as the belt contact driver. Thanks so much

Would be a good idea to connect the SCR to the chassis as a heat sink.. Those can get hot depending on the use. Great video. I may have to build one now.

Gracias amigo, me sacaste de un apuro, lo voy a implementar en mi torno.

Thank you for the clear, well explained video Brian. It's surprising how difficult it is to come across such videos. How do I know what size potentiometer I need? Does it matter how many hp the motor is? I have a 3hp out of a Peloton treadmill and want to make a thickness sander, among many other things.

Very informative, thank you!

great value info. well done. thanks

Thanks Brine

Briiaan!, ( as if stewie from family guy was trying to gain your attn.) Excellent, excellent! I'm doing a drillpress rt. now, and have done a large surface grinder in the past, (still operating) with all the treadmill fixins,bulky, hard to protect in a shop setting, gathering metal as we speak, this REALLY looks like the way to go! I've found low/ no grease in the bearings of these motors, it pays to pull the shields, and loadem' up,if you dont, like I have foolishly done, knowingly, it gets me everytime! Great vids I'm your newest subsciber!

It's probably best to have it spin in the original direction as it did in the treadmill. It's been a while, but I believe that flywheel just screws on, so if you have it spinning in the opposite direction it could come off.

This is project is very good!

Very clear explanation Thank you

Great teacher

Nice video, how would I add a reverse switch to this setup? Looking to upgrade my old delta with 3hp DC.

hey great video! :) what about 230vac input for a 130vdc motor (1.8A) with your setup? can i use the same scr and rectifier? if not it would be nice to know what prts i need thx!

Great video, got the same set up with a 3hp 90V dc treadmill motor. I got the motor on the shredder chipper (did not like the noise and pollution from the gas motor). It worked but under heavier load the rectifier failed and blew up the breaker. Is the motor too powerful for this set up?

nice job as always. Like the speed ups! Cant tell how many times I stop videos cause the people are so wordy

I am in the planning stages of using a treadmill motor as the power drive for an electric bicycle chopper. My question is the feasibility of utilizing a handlebar grip throttle control instead of the dial.

Great video, thank you. I have a 24v DC 240W wheelchair motor that I'd like to use. Am I correct that the potentiometer is regulating the DC voltage which translates to motor speed?

My two motors, the first one runs on 90VDC, 20 A on one and 100VDC and 23A on the other. I have the controller for the first motor and have used it to run the second motor as well. The second motor is twice as heavy and big as the first. When I turn the potentiometer on the controller all the way, the RPM is the uppter teens safe to say. The second motor that runs on 100VDC is far bigger and its RPM is far less and the RPM on it is also in the specs, around 3200. When I build your set up, I used a higher rating of rectifier with a heat sink along with a fuse, a switch, a large capacitor and threw in a big fat choke as well. I figured it will help reduce the spark armature/spark/brushes contact. For ease of usage I also installed an outlet on the box so I can just plug in the motor with its own prong right into the outlet. It is doing what it supposed to do. However the other day I decided to check the out put DC voltage. I turned the knob all the way and checked the voltage on the outlet. It read 180VDC. What is the consequence of such high voltage to a motor which runs on much less voltage assuming it is being cranked up all the way? You got voltage Vs Amperage and total power I suppose is the two multiplied. I don't know how the math and the physics of it works out. I have not installed volt/amp gauge to see what it does at various position and load. These motor certainly run on just regular AC by just directly using the controller without the rectifier. Of course it will have less power and what toll it will have on the motor, plus noisier and more spark.

Very nice, how would you set up a switch to have forward & reverse?

thank you very much for this video and links, my treadmill motor has the black and red wires but it also has 2 blue wires. do I just ignore those ? are these motors very good at retaining torque at lower speeds ?

could you potentially connect two treadmill motors up (say about 3.5 chp each) at the point beyond the bridge rectifier or would either the rectifier or the controller not be able to handle the wattage?

Most of these treadmill motors and controllers will come with an inductor in series with the motor. I recommend keeping this and using it because it will make the motor run a bit smoother. Especially if you are just running a rectifier straight to the motor, it will smooth out the pulsed current coming from the rectifier.

Great Video excellent description and visuals. Question: Why didn't you leave the controller in its on case and drill a hole for the knob in the power supply box. Seems like that way the fan would cool the unit? Cant wait to do my saw now.

Awesome video.

Great tips ... I found a free treadmill advertised, went to see it, it was huge and impossible to move, so I left ... I was still ken on it, so later I dropped them a line suggesting for a fee I'd dismantle it to get it out the door and house ... they ended up paying me! So, I will now be looking to use your tip and possibly make a linisher or wood lathe ?? So many options ! Cheers.

Love your videos! Subscribed. I do have a question. My treadmill motor is 2.25 hp. It has black, 2 blues and a reddish wire. How would I wire this? Thanks for any help.

I know this is not an electrical class but I have a 180v DC treadmill motor and it has a 2800F 250V DC capacitor. I know these large capacitor are for startup when you convert a 3PH to single phase but what is it used for in this scenario? Can you use the scr in line with the capacitor?

Great info

I have assembled your SCR set-up, tested it and it works as expected, however, it has been suggested to add a capacitor to even it out. I have a 3300 mf capacitor but I'm ignorant about electronics and I'm not sure if it should be wired to the input AC, the output AC or the rectifier DC and should it be wired in series or across the terminals. Please advise. Also, is it a better choice than a Ferrite cored coil (can't remember what it's called)? Or should I do both? Thanks.

Do you have a video for a speed controller with only 3 connections on controller board? Also how did you hook up the fan?

hi there, what an interesting thing to do! I could really use some help now though, I was planning on using a 3hp treadmill motor as a spindle, (the main board on the treadmill is broken) so I was thinking is there a way to remove the potentiometer, I was instead going to send a PWM signal(0-5v dc) from an Arduino topped with a CNC shield

Hi, I actually built the exact same circuit to run a 1.5 hp treadmill motor on my lathe, it ran perfect with the treadmill circuitry but after installing this build the motor overheats then after a while blows the breaker. Any idea or comment would be greatly appreciated.

I have 2 questions. Why can't you use a standard household dimmer switch? I've seen a few vids that mention using a capicator. Where would it be connected?

Best way to incorporate a polarity switch on this for the dc motor?

Man...I’m having a difficult time figuring out how large of a power supply to hunt down on the cheap. What are the box dimensions of the supply you chose?

Thanks for the vid, questions i have 1. How do you clip the output voltage to not exceed motor rateing...is this done by the potentiometer you added, a bridge rectifier will multiply the AC input by 1.414 factor thus my question, 2. How do you gain "soft start" ...once speed set and you do power cycle, the motor needs to return to speed set from previous use Thank you

I enjoyed your video and actually bought the parts and made it to upgrade the motor on my Harbor freight Lathe. I added a reverse switch as well. However I find that the lathe spins well, and reverses directions fine, but it has very little torque. When attempting to rough out a bowl on a soft piece of cedar, it doesn't take much pressure to slow the motor down, even at higher speeds. Suggestions?

This information was very helpful. Thank you for posting, I'll be ordering my supplies today!

Cool, thanks

Very simply explained. Excellent instructions. Can this be used to control the speed for a sewing machine? Could I include a foot peddle to regulate the speed? Any suggestions?

I like you, u made that quite simple, though i do have a question, im building a train, and i want it to come with a push of a button and stop right outside my door, what should i do for that?

Any chance you could show us how to override the maximum speed of a walking pad? Most of them top out at 4 mph but have normal treadmill motors in them.

Perfect timing, I finally found a donor treadmill and just finished mounting on my lathe. So many videos out there that seem so complicated using complicated boards or expensive controllers, I was sure there is an easier way. my question is if you want to add a switch so you can reverse direction is there a specific one for that. also are the motor controller and bridge rectifier control voltage specifics. my DC motor is rated 120 VDC, I've noticed some control systems are 90 VDC max?

Great video

I’m doing this with a 4000 watt SCR and standard 5010 bridge connector. I noticed some videos they use a step down transformer... since I might be running this motor high idk if it’s gonna overheat or not. Also QUESTION my motor has 2 blue wires coming out in addition to the red and black... is this for an on/off switch from the circuit board? Thanks!

Brian. i am trying to us a 4000W SCR AC motor controller thru a bridge rectifier to run my 90V 2.65hp treadmill motor. I set i up just like you did in the video and it works. but the motor doesn't engage until i have turned the pot 1/2 round. it is a 500k pot. i was wondering if i replaced the pot with a larger pot, 1M, could i get more fine control? I can only get the motor down to 900rpm. i was hoping for a little better lower end. i want to use this for a lathe modification. any help is greatly appreciated.

So how have you solved the lack of torque at low speed due to lack of PWM?

Hi im using the same set up but mine motor overheat after 15 min after using why I follow the same sample u did thanks

I understand the setup and configuration. But I feel like im missing something simple. As far as I know I may be wrong, but in all the videos o have watched on this, I can't figure out how the max output is figured. Does 110 ac always come out to the same max voltage on DC with the pot maxed? Does it depend on the type of rectifier used?

Would I need to change the pot for small printer motors?

Great video, very easy to follow. I have a 200 VDC motor from a treadmill.. will these parts produce voltage that high??

It looks like you have the old plug receptacle from the PS just sorta grounded there. Is that important, or could it be removed altogether ? Could you have integrated the existing plug receptacle on the PS, and used a PC cord instead of the whip from the treadmill? Thank you for this vid.

How could I install a tachometer to a project like yours?

Can you use the control box from the treadmill itself?

much thanks for the great video. question is, what if you are using a speed controller with only an one in, one out, and one com? Also the on off rocker i have has three prongs (one being copper).

Take your motor and hook it up to your car battery. Do it and don't be shy. Heck you just use your jumper cable even, it won't hurt anybody's feeling especially yours. Why? So you will understand what it is like to supply a DC motor to a DC source, better yet REAL DC SOURCE. Then you will know what it means. You will never even heard of such whisperring sound of beauty.... Over and out.

I'll tell ya one thing i've learned when trying to show people electronics, anything we think is "easy", most people can't comprehend... I made 2 video trying to show how to make an AC/DC etching machine. The 1st, I took apart a wall wart & just tapped wires off the transformer, ran that & the regular output(DC) to a switch, people were lost... 2nd video, i made it easier. 120v to a transformer & a wall wart with a switch in between, people were still lost... Good explanation though, looking forward to how the build goes... take it easy...

Really enjoyed your video. I was able to buy the parts online and fix my treadmill. It is working great now, thx. What would make the board on the treadmill make a firecracker sound. That’s the reason I had to get rid of the board and go your route. Thx, again.

Great Video! I'm adding a 12 volt fan and a Led power on light. I'm assuming that I would wire them after the Bridge rectifier, is that correct?

Great video. When operating with a grinder is is OK to start at full speed or should you always start at zero and ramp up. Is it OK to keep the power on and have the pot set at zero? Thanks for your help.

Very good way to explain. Vety useful video. From where can we get this kind of power supply you purchased? Can a computer cpu power supply be used for this project? Thanks n Likes !!

i have been trying to use the same speed controller on a treadmill motor to adjust the speed of an infeed table for a drum sander i made but can't get it to go slow enough using pots from 500 to 10K. any suggestions

The board on my treadmill is not working. So I followed your example on this video and it allowed me to use my treadmill. However, it does run a little rough. Any ideas to make it run smoother?

Question. Could you use this setup, will a few Milwaukee m18 batteries?