How to use a potentiometer with this treadmill motor and speed controller?

[wilsocn]

Hi everyone

I found this forum after doing a lot of searching on controlling the speed on a treadmill motor without using the big bulky digital display unit that sits on top of the treadmill. I bought a really nice Nordic Track for 10 dollars on Craigslist and I thought I would be able to figure out how to do this but apparently I was wrong.

I have seen a lot of material regarding the MC-60 speed controller unit but nothing about the speed controller that came on the treadmill that I bought which was the MC-2100 Rev B.

I will attach a couple of pictures of the board and specifically the wires coming from the display unit that go into the board. I have a 5k pot but I really dont know what to do with it and I am afraid to just start experimenting because I dont want to burn up the motor or the board. I would be happy to post any other pictures or add any other information that might be of help if anyone asks for it.

Of course I would like to turn this little project into a lathe if I can ever get everything sorted out. btw the motor is a 2.25 hp cont duty.

If the potentiometer wont work, I would love to hear about other ideas to be able to control the speed using this board and motor.

Thanks everyone

[Bmyers]

these drives require a PWM speed command.
refer to:

http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/showthread.php?t=51061

Data Sheet:

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/IReallyCare/2010-09-08_025014_MC-2100.pdf

[sch]

A google brings up this discussion at cnczone

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/general_electronics_discussion/118824-manual_control_mc-2100_treadmill_motor.html

This suggests the controller wants a variable pulse width square wave
to control speed. Click on the other link:

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/IReallyCare/2010-09-08_025014_MC-2100.pdf

gives a spec sheet explanation from which this opinion was derived.

[wilsocn]

That is over my head unfortunately. Would it be simpler to find another clunker treadmill from Craigslist that has a simpler speed control unit?

Thanks

btw you guys are fast! I expected to wait a day or two for a reply ha.

[Bmyers]

Would it be simpler to find another clunker treadmill from Craigslist that has a simpler speed control unit?

this is a pretty common treadmill drive.

[wilsocn]

Yeah but common != simpler. I dont really care to learn Electronics 101 just to get a shaft to spin at a desired rate. Ill check out other treadmills for simpler boards that have instructions floating around on the web that can be used with a inexpensive and easy potentiometer.

[Bmyers]

Common means most treadmills use this drive or a variant of it. You will have to find a piece of exercise equipment that uses a speed pot to get a drive that uses a speed pot. exercise equipment that has a consule typically use this type of drive.

cheap doesnt always = easy

[Bill Pace]

Any drive you get will only be a variation of the one you have there, so at some point youre gonna have to get an understanding of what it is youre attempting to do - and its really not that complicated. You dont need anything off the control panel of the TM, all you need is a plug in wire to get the 110v, a potentiometer, and 2 common toggle switches - 1 to turn power on/off and one to reverse the motor (if thats what you want)

Take a picture of the board from directly overhead showing the connection points with the writing next to them and I - or one of us can -point out where to hook up to.

The white box on this lathe controls my treadmill motor with fwd/rev and speed control - I have anothe toggle on the back side to control the ac power

[MaxHeadRoom]

If you don't want to mess with making a PWM circuit up such as the 555 in the link, you can get KB or Baldor SCR drives with analogue pot control on ebay fairly cheap.
Max.

[mkoziol2]

I am new to this forum I found it looking for the answer to basically this identical problem. I have an MC-2100 REV B with the same colored wire harness up to the digital display as the first post. This is out of the treadmill I am looking to utilize the motor but have manual speed control from a knob not the digital board, I also if possible would like to still be able to plug it into a wall outlet(AC) as the speed control board uses now.

Bill you mentioned that this should be something that can be worked through, I have searched numerous things and still come up with not much other than a smattering of ideas about potentiometers, 555 timers, rectifiers and so-on. You showed a picture of yours I am hoping you or someone else can guide me to where I need to be. I am not super-well versed application-wise electronically, but do know some theoretical from ME undergrad. I appreciate any guidance from anyone.

[MaxHeadRoom]

Either go the KB/Baldor route or make a PWM control there was a recent post on PWM control using the TL494 ic designed for PWM applications.

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=54109

Use the IC for your board, or build the one shown in the link and replace everything?.
Max.

[caveBob]

...I am not super-well versed application-wise electronically...

Ditto that mkoziol2, not to mention time to putz about with it. I know if it's your goal, you can do it cheaper... but, this is much easier and faster in my case. I went ahead and got the heatsink and reverse switch too, works like a dream! 2¢

[mkoziol2]

This is the first I heard of the TL494 from my searching, from what I can tell this looks similar to the 555? I could use some clarification if possible. As the treadmill works now, the wall voltage goes into a board( I thought Speed controller) and the motor is wired to this and from this board a harness runs up to where you would set a speed and incline.

Do these TL494/555 type ic replace the board I have now? I was hoping for a way to just alter the user input where I wire into the harness and now have manual control over the motor vs the digital. Some clarification would be greatly appreciated so I can better understand what I need to change. I have pictures of the board and a copy of the wire schematic if this would help.

[kf2qd]

Look at this post - http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=45561

You could use an Arduino to send the PWM signal - on connector HD2 - Ground to the black wires and a PWM signal on the blue wire.

Arduino could have a potentiometer for an input, and the PWN for the output.

$35 at Radio Shack, software free online. And could add bells and whistles as required...

[mixdenny]

Here is the complete how-to guide, all you need is a pot:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Use-a-Treadmill-DC-Drive-Motor-and-PWM-Speed-Contr/

One thing to bear in mind, is that since this is a treadmill controller with safety features, every time you turn it on it needs to be zeroed (otherwise it will not enable) and run back up to speed. I'm using a treadmill drive to run a variable speed conveyor belt. I spliced in a switch in place of the safety key, and flip that off to stop and then back on to start it.

Dennis