Well Ed, the reason you have trouble with horse power and all is because it is
really apples and oranges. Basically if you keep track of the amps the motor
says it draws,you'll see the more amps the more power. That's really as close
as you can get to having something make sense. A 12 amp motor won't have the
power of a 15 amp motor and so on.
That is unless the gear ratio is different in the lower amp motor... See how
silly this can get in a hurry?
----- Original Message -----
From: Edward Przybylek
To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2009 10:17 AM
Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] electric motor question
Hi Dale,
Thanks for the information. I never did, and probably never will,
understand this horsepower rating stuff. I once owned a table saw that was
rated at 2 horsepower and it constantly bogged down trying to cut heavier
pieces of wood. At some point, I inherited a saw with a 1.5 horsepower
motor and it never stalled no matter what I put through it. Both were belt
drives with 10 inch blades. I never could figure out why a 2 horsepower
motor would bog down cutting a piece of wood that wouldn't make a 1.5
horsepower motor even break a sweat. Years ago, my company decided that all
non-electrical engineers (software, mechanical, optical, etc) needed a basic
understanding of electricity and electrical concepts. They put all of us
through six weeks of training using an extensive collection of video
recorded classes. Many things made a great deal of sense after the class
but, after not using most of the information for years, most of what I
learned has faded into oblivion. Maybe it's time to haul out my recordings
of the classes again and take a refresher course. But, being electron and
proton challenged, I'm sure I'll be writing the list with all manner of
electrical related questions. And yeah, before some smart ass on the list
points it out, I do know that there are such things as neutrons.
Take care,
Ed Przybylek
From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com [mailto:blindhandy...@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Dale Leavens
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 5:32 PM
To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] electric motor question
I don't know really how you would do that without very specialized equipment
but it really doesn't matter much so long as it performs to your
requirements. There quite probably is a measure which can be said to produce
a horsepower of that rating at least briefly and the manufacturer could
probably produce that proof or definition but for practical purposes a horse
and a half is about all you can get out of a 110 volt 15 amp circuit. My
Delta 18 inch drum sander and my compressor will both trip a 15 amp breaker.
The sander is rated at 1.5 HP but I have to watch not to feed it too fast
and allow it to bog down. I always knew that my compressor over rated it's
horsepower but it too will trip it's own 15 amp breaker I believe on
start-up. Not all of the time, I often forget to turn it off and it will
cycle for a couple of days then apparently get fed-up and shut itself off
for me.
I suppose that ideally one would power a treadmill with foot power. I don't
much like treadmills for that reason and really they should only need to
produce enough power to move the belt along. Big powerful motors really only
exercise the power company turbines.
The article I read on Wikipedia on horsepower indicated that a human can
produce the 550 foot pounds only very briefly. a 3 horsepower treadmill
presumably can do 1650 foot pounds indefinitely. What for?
----- Original Message -----
From: Edward Przybylek
To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 8:47 AM
Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] electric motor question
Hi Dale,
Pretty much, what you said is what I thought but I figured it wouldn't hurt
to ask. How would I verify the horsepower of the motor? Both the manual
and the label on the side of the motor claim it's 3.5 HP. My knowledge of
electricity and motors is almost 0. Any information is greatly appreciated.
Take care,
Ed Przybylek
From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> ]
On Behalf Of Dale Leavens
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 6:02 PM
To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] electric motor question
Well, it isn't the end of the world to trip a breaker so I wouldn't worry
about it too much. I can however pretty well guarantee that motor isn't
anything near 3.5 hp. regardless what they rate it at or tell you. Why would
it have to be anyway, one horsepower is 550 foot pounds per second. Unless
you are running an elephant or you have quite spectacular foot pounds you
won't be taxing a motor anything like that hard.
----- Original Message -----
From: Edward Przybylek
To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 3:11 PM
Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] electric motor question
Hi all,
I've been following this thread with much interest because we just purchased
a new treadmill. The unit has a 3.5 horsepower motor, is capable of a 12%
incline and has a top speed of 10 MPH. This discussion thread has concerned
itself with motors 2.5 HP and lower and whether there needs to be a concern
about breaker ratings. Given that this unit has a motor with 3.5 HP, are
there concerns I should be addressing? We use the treadmill for power
walking and I'm quite sure it will never see speeds much over 5 or 6 MPH.
We've had the incline up to 8 percent and I'm sure we'll have it up to the
12% maximum before too long. We haven't popped a breaker yet but I just
want to be sure that there isn't something I should be doing just as a
precaution. Thanks.
Take care,
Ed Przybylek
From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> ]
On Behalf Of Tom Fowle
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 1:43 PM
To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] electric motor question
David,
One Horsepower is generally considered to require about 750 watts.
so 2.25 HP will need a solid 1700 watts. This is probably a peak rating,
but none th less it must be on a 20 amp circuit that isn't used much.
If you have a coule 200 watt outside lights on at the same time, it will
get very close to the max rating of a 20 amp circuit.
tom
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