Elliptical trainers are a popular cardiovascular workout because they are a low-impact exercise that builds muscle and your aerobic capacity. While some types of fitness equipment use tensioned belts to provide resistance for the pedal strokes, elliptical machines employ disc magnets, which offer a smoother and silent resistance option.
Features
Silent magnetic resistance on elliptical trainers is created through the harnessing of current between magnets. Whereas fitness equipment traditionally had tension placed on the flywheel by the tightening of belts, magnetic resistance works by bringing magnets closer together on the outside of the flywheel. The magnets never touch the flywheel, but as they are drawn closer together by the resistance setting on the machine, the current resisting the forward motion of the flywheel becomes greater.
Function
The braking systems in elliptical trainers rely on complex electro-magnetic physics theory. The basic principle is that as a conductive material, in this case the flywheel of the machine, passes through a magnetic field, electrons will begin to flow in the conductive material. The electrons spin in eddy currents similar to a whirlpool in water and create their own minor magnetic fields that drag against the conductive material. The greater the magnetic field that is introduced or the more conductive a material is, the more drag that will be created by the eddy current.
Types
There are two main types of magnetic resistance used in elliptical trainers: manual and motorized. Manual resistance technology is generally available in lower-priced models and requires you to turn a knob or pull a lever to manually position the magnets closer or farther from the flywheel. Motorized systems can be dialed in much more precisely using a digital controller. Some motorized systems will also automatically adjust the resistance on the flywheel based upon your heart rate while working out to make your routine harder or easier as necessary.
Significance
Motorized eddy current braking systems are the quietest magnetic resistance on the market. They also provided the smoothest resistance on your pedal stroke. Because the magnets only need to move centimeters or even millimeters toward the flywheel in an eddy current braking system, greatly changing the setting during interval training is quick and easy. Manual magnetic systems, called particle braking systems, use a similar technology but are slightly louder and do not adjust the resistance as quickly, which can be a major downside depending on the type of training you do.
Considerations
When choosing an elliptical trainer based on the braking system, EllipticalTrainers.com strongly advises that you be aware of the marketing used by lower-end models. Some models that have particle braking systems will claim on their marketing that they employ eddy current braking. If a model is priced cheaply on average for elliptical trainers, it most likely uses manual particle braking. Additionally, EllipticalTrainers.com advises against paying extra for a warranty on a cheap model. Instead, you should consider purchasing a better elliptical trainer with a standard warranty.
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