Can I power 24V electric wheelchair motors with 12v?

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1

Hello,
I am reusing 24V electric wheelchair motors. These will be connected either to a Sabertooth controller or a SmartDriveDuo. I’d rather the motors be slow, so they are easy to control via an RC controller. Is it better to power these motors with 12V to make them slower and easier to control? They need to support moving a max of 60 pounds in weight on slopes.

Thanks for your advice.

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2

Hello @JohnGa and welcome to our forum.

24V DC brushed motors can run with 12V DC. But, their power output will be greatly reduced. Also, running a motor on a different voltage compared to its nominal voltage can affect lifetime of the motor.