How To Make A Screwdriver From The Network
A practical example of the work of a screwdriver from a computer power supply
At work, there are two screwdrivers, they were purchased and with everyday use the batteries lost their capacity and it is already useless to charge them, they sit down very quickly. We tried to remove the battery to reanimate, it did not work out and had to make a power source and work on it in the workshop. So, we check how the screwdriver will show itself when working from a network with a computer power supply.
A block from an old computer was taken as a basis. It’s 220 volts. They brought out a wire with a connector to insert into a screwdriver. Convenience is that the device has a switch and an indicator. The power reserve is sufficient. 2.5 meter wire.
We will test it at work. Drives screws very well, drills holes.
It took approximately 1.5 hours to rework the unit. The test showed that the power reserve is sufficient for screwing screws into pine, chipboard. Let’s try to drill a hole. As you can see, everything works. There are no overloads, smoke, etc.
How to make a screwdriver work from the network
Car charger
In search of a solution to the issue “is it possible to connect a screwdriver to the charger”, you can stop charging with a car AK-block. Modules with manually adjustable current, voltage are applicable. The connection is absolutely not complicated. just connect the input channels of the instrument motor with the contacts of the car charger.
How to connect to the charging station
Before deciding whether it is possible to charge the battery of a screwdriver with a charger, you need to remember that the charging unit of the screwdriver supplies a low voltage, with a long wire length, the voltage is lost, so it would be rational to connect through a meter cord with a cross section of 2.5 mm2 or more.
- Wires are attached to the contacts of the charging unit of the screwdriver. Spoiled nutrients are removed from the nest.
- A groove is made in the case, a cable is passed through it. It is proposed to seal the entry point with elastic material so that there is no backlash and the wire is held securely in place.
- Since the nest has lost its weight after removing the unusable elements, it is recommended to restore the balance by inserting a load into the vacant space, otherwise the hand will become very tired during work, eventually harming the health of joints and ligaments.
- The cable and the previously attached wires are connected together, the body is assembled.
220 V circuit
It’s not that hard to do. First of all, you need to find out the voltage and current of the power supply of the instrument and select the desired mode. We are looking in the search for the characteristics of your brand of screwdriver and we get the necessary information. Now we buy a step-down transformer or take it from old electronics and assemble a simple circuit.
Shown is a circuit for switching from 220 volt mains voltage to 12 volt constant.
This way you will be able to power any device that previously served from akb. Such alteration will not negatively affect the service life of the screwdriver, but make sure that the tool does not overheat during prolonged work.
Those who have used a cordless screwdriver have appreciated its convenience. At any time, without getting tangled in the wires, you can crawl into hard-to-reach niches. Until the battery runs out.
This is the first drawback. it needs regular recharging. Sooner or later, batteries will run out of charge cycles.
This is the second drawback. This moment will come the sooner, the cheaper your instrument. Saving money when buying, we often buy inexpensive Chinese “no-name” devices.
There is nothing wrong with that, but you should be aware of the fact that the manufacturer saves as much as you do. Consequently, the most expensive unit (namely the battery) will be the cheapest when bundled. As a result, we get an excellent tool with a serviceable motor and not a worn gearbox, which does not work due to a poor-quality battery.
There is an option to purchase a new set of batteries, or replace faulty batteries in the unit. However, this is a budget event. The cost is comparable to buying a new screwdriver.
The second option is to use a spare or old battery from the car (if you have one). But the starter battery is heavy, and the use of such a tandem is not very comfortable.
On our own
For users with special knowledge and skills, the problem will not be difficult “is it possible to power a screwdriver from a charger without special means”, because. Assembling the feeding block is possible with your own hands. Instead of damaged elements, a power module assembled according to the scheme is inserted into the case. The outgoing voltage is monitored, the wires are powered, the case is locked.
Tip: the circuit may require additional load, it can be ensured by including a 15W light bulb in the system, which will also provide backlight.
AC adapter for screwdriver in battery housing
If your tool is not too powerful, you can place the power supply in the handle or case from damaged batteries.
We build in a ready-made power supply.
To do this, you need to purchase a ready-made block with suitable characteristics and dimensions. There is enough of such stuff on the radio markets. Take the body with you and go to the fitting. When the desired power source is purchased, carefully separate it from the case.
We place the screwdriver in the battery box. All components must be securely fastened. If necessary, extend the wires connecting the control board and the transformer. If the circuit touches the metal parts of the transformer during operation, a short circuit will occur.
Since the space in the case allows. separate the board and the transformer for better cooling. Whichever quality power supply you choose, the load will be high and overheating is possible.
It will not be superfluous to fix additional radiators on the power control microcircuits. Operate the screwdriver for a long time, disconnect it from the mains and touch the radio parts on the control board.
You yourself will understand which elements need heat removal. Holes for air circulation can be made in the housing.
Do-it-yourself alteration of the power supply unit will not take much time, and the cost of the purchased module is incomparable with restoring the battery’s performance.
Homemade power scheme.
If you are familiar with a soldering iron. this material will come in handy as an instruction.
The circuit is implemented on a donor, in the form of a ballast for a 150W halogen floodlight. The added components are indicated on the diagram with colored inserts.
An output transformer from an old computer power supply has been added, Schottky diodes are taken from there. The middle point of the secondary winding is between a pair of 12 turns each. Since this circuit does not start without load, a 15W incandescent lamp is constantly turned on at the output. At the same time, the illumination circuit is implemented.
The power supply fits easily into the battery case.
The design turned out to be so successful and inexpensive. that there was an idea to put production on stream. With an abundance of cheap Chinese screwdrivers, demand will be provided.
See the alterations of the screwdriver on the network with a selection of the power supply.
The screwdriver is convenient for its ubiquity. independence from limiting wires makes it possible to wade into hard-to-reach areas. A set of two power modules allows you to power one of them while working with the other. However, each battery pack has a finite number of charge / discharge periods, failing once they are used up. In low-cost tools, blocks break faster, and the user gets a gadget with a working motor, but no power. Then the dilemma arises “is it possible to connect the screwdriver directly to the charging”.
You can feed such a screwdriver by connecting it to the network through a power supply unit, because its motor operates at 220 volts.
DIY screwdriver alteration. Other ways to supply power
How to make a screwdriver powered from the mains. We use an old battery
The other end of the wire, as you already understood, connects to the screwdriver itself. For convenience, we will use an old battery. Here you cannot do without a soldering iron, since the “crocodiles” will constantly fly inside the case.
Pre-disassemble the battery and remove the insides. Materials are toxic, so be sure to use skin and respiratory protection.
Next, clean the inside of the case. To do this, rinse it with a weak mixture of alkali and water, and then rinse with clean water. Let the plastic dry and you can solder the wire ends. Remember to consider the polarity of the device.
Before soldering, pass the cable through the pre-drilled hole in the bottom of the battery case, that is, in the handle. It is desirable to fix the wire inside. Use duct tape. It will perfectly secure the cord inside the screwdriver.
What you need to rework a screwdriver
The whole process is quite simple, if you have at hand a good instruction, a set of necessary materials and tools.
Namely, you will need:
- Native device battery.
- Serviceable charger.
- Stranded wire. Desirable soft.
- Soldering iron and rosin.
To get the most out of your tool, you need good drills. You can buy them inexpensively online. For example, on the Aliexpress website.
How to make a screwdriver from the network
All modern screwdrivers are divided into professional and home (household). It is not strange that most buyers prefer the second type, because they are much cheaper.
The problem is that when used in regular standard mode, the battery of the device often fails. Replacing a fixture isn’t all that cheap.
Not every owner will be able to repair, especially if the device has broken down not for the first time, it is almost impossible to do this.
There remains one, but one hundred percent option. Change the power supply of the instrument from the battery to a 220V outlet. You just need to figure out how to make a screwdriver from the network.
Preparation and the first stage of changing the power supply of the screwdriver
The first step is to solder the metal conductors of the wire to the charging terminals. The soft cable has copper conductors. Terminals are usually brass.
To solder such materials together, pre-treat them with acid. The craftsman uses special solder for this process, but practice shows that ordinary rosin will also work.
The process is quite simple, although many owners still manage to make their task easier. They use crocodiles to connect contacts. We still recommend using a soldering iron for greater reliability of the device.
How to restore the center of gravity of a converted screwdriver
The parts of the tool were calculated in such a way that the device was as convenient as possible in work. You have changed the weight of the fixture, so the center of gravity has shifted. This will bring some discomfort when using a screwdriver.
To prevent this from happening, add weight to an empty battery by inserting a weighting material into its body that is appropriate for the weight of the internals of the device. The fixture can now be connected and tested.
Self-made power supply. In fact, a simple process, but requiring special attention.
Just a network screwdriver
A more expensive screwdriver is a specialized network. Such a tool has a built-in gearbox, most often of the planetary type.
They are positioned as a professional tool and cost significantly more.
Do-it-yourself conversion of a cordless screwdriver into a network
The third option is to convert the cordless screwdriver for mains operation. You will need knowledge of electronics and circuitry, so this is not for everyone. In addition, you will need to know the operating parameters of your battery.
If the battery is broken, then you can ask people on the DIY forums to measure the parameters of the current and voltage of the battery. This will help you make the mains power supply. Basically, if you have a good knowledge of electronics, you can simply disassemble the battery. In its design, there will be chemical batteries connected in a certain way. Knowing their type, from the name of the battery, as well as the connection diagram, you can quickly estimate the parameters of the battery. And then assemble the rectifier with the required operating parameters. Or even replace the cells in a failed battery. And then you don’t have to assemble the rectifier.
Replacing a screwdriver with a conventional drill
The easiest option is to use an ordinary small drill as a screwdriver. You just take the bit and clamp it into the chuck instead of the drill. Working with a drill as a screwdriver will require some skill. The fact is that the drill does not have a “ratchet”. in a screwdriver, the ratchet will work as a safety catch when the fasteners are tightened. Therefore, you need to clearly feel this moment and release the button. Otherwise, the torn off heads of screws, spoiled bits and mood are guaranteed to you. Another difference between a drill and a screwdriver is the rotation speed.
If the torque is small in the drill, and the rotational speed is high, then in the screwdriver it is the opposite. Some even have the ability to adjust the rotation speed. Without high torque, tightening a large self-tapping screw is unlikely to work. you will have to resort to using a screwdriver. Therefore, small screws are usually screwed in with a drill.
It is not recommended to use a hammer drill as a screwdriver, although its operating parameters of torque and rotation are more acceptable. The hammer drill has a large radial runout, with its help it is difficult to tighten the screws.
Benefits of cordless screwdrivers
Cordless screwdrivers are very convenient on the construction site. it is very easy to work with them on the roof, in difficult conditions, where dragging wires will only get in the way and create unnecessary danger. But this is where the battery breaks down most often. the screwdriver fell, the battery broke, and you have to look for a new one.
Let’s figure out how to make a screwdriver from the network.
How to make a screwdriver from the network
The mains screwdriver is the dream of many DIYers. In principle, it happens that in a home workshop there is no need for a cordless tool. You can have access to the outlet at any time. Of course, it’s convenient to have a cordless screwdriver in your hands. But when you work, you hold in your hands, in addition to the tool itself, also a battery. And it will be harder.
Also, batteries often break, break. And since on sale you are unlikely to buy a battery separately from a screwdriver, you have to puzzle over how you can provide your screwdriver with the necessary power from the outlet, bypassing battery devices.
Power supply options
Any screwdriver requires much less voltage than a regular socket gives out. Therefore, for recharge, you will definitely need a special converter, at the output of which the required voltage will be obtained. All power supplies are divided into two large groups: pulse and transformer. Let’s consider each of them separately.
How to do it yourself
Before you remake a screwdriver, it is necessary to clearly determine what power and what voltage the tool needs to work. From this it will be necessary to proceed.
Then the tool body is opened. The two halves of the case can be fastened with screws or with glue. A knife can be very useful when disassembling.
After opening the case, a power supply or wire is inserted inside, the contacts of which must be soldered to the charger. Soldering should be as effective as possible, using special solutions.
The other end of the wire must be designed for power supply. So there should be a fork. It is recommended to make a hole in the housing in advance through which the cable will pass.
A homemade power supply can be obtained in several ways. In any case, you will get a full-fledged tool that can be used to perform work after connecting to the network. It is advisable to prepare a diagram in advance that will help you avoid mistakes when creating a block.
Converting a screwdriver to mains power: 5 ways
The value of a screwdriver as a home or construction tool, most often, lies in its portability. However, due to certain circumstances, portability sometimes has to be abandoned in favor of functionality. It is about converting a cordless screwdriver into a mains-powered tool. This process has a number of subtleties that it is desirable to observe.
Pulse
The principle of operation of pulse systems is that the voltage is first rectified and then converted into a special pulse signal. In this case, it is important to achieve a stable voltage. A transformer winding or resistors can help with this.
Switching power supplies are quite effective and can be used in different conditions. At the same time, they have a high level of protection against short circuits and similar effects. However, in terms of power, impulse systems are clearly inferior to transformer ones. In addition, such units are very capricious to the input voltage. If it is lower than the set, then the element may simply not work.
We use laptop charging
An excellent option is to use laptop charging. Such devices usually operate with a voltage of 12 to 19 V. This is quite enough to ensure the high-quality operation of the screwdriver. But do not neglect the output current indicators. The closer it is to the required, the better.
In this case, reworking a screwdriver for mains power is reduced to an elementary soldering of wires from the charger to the board in the tool. It is advisable to isolate everything with electrical tape or other similar materials. After that, the wire is brought out and the tool can be used.
Computer power supply
You can make a screwdriver from the network using an unnecessary power supply from a computer. There are many types of such devices, but almost all of them are suitable for a screwdriver. The required wires can be found by colors, making inquiries on the manufacturer’s website.
Power supplies from computers are distinguished by their durability, advanced overload protection and a host of other advantages. They may not be very convenient due to their size, but a long wire will help solve this problem.
The procedure for connecting the computer power supply to the screwdriver:
- Disassemble the block;
- Remove the protection against switching on by disconnecting the green wire from the board;
- This wire must be connected to the black connector on the device;
- Separate all wires except yellow and black;
- These two wires are soldered to the extension cable;
- The other end of the cable is directly connected to the screwdriver;
- All open contacts are isolated if possible.
Thus, a power supply unit for a 14 volt screwdriver will turn out from a computer device.
Alteration of purchased blocks
It can also be powered from any other commercial power supplies. The alteration process in this case will be almost the same, however, in addition to the resistor, you may need to solder additional diodes. The most important thing is to achieve the required output parameters. And this can be easily done using a combination of components.
Transformer
common power supplies that have proven to be reliable and efficient in many areas. The device consists of a step-down transformer and a rectifier through which the reduced voltage passes. Rectifiers may vary depending on the number of diodes used.
Such elements are easy to manufacture, cheap and reliable. Therefore, they are often preferred. They provide stable voltage without interference with high maximum power. But there are also several disadvantages. The main disadvantage is bulkiness, with a much lower efficiency than that of pulsed sources. This fact requires the selection of a power supply for the screwdriver with a power greater than that required by the tool. Since part of the capacity will go to side processes.
Alteration of the power supply unit made in China
Perfect for creating a power supply for a 12 volt screwdriver with your own hands, ordinary Chinese power supplies with an output voltage of 24 V and a current of 9 A. But since the tools use less voltage, you need to lower it first.
To achieve the goal, you need to replace the original resistor R10 with an adjustable resistor, with which you can achieve the desired voltage. This is done in several stages:
- A fixed resistor is removed;
- In its place, a previously prepared adjustable resistor is inserted, on which a resistance of 2300 Ohms will be set;
- So far, the voltage is still 24 V;
- Using the resistor settings, you need to achieve the required voltage on the contacts.
After all the manipulations, you need to check that the output voltage is the desired value (12 V, 14 V, etc.), and also that the current exceeds 9 A.
Just a network screwdriver
A more expensive screwdriver is a specialized network. Such a tool has a built-in gearbox, most often of the planetary type.
They are positioned as a professional tool and cost significantly more.
Replacing a screwdriver with a conventional drill
The easiest option is to use an ordinary small drill as a screwdriver. You just take the bit and clamp it into the chuck instead of the drill. Working with a drill as a screwdriver will require some skill. The fact is that the drill does not have a “ratchet” in the screwdriver, the ratchet will work as a safety catch when the fasteners are tightened. Therefore, you need to clearly feel this moment and release the button. Otherwise, the torn off heads of screws, spoiled bits and mood are guaranteed to you. Another difference between a drill and a screwdriver is the rotation speed.
If the torque is small in the drill, and the rotational speed is high, then in the screwdriver it is the opposite. Some even have the ability to adjust the rotation speed. Without high torque, tightening a large self-tapping screw is unlikely to work. you will have to resort to using a screwdriver. Therefore, small screws are usually screwed in with a drill.
It is not recommended to use a hammer drill as a screwdriver, although its operating parameters of torque and rotation are more acceptable. The hammer drill has a large radial runout, with its help it is difficult to tighten the screws.
A network screwdriver. what is the plus of such an assistant?
At the moment when a novice craftsman, in pursuit of convenience, prefers to buy a cordless drill-screwdriver, the network analogue gathers dust on the shelves further. Loud and colorful advertisements promising a long service life of new generation batteries make you not think about physics. Although everyone who knows even a glimpse of an electrician will think about the veracity of these words. In the meantime, very soon disappointment comes, sometimes due to the fault of the master, sometimes due to an accidental coincidence, the cordless tool does not work, which makes the person frantically look for a new spare part or adjust the power supply of the screwdriver from the network.
Why is this happening? It should be noted the obvious advantages of the battery-powered tool. It has small dimensions and weight, is mobile, which means it can work away from power sources, allows you to get and carry out fasteners in the most inaccessible places. But what darkens this picture? Batteries require special care, regular use and subsequent charging, are capricious to storage conditions, quickly exhale, and charge several times longer than they can work. Many unpleasant surprises await us from this.
At first we can happily make repairs. But over time, we will become uncomfortable with long hours of charging. The solution may be to purchase two batteries, but this will save us for a while. If you do not work with the tool all the time, then after a prolonged inactivity, the battery will lose its capacity, it will discharge faster, and it will not be able to fully charge. If you carelessly store such food, then you can even find a swollen or leaking battery that cannot be used. We also note their high cost when purchased separately.
Radio engineering, electronics and diy circuits Power supply for a cordless screwdriver from a 220 volt network
Screwdriver. This is a very useful tool, it can be drilled, screwed and even threaded. All the screwdrivers that I saw were rechargeable, which gave a great autonomy, you can work where there is no outlet. Usually there are two nickel-cadmium batteries included. But their resource is relatively short-lived and after a year the capacity drops dramatically due to damage to individual cans.
Batteries have to be charged constantly, every time before work, and they only last for half an hour or less. Therefore, I decided to assemble a power supply unit from a 220 volt outlet to a screwdriver.
An electronic ballast for halogen with a power of 160W was chosen as the basis for the power supply. It is a half-bridge oscillator on two MJE13009 transistors.
This power supply has a current feedback, for this reason, at least it will not start without load. Taking this fact into account, a 15W incandescent lamp was connected in parallel to the output. Its function. Recognize the minimum load on the power supply and illuminate the drilling work area.
The problem of starting an electronic transformer can also be solved by redoing the feedback of the oscillator from the current to the OS by voltage. To do this, it is not taken from a small ring, but from the output transformer. But in this case, the priority was the ease of rework.
The power supply board is housed in the battery case. Its voltage is 16.8 volts. Battery capacity is 1200mA / H.
Output transformer. Toroidal, made on a circular magnetic circuit. Initially, the secondary winding was wound with litz wire from several wires in heat shrinkage and contained 8 turns. The new winding was wound with a thick wire, 2 x 12 turns, to get the midpoint. The transformer terminals are connected to an assembly of two Schottky diodes from the computer’s power supply (in the photo it is on the radiator). The rectifier output is connected to a choke on the ring, from the computer motherboard. The electrolytic capacitor at the output has a capacity of 4700μF, it is shunted with a 0.1μF ceramic capacitor. To remove the ripple with the mains frequency after the rectifier at the input of the electronic ballast, an electrolytic capacitor with a capacity of 220 μF is added.
Added elements are shown in green on the diagram.
The described revision of the screwdriver made it possible to power it directly from the 220 volt network. A 7 Ohm thermistor is installed in the 220 Volt power circuit break, which smooths out the current inrush at the moment of switching on.
Benefits of cordless screwdrivers
Cordless screwdrivers are very convenient on the construction site. it is very easy to work with them on the roof, in difficult conditions, where dragging wires will only get in the way and create unnecessary danger. But this is where the battery breaks down most often. the screwdriver fell, the battery broke, and you have to look for a new one.
How to make a screwdriver from the network
The mains screwdriver is the dream of many DIYers. In principle, it happens that in a home workshop there is no need for a cordless tool. You can have access to the outlet at any time. Of course, it’s convenient to have a cordless screwdriver in your hands. But when you work, you hold in your hands, in addition to the tool itself, also a battery. And it will be harder.
Also, batteries often break, break. And since on sale you are unlikely to buy a battery separately from a screwdriver, you have to puzzle over how you can provide your screwdriver with the necessary power from the outlet, bypassing battery devices.
Do-it-yourself conversion of a cordless screwdriver into a network
The third option is to convert the cordless screwdriver for mains operation. You will need knowledge of electronics and circuitry, so this is not for everyone. In addition, you will need to know the operating parameters of your battery.
If the battery is broken, then you can ask people on the DIY forums to measure the parameters of the current and voltage of the battery. This will help you make the mains power supply. Basically, if you have a good knowledge of electronics, you can simply disassemble the battery. In its design, there will be chemical batteries connected in a certain way. Knowing their type, from the name of the battery, as well as the connection diagram, you can quickly estimate the parameters of the battery. And then assemble the rectifier with the required operating parameters. Or even replace the cells in a failed battery. And then you don’t have to assemble the rectifier.