Technoguide: do-it-yourself conversion of a screwdriver to mains power - Setafi

Converting a cordless screwdriver to mains power is not tricky, but it will require certain skills and tools. All owners of cordless screwdrivers know that this tool is indispensable in its business and is very convenient because it allows you to get to the workplace without unnecessary wires and effort.

Its only downside is the battery. The screwdriver will work as long as the battery is charged - this is a well-known fact. But the most important thing is that any battery has a limited charge cycle. Therefore, sooner or later, but the day will come when the battery simply "dies" and will no longer take a charge. This means that the cordless screwdriver will turn into an ownerless and useless piece of iron. However, even from this situation there are at least 3 ways out:

1. buy a new screwdriver;
2. buy a new battery for a screwdriver;
3. convert a screwdriver to work from a 220 V network.

The first two options for solving the problem are clear - you just need money. And it often happens that a new battery does not differ much in price from a new screwdriver. However, if you have the desire and skills, then you will make the screwdriver work from the network and thereby extend its performance at a small financial cost.

There are a lot of advantages of a screwdriver from the network. We will not list them now. But you need to understand that he will have one drawback - this is "attachment" to an electrical outlet.

Converting a screwdriver to mains power

It should be noted right away that converting a screwdriver to mains power can be done in several ways. For example, you can use:

• charging from a laptop;
• power supply from the computer;
• car battery;
• ready-made board for a 24 V power supply.

The bottom line is that you will need a power source and convert electrical energy from 220 V to 24 V. Typically, cordless screwdrivers have a voltage of 24 V and a little less often 12 V. If your screwdriver is 12 V, respectively, the power source must produce the same voltage.

It is important to decide on the source of its power before deciding to “make a screwdriver from the network”, because the execution of the alteration and its aesthetic appearance will depend on this. For example, if you transform 220 V into 24 V, you will be a power supply from a computer, then the power supply itself will be “external”, respectively, in addition to the wire, you will have to constantly drag the power supply behind the screwdriver. If you purchase a chip for a power supply that will convert 220 V to 24 V, then it can be placed in a regular battery of a screwdriver, and only a wire will stick out of the screwdriver itself, which you will need to connect to socket.

There is another important nuance: the adapter used must provide not only the desired voltage, but also power. Cordless screwdrivers are different. For example, if your screwdriver in working order consumes 300-400 W of power, you connect to it adapter with a maximum power of 150 W, then, most likely, everything will not work for you as you would like would. At a minimum, the screwdriver will simply not tighten the screws to the end or stop working altogether.

If you have decided on the choice of adapter and everything is in order with its voltage and power, then you can start remaking your cordless screwdriver from the mains.

How to make a screwdriver from the network: an external power supply

A little lower we will present a simple algorithm of actions that make up the conversion of a screwdriver to mains power. Depending on the adapter you have chosen and your screwdriver, you can adjust the points of the algorithm of actions to suit your own conditions.

Dismantling the old battery

Whatever way you choose to adapt the screwdriver to the 220 V network, in any case, you will need to disassemble the old non-working screwdriver battery.

There are a few important things to remember here:

• battery terminals are of value to you - in no case can they be damaged, since it is to them that you will solder the wire;
• the body matters to you - try not to damage it either.

At this stage, the "dead" battery cells are usually pulled out and the wires are soldered to the terminals. For example, if you have an external power supply, such as a computer power supply or a laptop charger, then you will need to:

1. release the battery from dead cells;
2. put a wire from the block or charger into the old battery;
3. connect the wire to the battery terminals: it is important to observe the colors of the wires and the “plus and minus” terminals;
4. instead of battery cells, you need to come up with a “weighting agent” - usually a piece of solid wood.

The weighting agent is needed so that there is a balance in the screwdriver and your hand does not get tired during the work.

Some details on the photo:

How to choose an external power supply for a screwdriver

External power supplies are good because you need a minimum of actions:

• select the appropriate block;
• properly connect it to the battery.

Usually, ready-made blocks from a computer or charging from a laptop are used for these purposes. You can use any other suitable adapter.

The block for the computer is good because it gives out good power of 400-500 W, which means that you will not have problems with the screwdriver. But its minus is the bulkiness that must be taken into account. The laptop charger in this regard looks better and more compact, but it is weaker in power.

On the network, you can find an option when a screwdriver battery charger is used as an adapter. As an emergency measure, you can use it, but as a full-fledged alteration of a screwdriver to mains power, you need to forget about this method. The screwdriver battery charger is intended only for charging batteries and is not designed for long-term use at high power. For example, if you attach a long wire to the charging terminals, the end of which will be attached to a screwdriver, then you will not be able to work with the device, since the power of the charger is hardly enough to “warm up” the wires. For this method, it is recommended to use a wire no longer than 1 meter. And with such a length of wire, you can’t really work with a screwdriver.

How to make a screwdriver from the mains: built-in power supply

If your screwdriver battery has a large enough case, then it makes sense to look at ready-made power supplies and boards that can fit inside the case. This method is more interesting than an external power supply. Moreover, problems with miniature blocks should not arise - online stores will help you.

Particularly "advanced" lovers of experimenting easily assemble similarBatteries sit down, disabling the working tool. To avoid this, you can convert the screwdriver to mains recharging. But be careful - mistakes are fraught with firese power supplies yourself. The benefit of instructions and diagrams of such blocks on the Internet is in bulk.

In general, if you have decided and found a power supply that you can fit in the battery case of a screwdriver, then the algorithm for you will be as follows:

• disassemble the old screwdriver battery;
• insert and connect the power supply to the battery terminals and to the external wire.

By the way, mounting foam or mounting glue can be used as a fastener for the power supply in the battery case. For this method, a “weighting agent” is not needed inside the battery case, since the built-in power supply itself will play its role.

Some details on the photo:

Conclusion

Converting a screwdriver to mains power depends entirely on your screwdriver, your skills and the availability of the necessary elements. For example, there are such screwdrivers, due to the shape of the battery of which you can only convert them to an external power supply. Or maybe you have an old, but working power supply from your computer lying around. Or you like to "chemize", so you can easily assemble the power supply yourself.

It is important to note that you can not remake a 220 V screwdriver, even if its battery is out of order. For example, you can:

1. reanimate a "dead" battery by replacing its non-working elements;
2. use external batteries as power sources.

We will definitely talk about these methods in future articles.