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Is a cordless screwdriver a power tool? Requirements for portable power tools. Features of professional models

Unless you work for a construction company where a competent person selects tools, most likely you need household equipment for non-professionals. How to understand the classes of power tools and understand whether the power of the model you like is enough? And vice versa - how not to overpay for those characteristics that you do not need?..

We understand how power tools and hand-held electric machines are classified.

Power classification

It's not about how loud the puncher knocks and whether you can hear the electric saw at the other end of the village. Power is the very characteristic that determines the ability of the tool to work for a long time, without stopping and overheating. How important this is depends on the tasks that are set for the equipment and the conditions of its operation.

  • Industrial and Heavy Duty are portable power tool classes not found on store shelves. These are not just professional units used by craftsmen from housing and communal services or masters "for an hour". They work without a break for 16 hours, have reduced safety indicators, as they are intended for the work of professionals.
  • Heavy Duty have all the same characteristics and, in addition, increased dust and moisture protection and the ability to use equipment and components from other models. In other words, "heavy artillery" among electrical equipment.
  • Professional as a class is found on specialized shelves shopping centers. They already have higher security requirements, as they are known to be used by less skilled operators. They can be allowed for use in harsh conditions, as well as expand their “specialization” - for this, interchangeable nozzles and other accessories often come in a set. The target audience of this class is foremen working on call or in a small production in one shift.
  • Hobby - a class of equipment that usually sits in a box for weeks and is removed for small household needs: repair or handicraft items. It is allowed to operate extremely carefully, it is not allowed to use it for more than half an hour: a 15-minute break should be taken. A big plus is a high safety rate for non-professionals.

Classification by purpose

The most familiar division of tools for us is according to the type of work that needs to be done.




  • And, finally, auxiliary tools belong to a separate class of tools: guns (glue, soldering and for knitting reinforcement), construction vacuum cleaners and hair dryers, dust collectors, spray guns, mixers for mixtures and solutions.

Classification by method of operation


Electrical safety classification

This classification - according to the method of protection against electric shock - and the following are the most serious. They are placed at the end of the article because to get to know them you need to understand, for example, why professional tools have a lower security class (this is described at the beginning of the article).

Classes of power tools and hand-held electric machines can be determined by marking.

Class Working insulation grounding purpose Precautionary measures
0 There is Not Work in rooms without increased danger The tool must be installed in an instrument with a grounded housing.
01 There is Grounding fixture without grounding conductor
1 There is Earthing device with conductor, earth-contact plug Work in industrial premises and residential buildings Connect to a grounded outlet. Working with rubber gloves
2 double or reinforced Not Work in industrial premises No (except for operation in wells and metal containers)
3 There is Not Any conditions, including in especially dangerous rooms Not

The same classification of power tools for electrical safety is applicable to other household appliances: the first class of electrical safety is most common among appliances; the third is universal.

Heat resistance classification

The lower this class, the more often you have to stop the device to cool it down (20 minutes of work after 15 minutes of break - optimal value for power tools, with an increase in the class, the operating time also increases).

The resistance to heat itself depends on the material of the winding.

Class Winding materials Maximum t
Y Cellulose or silk 90⁰C
A Cellulose or silk with dielectric treatment 105⁰C
E Resin and organic film 120⁰C
B Mica 130⁰C
F Synthetic materials or asbestos 155⁰C
H Elastomers and glass fibers impregnated with organosilicon 180⁰C
C Mica, ceramic, glass, quartz with inorganic treatment 180⁰C

Classification according to the degree of protection against the penetration of foreign objects

For convenience, the marking of the IP-XX format is used, where the first digit in place of X indicates the degree of protection against solid particles, the second - from the penetration of moisture into the device.

1st digit Decryption 2nd digit Decryption
0 No protection
1 Protection against bodies with a diameter > 5 cm 1 Protection against moisture falling on the device from above
2 Protection against bodies with a diameter > 2.5 cm (operator's fingers) 2 Protection against moisture falling on the device at an angle of 15 ⁰
3 Protection against bodies with a diameter of 2.5 mm (cables) 3 Protection against moisture falling on the device at an angle of 45 ⁰
4 Protection against bodies with a diameter > 0.1 cm 4 Full moisture protection
5 Complete protection 5 Protection against moisture entering the instrument under pressure
6 Absolute protection (including against dust) 6 Protection against moisture penetration in case of short-term drowning

The marking is designed to provide the user with an understanding of the hazard class of the power tool as much as possible. If doubts still remain, you need to consult with a specialist, be sure to indicate the qualifications of the operator for this tool, the conditions of use and the duration of work.

Which is designed for drilling holes in wood, metals, plastics and other materials.

The use of various nozzles instead of a drill allows such a drill to perform some additional operations, including screwing and unscrewing screws and screws.

screwdriver- this is a type of power tool in which, on the contrary, the main function is screwing and unscrewing screws and screws, and drilling is in second place.

In other words, a screwdriver is a special drill designed for screwing and unscrewing screws and screws, which directly follows from the name of the tool.

More precisely, this tool is called drill screwdriver, but for simplicity of presentation and perception of the text, we will still use the term screwdriver.

Screwdriver in last years is becoming an increasingly popular tool for the mandatory set of an amateur master and is most in demand in the country, at home, in the garage.

This tool allows you to greatly facilitate the work and increase its productivity in various construction, repair and assembly work.

In this article, we will only consider cordless screwdriver, since its device and principle of operation is similar to an electric screwdriver connected to the mains with a cord.

The only difference is that the cordless tool is not connected to the network, but uses the built-in battery as a power source.

Working with such a screwdriver is easy and simple, there is no need to have a large set of screwdrivers of different sizes for different screws and screws.

The “acquisition” of calluses on the hands from repeated screwing of self-tapping screws is completely excluded.

The device of cordless screwdrivers

The cordless screwdriver "originated" from an electric drill, so their device has similar design components, but there are also differences.

It consists of an electric motor, a gearbox, a torque adjustment clutch, a chuck, controls, a battery and a housing.

electric motor- converts the electrical energy of the battery into a mechanical rotational movement, which must be given to the working tool of the screwdriver (bits, drills).

Reducer- usually planetary type, installed immediately after the engine, serves to reduce the engine speed and increase torque.

Torque control clutch- this is a very useful screwdriver assembly, which allows you to set the required torque (in other words, the screwing force) depending on the material, diameter and length of the screw.

This is necessary in order to accurately stop the screw head in a certain position when tightening the screw (for example, flush with the surface of a wooden block).

The required torque is set using a rotating indexed ring. When the set torque is reached, the “ratchet” is activated and the screwing stops.

If insufficient torque is given, the screw will be undertorqued. If an excessive torque is set, the screw will be deeply recessed into the "body" of the bar.

Cartridge- performs the same function as in a drill, namely, it serves to install working tools (bits, drills and other nozzles).

Controls- the cordless screwdriver controls include: power button (trigger), torque adjustment ring, speed switch (in the case of a two-speed version of the screwdriver), reverse switch (direction of rotation).

The power button also controls the rotation speed - the deeper it is recessed, the greater the rotation speed.

Battery– in cordless screwdrivers, batteries of the following designs can be used

Nickel-cadmium (short designation Ni-Cd),
- lithium-ion (short designation Li-ion),
- nickel-metal hydride (short designation Ni-MH).

We will not consider in detail internal structure each type of batteries and chemical processes occurring in them in different modes. This is quite difficult, and not necessarily for the user.

We will limit ourselves to the characteristics and properties of batteries necessary for the optimal choice of a screwdriver model in relation to your capabilities and needs.

Each type of battery has its own characteristics and when buying a tool, this information will help you make the best choice.

Ni-Cd batteries used in screwdrivers and other power tools for a long time.
- service life - up to 5 years; (*)
- cycles (charge-discharge) - up to 1500;
- minimum temperature of use - up to minus 15°С;
- charge time - 3-7 hours;
- the presence of "charge memory" - yes;
- weight - significant;
- price - (with equal battery capacity) of the three options is the lowest.
Batteries of this type are recommended to be charged and discharged completely, otherwise the battery capacity will decrease. It is recommended to store such batteries in a fully discharged state.

Li-ion batteries are the most modern batteries, they began to be used in power tools much later than Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries. This type of battery is currently most common in cordless screwdrivers and other tools.
- service life - up to 3 years; (*)
- cycles (charge-discharge) - up to 3000;
- minimum temperature of use - up to minus 10°С;
- charge time - 1 hour;
- the presence of "charge memory" - no;
- weight - insignificant;
- price - (with equal battery capacity) of the three options is the highest.

Ni-MH batteries- occupy a middle position between the above batteries. Currently, they are quite rare in some models of screwdrivers from individual manufacturers.
- cycles (charge-discharge) - up to 1000;(*)
- minimum temperature of use - negative temperatures are undesirable;
- the presence of "charge memory" - insignificantly;
- weight - significant.

(*) Attention! All specified characteristics of batteries are average and reference. The exact characteristics of specific batteries are given in the instructions for the screwdriver or on the battery case.

The duration of the charge depends on the version of the battery and the model of the charger included in the kit (normal charge, boost charge).

To ensure the battery life specified by the manufacturer, it is necessary to strictly comply with the conditions for their storage, use, charge - discharge, recommended by the instructions.

Frame- serves to fasten all constituent parts and control elements of the screwdriver between themselves and protect the internal components of the tool from external influences (dust, moisture, etc.).

It is often made of high-quality plastic, but some models of screwdrivers use metal cases.

Specifications

Consider the technical specifications various models cordless screwdrivers, meaning as a buyer not a builder - a professional, but an amateur summer resident or a home master.

Therefore, we do not consider the characteristics of devices of very low power (highly specialized, such as an electric screwdriver) and powerful ones, with great value torque (professional).

  • Number of revolutions (rpm) - 0 - 1500
  • Number of speeds (gears) - 1; 2
  • Maximum torque (N * m) - 15.5 - 32
  • Number of torque steps - 17 + 1 (drilling)
  • Chuck diameter - from 0.8 to 10; from 1.5 to 13
  • Chuck type - keyless
  • Engine brake - yes; No
  • Reverse - yes
  • Battery voltage (V) - 12 - 18
  • Battery charging time (hour) - 5-7; 3; one
  • Battery capacity (Ah) - 1.2 - 1.7
  • Battery type - Ni-Cd, Li-ion, Ni-MH
  • Number of batteries - 1; 2

Safety regulations for the operation of a cordless screwdriver

Screwdrivers powered by a built-in battery during operation are not connected to the mains, so there is no risk of impact during use. electric current on the human body.

However, some other hazards are still possible if this power tool is used incorrectly.

We indicate here the basic safety rules that must be observed before starting work and in the process of working with this tool:

  • Before starting work, you must carefully study the rules for use and safety precautions set out in the operating instructions for your screwdriver;
  • During battery charging Charger connects to electrical network voltage 220 V, therefore:
    - check the integrity and absence of damage to the insulation of the charger power cord;
    - use only the charger recommended by your screwdriver instruction manual;
    - charge only under recommended conditions and in accordance with the specified modes (room, temperature, time);
  • Do not allow moisture or snow to get inside the tool, this will prevent a short circuit and its failure;
  • Do not work in explosive areas, in areas where flammable and combustible liquids may be present. In the process of working in a screwdriver, sparks occur, which can lead to ignition or explosion of combustible vapors and dust;
  • It is unacceptable to use the tool with severe fatigue, under the influence of drugs, alcoholic or narcotic substances;
  • Do not allow children and untrained unauthorized persons to use the tool;
  • Wear protective goggles and protective clothing when using the tool;
  • The battery contains corrosive liquid inside. To avoid chemical burns, do not open batteries.

Choice of cordless screwdrivers

Before choosing a cordless screwdriver, the purchaser needs to decide for what future tasks it is intended.

This depends on the required set. functional characteristics screwdriver, such as the number of revolutions, maximum torque, the number of batteries and other indicators indicated above in the "technical specifications" section of this article.

For domestic, amateur use, a tool with a reverse, a brake and the following characteristics is quite enough:

Number of revolutions in two-speed version, 0-400 rpm (1st gear), 0-1200 rpm (2nd gear);
- maximum torque 20-25 Nm;
- keyless chuck 0-10 mm;

If the use of the tool is planned "on occasion", then you can get by with one battery with a charging time of 3-5 hours.

Two batteries with a short charge time are naturally much more convenient. In case of discharge of one battery, we replace it with a second, pre-charged, and continue to work. We put the discharged battery on charge.

Charger

The variant with two batteries will be slightly more expensive. It is also desirable to have a plastic suitcase (case) in which a screwdriver, charger, batteries and working tools are neatly stowed.

There you can get qualified advice, test the tool, make a purchase with a sufficient warranty period.

Pay attention to the products of Russian manufacturers. At present, a Russian tool can be much cheaper than an imported one with equal technical characteristics and workmanship.

In any case, the choice is yours, based on "needs and material opportunities" you will choose exactly what you need!

Successful purchases, success in work and a pleasant stay!

And as always, traditionally, to consolidate what you read, we bring to your attention a video on the topic.

Such a hand-held power tool as a screwdriver has become very popular and sold in the tool market today. All because he is an excellent assistant and in household, and for the professional builder. After all, you must admit that with the help of an electric screwdriver it is much easier, better and faster to perform a number of repair and household types of work. For example, if you need to hang a picture or a shelf on the wall, then using a regular screwdriver you will have to spend a lot of time and effort on such a seemingly simple job. But using an electric screwdriver you can do it in a matter of minutes.

Due to the fact that power is constantly supplied from the network through the wire, you can work with a corded screwdriver for exactly as long as you need. No need to worry about charging the battery or stop work if it is dead. A corded screwdriver, unlike a cordless one, has less weight, due to the absence of a battery. But you see, an important factor when working with a power tool is its weight. Hands get tired quickly from a heavy tool, which makes it impossible to work with it for a long period of time. Another significant plus is that when buying a corded screwdriver, you pay only for the technical characteristics of the tool. In the case of a battery-powered device, the cost of the battery is included in its price. And this means that its price may not correspond to the characteristics for which you could purchase a cheaper network counterpart. A corded screwdriver also wins in terms of costs, because in the event of a breakdown or wear of the battery cell, it will have to be purchased again.

But the main advantage of a cordless screwdriver is its mobility. After all, independence from the outlet allows you to perform the workflow anywhere, whether it is a high-rise building or a basement. The power cord does not interfere with work and there is no need for extension cords and their constant movement to the work site.

There is another important factor in the cordless screwdriver, which is not in the network device. This is the type of battery used and its specifications.

To technical specifications battery include its operating voltage, charge capacity and time to full charge. Voltage affects the power of the screwdriver itself, the higher the voltage, the greater the power of the screwdriver, and therefore the greater its torque. The charge capacity affects the duration of the screwdriver from one full charge, that is, this is the amount of energy that the battery is able to contain in itself. The full charge time indicates the amount of time it takes for the battery to fully recharge its charge.

There are three types used in screwdrivers: nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) and lithium-ion (Li-Ion). All of them have their dances and disadvantages, therefore, in order to arrange them, it is better to consider them based on the following parameters:

- Number of charges. Nickel-cadmium can withstand up to 1000 charges, nickel-metal hydride - up to 500, and lithium-ion can be charged almost an infinite number of times.

- Memory effect. This setting reduces the capacity of the battery if it was not fully charged or charged when it was not fully discharged. Lithium-ion batteries do not have this effect, which is not the case with the other two types of screwdriver batteries.

- Resistance to low temperatures. Nickel-cadmium batteries can be used without problems when working outdoors in sub-zero temperatures. The remaining two types of batteries lose their maximum charge capacity when low temperatures, as well as temperature affects the speed of their charging.

- Security. In terms of environmental performance, the lithium-ion battery wins.

The online store offers a wide selection of models of electric screwdrivers of any type. in our online store you can at a pleasant affordable price simply by filling out an application on the website or by calling the number: +7 495 268-06-66.

If you doubt the choice or need help, our experienced consultants are always ready to help you. They will answer your questions and help you choose the right model.

You can contact them directly on our website by clicking the button in the lower right corner, you can fill in or call by phone (+7 495 268-06-66) and they will be happy to provide you with all the necessary information and answer all your questions.

When purchasing goods in Moscow and the Moscow region, you can use the door-to-door delivery service in the city and the nearest suburbs, and you also have the opportunity to pick up the goods yourself from our warehouse or pick-up point. In cases of purchase of goods from other regions of Russia, delivery is provided by any transport company as agreed.

December 14, 2016 No comments

The screwdriver has become today one of the most popular tools among professionals and home craftsmen. It is useful when assembling furniture, installing drywall and plywood structures, laying roofs from metal tiles and other works. Let's talk about this tool in more detail.

A screwdriver is a hand-held electric tool for installing or removing fasteners and drilling. A screwdriver looks like a drill, and the principle of operation of these tools is also similar: an engine located in the body drives a nozzle through a gearbox, which does the work. The difference lies in the energy source (the screwdriver works on DC) and a lower frequency of rotation transmitted to the nozzle. The latter is due to the fact that the screwdriver was originally adapted to work with fasteners, in which high speeds are not needed. True, modern screwdrivers and in this parameter differ less and less from drills. It is not for nothing that most manufacturers position their tools as multifunctional, calling them drills-screwdrivers.

On the body of the tool there is a start button, a reverse button, a torque setting clutch and a speed switch.

Here, some screwdrivers have a backlight. The battery is inserted into the body from the bottom of the handle and securely fastened there with latches. This arrangement contributes to a good balance of the instrument.

SCREWDRIVER DEVICE:

  • 1 - keyless chuck;
  • 2 - torque setting clutch;
  • 3 - speed switch;
  • 4 - backlight;
  • 5 - power button;
  • 6 - reverse button;
  • 7 - battery;
  • 8 - battery discharge indicator.

The chuck is designed for fastening nozzles (bits and drills) and transferring rotational motion to them. The most common keyless chuck, which allows you to easily clamp the nozzle without the use of an additional tool.

Manufacturers also produce specialized power tools in the line of screwdrivers - for example, electric screwdrivers that are popular today, differing small size and low power. They are great for small repair work in the apartment, in the country. Nutrunners, unlike them, have great power, they will help to unscrew, say, a rusty bolt when removing a wheel from a car.

Torque setting clutch and speed switch.

By rotating the torque clutch, the desired value is set opposite the risks on the screwdriver body.

Double sleeve keyless chuck. When installing and removing nozzles, the couplings rotate in different directions.
Additional cuff for setting the operating mode of a powerful screwdriver (twisting, drilling, drilling with impact).

An electric screwdriver is great for small repairs. The impact wrench has increased power and can become an assistant during construction.

Main characteristics of the tool

When choosing a screwdriver, first of all, you need to pay attention to two parameters - torque and rotational speed. The torque value shows how much force is applied to the screw (drill) being screwed during operation. From this will depend, for example, a hole
What diameter can this screwdriver drill? In household tools, the torque is 10-16 N m.

For professional models, this figure can reach up to 130 N m. The rotation speed for household tools is in the range of 400-550 rpm. For screwdrivers with a drilling function, it reaches 1,300 rpm. Budget models usually have 1-2 speeds, professional tool- most often three-speed. In addition, the rotational speed is adjustable within one speed by pressing the power button.

Batteries serve as a power source for screwdrivers. Most often, nickel-cadmium, lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride batteries are used for these purposes. The output voltage of the batteries can be in the range of 3.5-36 V, but the most applicable range is 9.5-14.4 V. The power of the screwdriver depends on the voltage, although the dependence here is not direct.

The most important parameter of a battery for screwdrivers is its capacity, measured by the number of hours during which it is able to provide the declared current strength. In addition, batteries differ from each other in recharging resource, self-discharge rate, and the presence of a memory effect.

Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries

Recharging resource - within 1,000 times, high self-discharge, but they have the lowest price among other types of chargers.

Hybrid (Ni-MH) batteries

The resource reaches 1,500 recharging cycles, they have an increased capacity, they are discharged by 1% per month, the price is average.

Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries

They have a reduced discharge time, there is practically no self-discharge, the resource reaches 3,000 recharge cycles, the price is the highest.

Screwdriver bits

When working with the tool, nozzles are used (bits for working with fasteners and drills). The shank of the nozzles is made in the form of a hexagon, which facilitates its installation. Bits can be clamped directly into the chuck or fitted into an adapter clamped into the chuck. The working part of the bit is like a screwdriver of such a configuration, which depends on which fastener this nozzle is used to work with.

Getting started, you need to choose a bit that matches the head of the fastener. The most commonly used are cross bits, which come in PH and PZ standards. PH is short for Phillips. PH bits are cross-shaped, universal, they can be used for a variety of fasteners. Sizes - from 0 to A, the most popular is No. 2. The PZ designation is derived from Pozidrive, these are also bits with a cross-shaped working part. In addition to the main large ribs, they have A additional smaller diagonal ribs. Thanks to them, the area of ​​adhesion with fasteners is even larger than that of PH-bits. The sizes of such bits are from 0 to A, the most common ones are 2 and 3.

For repair household appliances and cars are indispensable without T-bits (from Torx Hole), with which you can unscrew and tighten the screws with a star hole on the cap. Flat, or slotted, bits are suitable for working with fasteners in soft material, at not too high a load. Such bits are marked SL (from Slot).

To work with bolts and nuts, use bits with a working part in the form wrench. They can only be used with fairly powerful screwdrivers (wrenches). Bit sizes - from 6 to 13 mm, but we must remember that this is the size of the bit itself, and not the bolt or nut.

Screwdriver bit sets often include drill bits with a hex shank. The angled nozzle will help when working in hard-to-reach places. Drill chucks for drills with cylindrical shank are often used as nozzles for screwdrivers.

Additional screwdriver options

Screwdriver options from different manufacturers can vary significantly. Their presence increases the convenience of working with the tool, but at the same time they can significantly increase the price of a screwdriver. Therefore, when choosing a tool, you should evaluate the need for a particular option.

  • Illumination - one or more LEDs located radially in front of the housing. Makes it easier to work in poorly lit areas.
  • Removable handle for comfortable holding of the tool while drilling. It will help when working with a powerful tool, using large diameter drills and drilling with impact.
  • The depth gauge is useful for serial drilling of identical holes.
  • The clothespin makes it easier to fix several nozzles on the body or the tool itself on the master's clothes when moving around the construction site (convenient when working at heights).

Models from different manufacturers

High performance compact and powerful cordless drill/driver. Suitable for working with fasteners and drilling. Torque can be controlled by presetting a 5-stage torque clutch and drilling position. Has one speed and keyless chuck. The package includes a charger, battery pack, plastic case.

The cordless drill/driver is designed for drilling holes in various materials, as well as screwing and unscrewing screws and screws during assembly work. Thanks to the ergonomic handle with a rubber grip and low weight, the screwdriver will become an indispensable assistant in everyday life. The kit includes a rechargeable flashlight, two rechargeable batteries, a charger, a set of bits, a plastic case.

This drill belongs to a new generation of cordless power tools with new Li-lon batteries. The new motor design provides economical energy consumption, which significantly increases the operating time. The ergonomic handle and body are rubberized to the maximum, which contributes to the reliable holding of the tool. The model is equipped with a holster for carrying on a belt. The kit includes an extra battery, charger and flashlight.