How to make an adjustable power supply with your own hands. How to Make a Simple Adjustable Power Supply Plastic Bolts Prices

For radio amateurs, and modern people in general, an indispensable thing in the house is a power supply unit (PSU), because it has a very useful function - voltage and current regulation.

At the same time, few people know that it is quite possible to make such a device with due diligence and knowledge of radio electronics with your own hands. For any radio amateur who likes to tinker with electronics at home, homemade laboratory power supplies will allow him to practice his hobby without restrictions. Our article will tell you how to make an adjustable power supply with your own hands.

What you need to know

A power supply with current and voltage regulation is a must-have item in a modern home. This device, thanks to its special device, can convert the voltage and current available in the network to the level that a particular electronic device can consume. Here is an approximate scheme of work according to which you can make such a device with your own hands.

But ready-made power supplies are quite expensive to buy for specific needs. Therefore, today very often converters for voltage and current are made by hand.

Note! Homemade laboratory power supplies can have different dimensions, power ratings and other characteristics. It all depends on what kind of converter you need and for what purpose.

Professionals can easily make a powerful power supply, while beginners and amateurs can start with a simple type of device. In this case, depending on the complexity, a very different scheme can be used.

What to consider

The regulated power supply is a universal converter that can be used to connect any household or computing equipment. Without it, not a single home appliance will be able to function normally.
Such a power supply unit consists of the following components:

• transformer;
• converter;
• indicator (voltmeter and ammeter).
• transistors and other parts necessary to create a high-quality electrical network.

The diagram above shows all the components of the device.
In addition, this type of power supply must have protection for high and low current. Otherwise, any emergency situation may lead to the fact that the converter and the electrical device connected to it simply burn out. This result can also be caused by improper soldering of board components, incorrect connection or installation.
If you are a beginner, then in order to make an adjustable type of power supply with your own hands, it is better to choose a simple assembly option. One of the simple types of converter is a 0-15V power supply. It has protection against excess current in the connected load. The diagram for its assembly is located below.

Simple assembly diagram

This is, so to speak, a universal type of assembly. The diagram here is easy to understand for anyone who has held a soldering iron at least once in their hands. The advantages of this scheme include the following points:

• it consists of simple and affordable parts that can be found either on the radio market or in specialized radio electronics stores;
• simple type of assembly and further configuration;
• here the lower limit for voltage is 0.05 volts;
• dual-range protection for current indicator (at 0.05 and 1A);
• wide range for output voltages;
• high stability in the functioning of the converter.

Diode bridge

In this situation, the transformer will provide a voltage that is 3V higher than the maximum required output voltage. It follows from this that a power supply capable of regulating voltage up to 20V requires a transformer of at least 23 V.

Note! The diode bridge should be selected based on the maximum current, which will be limited by the available protection.

A 4700 µF filter capacitor will allow equipment sensitive to power supply noise to avoid background noise. To do this, you will need a compensation stabilizer with a suppression coefficient for ripples of more than 1000.
Now that we have understood the basic aspects of assembly, we need to pay attention to the requirements.

Device requirements

To create a simple, but at the same time high-quality and powerful power supply with the ability to regulate voltage and current with your own hands, you need to know what requirements exist for this type of converter.
These technical requirements look like this:

• adjustable stabilized output for 3–24 V. In this case, the current load must be at least 2 A;
• unregulated 12/24 V output. This assumes a large current load.

To fulfill the first requirement, you should use an integral stabilizer. In the second case, the output must be made after the diode bridge, so to speak, bypassing the stabilizer.

Let's start assembling

Transformer TS-150–1

Once you have determined the requirements that your permanent regulated power supply must meet, and the appropriate circuit has been selected, you can begin the assembly itself. But first of all, let's stock up on the parts we need.
For assembly you will need:

• powerful transformer. For example, TS-150–1. It is capable of delivering voltages of 12 and 24 V;
• capacitor. You can use a 10000 µF 50 V model;
• chip for stabilizer;
• strapping;
• details of the circuit (in our case, the circuit shown above).

After this, according to the diagram, we assemble an adjustable power supply with our own hands in strict accordance with all the recommendations. The sequence of actions must be followed.

Ready power supply

The following parts are used to assemble the power supply:

• germanium transistors (mostly). If you want to replace them with more modern silicon elements, then the lower MP37 should definitely remain germanium. MP36, MP37, MP38 transistors are used here;
• A current-limiting unit is assembled on the transistor. It provides monitoring of the voltage drop across the resistor.
• Zener diode D814. It determines the regulation of the maximum output voltage. It absorbs half of the output voltage;

Note! Since the D814 zener diode takes exactly half the output voltage, it should be selected to create a 0-25V output voltage of approximately 13V.

• the lower limit in the assembled power supply has a voltage indicator of only 0.05 V. This indicator is rare for more complex converter assembly circuits;
• dial indicators display current and voltage indicators.

Parts for assembly

To accommodate all the parts, you must choose a steel case. It will be able to shield the transformer and power supply board. As a result, you will avoid situations of various types of interference for sensitive equipment.

The resulting converter can be safely used to power any household equipment, as well as experiments and tests carried out in a home laboratory. Also, such a device can be used to assess the performance of a car generator.

Conclusion

Using simple circuits for assembling an regulated type of power supply, you will be able to get your hands on and in the future make more complex models with your own hands. You should not take on backbreaking work, as in the end you may not get the desired result, and a homemade converter will work ineffectively, which can negatively affect both the device itself and the functionality of the electrical equipment connected to it.
If everything is done correctly, then at the end you will get an excellent power supply with voltage regulation for your home laboratory or other everyday situations.

Selecting a street motion sensor to turn on the lights

From the article you will learn how to make an adjustable power supply with your own hands from available materials. It can be used to power household equipment, as well as for the needs of your own laboratory. A constant voltage source can be used to test devices such as a relay regulator for a car generator. After all, when diagnosing it, there is a need for two voltages - 12 Volts and over 16. Now consider the design features of the power supply.

Transformer

If the device is not planned to be used to charge acid batteries and power powerful equipment, then there is no need to use large transformers. It is enough to use models with a power of no more than 50 W. True, to make an adjustable power supply with your own hands, you will need to slightly change the design of the converter. The first step is to decide what voltage range will be at the output. The characteristics of the power supply transformer depend on this parameter.

Let's say you chose the range of 0-20 Volts, which means you need to build on these values. The secondary winding should have an output voltage of 20-22 Volts. Therefore, you leave the primary winding on the transformer and wind the secondary winding on top of it. To calculate the required number of turns, measure the voltage that is obtained from ten. A tenth of this value is the voltage obtained from one turn. After the secondary winding is made, you need to assemble and tie the core.

Rectifier

Both assemblies and individual diodes can be used as a rectifier. Before making an adjustable power supply, select all its components. If the output is high, then you will need to use high-power semiconductors. It is advisable to install them on aluminum radiators. As for the circuit, preference should be given only to the bridge circuit, since it has a much higher efficiency, less voltage loss during rectification. It is not recommended to use a half-wave circuit, since it is ineffective; there is a lot of ripple at the output, which distorts the signal and is a source of interference for radio equipment .

Stabilization and adjustment block

To make a stabilizer, it makes the most sense to use the LM317 microassembly. A cheap and accessible device for everyone, which will allow you to assemble a high-quality do-it-yourself power supply in a matter of minutes. But its application requires one important detail - effective cooling. And not only passive in the form of radiators. The fact is that voltage regulation and stabilization occurs according to a very interesting scheme. The device leaves exactly the voltage that is needed, but the excess coming to its input is converted into heat. Therefore, without cooling, the microassembly is unlikely to work for a long time.

Take a look at the diagram, there is nothing super complicated in it. There are only three pins on the assembly, voltage is supplied to the third, voltage is removed from the second, and the first is needed to connect to the minus of the power supply. But here a small peculiarity arises - if you include a resistance between the minus and the first terminal of the assembly, then it becomes possible to adjust the voltage at the output. Moreover, a self-adjustable power supply can change the output voltage both smoothly and stepwise. But the first type of adjustment is the most convenient, so it is used more often. For implementation, it is necessary to include a variable resistance of 5 kOhm. In addition, a constant resistor with a resistance of about 500 Ohms must be installed between the first and second terminals of the assembly.

Current and voltage control unit

Of course, in order for the operation of the device to be as convenient as possible, it is necessary to monitor the output characteristics - voltage and current. A circuit of an regulated power supply is constructed in such a way that the ammeter is connected to the gap in the positive wire, and the voltmeter is connected between the outputs of the device. But the question is different - what type of measuring instruments to use? The simplest option is to install two LED displays, to which connect a volt- and ammeter circuit assembled on one microcontroller.

But in an adjustable power supply that you make yourself, you can mount a couple of cheap Chinese multimeters. Fortunately, they can be powered directly from the device. You can, of course, use dial indicators, only in this case you need to calibrate the scale for

Device case

It is best to make the case from light but durable metal. Aluminum would be the ideal option. As already mentioned, the regulated power supply circuit contains elements that get very hot. Therefore, a radiator must be mounted inside the case, which can be connected to one of the walls for greater efficiency. It is desirable to have forced airflow. For this purpose, you can use a thermal switch paired with a fan. They must be installed directly on the cooling radiator.

Single-phase alternating voltage of 220 V is supplied to private houses and apartments. It is ideal for operating incandescent light bulbs that illuminate the home. However, household appliances require DC power and a much lower voltage.

General concepts about the network

Everyone knows that in order for a TV or computer to work, it must be connected to an electrical outlet. However, not everyone knows that TV blocks and units cannot be switched on directly from a 220V power supply.

And there are two reasons for this:

• The outlet contains alternating current, but the TV components require direct current;
• Various components and circuits of the TV use voltages of different values ​​for their operation. And for this you will need several lines with different indicators.

For example, a radio receiver requires a constant voltage of 9V to operate. And for a computer 5V and 12V.

In order to obtain the required voltage, there are power supplies that are located in the housing of household appliances.

What is a power supply?

The power supply is called electronic device, converting alternating voltage to direct voltage. It provides individual components with the required current and voltage.

The power supply is the source of electricity for all components of the device.

Is it possible to do without a power supply? It is possible, but not always.

Instead of BP you can use accumulators or batteries.

This principle is acceptable in laptops, receivers or players where the power consumption is not too high.

For a desktop computer or TV, such inclusion is impractical.

There are two types used in household appliances:

• Transformer;
• Pulse.

Each of these blocks is ideal for certain electronic devices, according to the specified technical characteristics.

It is impossible to single out the best or worst type. They have their advantages and disadvantages and successfully solve the task assigned to them.

The transformer power supply consists of a step-down transformer with a primary winding for mains voltage. And the secondary winding based on the required voltage and current.

AC voltage conversion In constant operation it is carried out using a rectifier. The ripple voltage is then smoothed out using large capacitors. The transformer block circuit may include filters against high-frequency interference, short-circuit protection, and current and voltage stabilizers.

Transformer power supplies are distinguished by their simplicity of design, high reliability, availability of the element base and low level of self-interference. They are assembled according to simple schemes.

However, such power supplies have a large weight and dimensions, and a low efficiency.

Switching power supplies are based on the principle of initial rectification of the incoming voltage, followed by conversion into pulses of increased frequency.

In pulse blocks with galvanic isolation, the network power is supplied to a transformer (with much smaller dimensions than in a transformer power supply).

If galvanic isolation from the supply network is not needed, then the pulses are immediately fed to the low-frequency output filter.

Thanks to the use of negative feedback, switching power supplies provide stable characteristics regardless of fluctuations in the input voltage and load size.

Switching power supplies have relatively small dimensions and weight. They cover a wide range of input voltage and frequency and are characterized by a high efficiency.

The disadvantages include the high-frequency level of interference caused by the operating principle of switching power supplies.

Typically, power supplies already built into the equipment, and there is no need to change anything about it. However, in some cases it becomes necessary to have a separate power supply for a certain voltage.

For example: the radio receiver is designed to operate on batteries and does not have a built-in control device. It is reasonable to use a separate power supply unit. This will save you the hassle of frequently replacing batteries.

When a radio amateur is engaged in the manufacture or repair of radio-electronic devices, he has to work with equipment that uses different supply voltages. Then a power supply with adjustable output voltage will be useful.

Of course, such a device can buy at an electronics store. However, it is much more pleasant for a creative person to make such a device with his own hands. Moreover, there may not be a power supply on sale with the characteristics required by the master.

In radio magazines and on the Internet you can find a huge number of various schemes for regulated power supplies.

But in amateur radio practice it is quite enough to have a simple adjustable power supply from 0 to 12V. Both an experienced and a novice radio amateur can make such a device with his own hands.

Advantages of the power supply

Scheme of a simple but reliable power supply with smooth regulation consists of two parts:

• The main part (the power supply itself);
• Transistor circuit for output voltage regulator.

The main part includes:

• Step-down transformer with power up to 30W. A transformer is required with a primary winding designed for alternating current 220V and a secondary winding with an output voltage of 15V and a current of 2-3 amperes;
• A rectifier assembled on four KD202 diodes (or similar) to convert DC voltage from AC;
• An electrolytic capacitor with a capacity of at least 1000 microfarads. Due to its ability to accumulate and release voltage, it acts as a smoothing filter. The higher the capacitor rating, the smaller the voltage surges.

The transistor circuit includes:

• Parametric stabilizer consisting of a resistor and a zener diode. A constant value with a small deviation coefficient is formed at the zener diode;
• A variable resistor that smoothly changes the output voltage;
• An emitter follower consisting of two transistors operating in current amplification mode.

When installed correctly, the device begins to work immediately, without any settings in the circuit.

Checking it at work

Connect a voltmeter to the output of the power supply. Turn the voltage regulator to minimum. The voltmeter reading should be zero. Smoothly move the regulator to the right position. The voltmeter readings should increase smoothly up to a maximum of +12V.

In parallel with the voltmeter we turn on half ampere load. The output voltage drop should be minimal.

Despite the simplicity of the design, the power supply produces good characteristics and parameters.

Small do-it-yourself modifications will improve the design. For example, you can install an overload protection unit, or install an internal voltmeter.

If you are a scientist yourself or simply an inquisitive person, and you often watch or read the latest news in the field of science or technology. It is for you that we have created such a section, which covers the latest world news in the field of new scientific discoveries, achievements, as well as in the field of technology. Only the latest events and only verified sources.

In our progressive times, science moves at a fast pace, so it is not always possible to keep up with them. Some old dogmas are crumbling, some new ones are being put forward. Humanity does not stand still and should not stand still, and the engine of humanity is scientists and scientific figures. And at any moment a discovery can occur that can not only amaze the minds of the entire population of the globe, but also radically change our lives.

Medicine plays a special role in science, since man, unfortunately, is not immortal, is fragile and very vulnerable to all kinds of diseases. Many people know that in the Middle Ages people lived on average 30 years, and now 60-80 years. That is, life expectancy has at least doubled. This was, of course, influenced by a combination of factors, but it was medicine that played a major role. And, for sure, 60-80 years is not the limit of an average life for a person. It is quite possible that someday people will step over the 100-year mark. Scientists from all over the world are fighting for this.

Developments are constantly underway in the field of other sciences. Every year, scientists from all over the world make small discoveries, little by little moving humanity forward and improving our lives. Places untouched by man are being explored, primarily, of course, on our home planet. However, work is constantly happening in space.

Among technology, robotics is especially rushing forward. The creation of an ideal intelligent robot is underway. Once upon a time, robots were an element of science fiction and nothing more. But already at the moment, some corporations have real robots on their staff that perform various functions and help optimize labor, save resources and perform hazardous activities for humans.

I would also like to pay special attention to electronic computers, which 50 years ago took up a huge amount of space, were slow and required a whole team of employees to maintain them. And now there is such a machine in almost every home, it is already called more simply and briefly - a computer. Now they are not only compact, but also many times faster than their predecessors, and anyone can understand it. With the advent of the computer, humanity opened a new era, which many call “technological” or “information”.

Remembering about the computer, we should not forget about the creation of the Internet. This also gave a huge result for humanity. This is an inexhaustible source of information, which is now available to almost every person. It connects people from different continents and transmits information at lightning speed, something that would have been impossible to even dream of 100 years ago.

In this section, you will certainly find something interesting, exciting and educational for yourself. Perhaps even someday you will be able to be one of the first to learn about a discovery that will not just change the world, but will change your mind.

A new technology for many of our compatriots, it makes it possible to significantly reduce the time for arranging floor coverings. Like any technology, in addition to its advantages, it also has rather “problematic” characteristics. But this is the professionalism of builders: to be able to choose from among the numerous options for flooring the one that will be optimal in this particular case.

Finish floor coverings are installed on wooden joists (in the case of using floorboards) or on a solid base made of sheets of plywood or OSB (in the case of using laminate or soft coverings).

A very important point during the construction of any floors is that the load-bearing surface must be located in a strictly horizontal position.

It is very difficult to achieve such a result with the help of fixed logs; you often have to use various wedges or pads to level the spatial position. These wedges may fall out due to improper fixation or for other reasons, and the floors begin to sag and creak. It is impossible to eliminate such problems without dismantling some of the coatings, and dismantling is associated with large losses of time and money.

Adjustable floors with your own hands - a diagram of one of the possible options

Adjustable floors allow you to perfectly level surfaces on any uneven surfaces. In addition, the leveling mechanism makes it possible to adjust the gap between the floor and the load-bearing base, and this makes it possible to place various utility networks in these places.

Adjustable floors consist of plastic stud bolts or metal studs, floor joists, or plywood sheets. Many modifications of regulatory systems are made, but there are no fundamental differences between them. By rotating the threaded connections, the structural elements are smoothly lowered/raised; in this way, the base of the floors can be accurately positioned in the required position.

There are several types of adjustable floors, you should familiarize yourself with them in more detail.

Adjustable floor. Kinds

Table. Types and brief characteristics of adjustable floors

Both joists and slabs can be adjusted. The second option is used only for laying soft flooring or laminate; the first option can be used for all types of finishing floor coverings.

If you wish, you can make adjustable floors yourself; this option has its undeniable advantages. The main ones are significantly lower cost and the ability to select log parameters depending on the specific features of operation. If desired, the system of adjustable floors allows for floor insulation, which is very important in conditions of high energy prices.

Technology for installing factory adjustable joists on plastic bolts

Initial data. The load-bearing base is concrete or cement-sand screed; a set of factory-made adjustable joists is used. Let's say right away that this is the most expensive option for adjustable floors.

Step 1. Take measurements of the room to determine the number of joists. The floors in the bathhouse do not have a large load; the distance between the logs can be increased to 45 centimeters.

Step 2. Beat off the distances between the lags. To do this, use a rope with blue, with its help the work will be done quickly and efficiently.

Step 3. Cut the joists to the required length. The length of manufactured factory logs in most cases is four meters. Carefully consider how to mark the joists to minimize the amount of waste. The distance from the cutting line to the nearest adjusting bolt must be at least ten centimeters. If the end is closer, then there is a risk of cracks forming under loads.

Step 4. Place the joists near the marked lines. For installation you will need a small drill with a hammer drill, a special wrench for screwing in bolts, a hammer for fixing dowels, a screwdriver, a chisel and a hammer.

Step 5. Place the first joist in a vertical position and screw plastic bolts into the threaded hole. Place the bottom ends of the bolts in line and drill a hole in the concrete base for the dowel. The depth of the holes for the dowel should be 2–3 centimeters greater than its length. This is due to the fact that a certain amount of concrete always remains in the hole; if you do not make a reserve in length, it will prevent you from driving the dowel completely.

Step 6. Attach the dowels, but do not drive them all the way in. The dowel should not interfere with the rotation of the plastic bolts. Using a long level, set the correct position of the joist. If the joist is installed, firmly fix the dowel. Continue to install the logs in the marked places one by one, constantly monitoring their position with a level.

Manufacturers offer this installation algorithm, as do many builders who receive wages not based on output, but hourly. Those who work from the workings do things differently. How? They take the hydraulic level and hit the zero level of the log on two opposite walls. Then nails or dowels are driven in these places (depending on the material of the walls) and the ropes are pulled. The ropes are tensioned so that they are located at the ends of the joists. If the length of the room is not greater than the length of the logs, then you will need two ropes. If the logs had to be connected, then three. The rope is tensioned only after the logs have already been placed at their fixation points.

Then everything is simple and fast. Each lag is installed along the rope; it should not touch it; you need to check that the gap between the rope and the lag is minimal. That's all, in this way you will be able to not only significantly increase the speed of installing an adjustable floor, but also significantly improve its quality.

There is a direct relationship between accuracy and the number of measured planes. What is meant? There is a high probability that the position of the first log has deviated from the desired level by one millimeter. It's not much, it's okay. But the fact is that the next checks will be done taking into account this deviation, again the probability of an error of a millimeter appears, and so on in increasing order. It is for this purpose that a template is made if you need to cut a large number of identical parts, rather than taking dimensions from each finished part in turn. In this case, the rope acts as a template.

Step 7. Using a wide chisel, cut off the protruding part of the plastic bolt.

Floor with plastic bolts - check

Prices for plastic bolts

plastic bolts

Video - Installation technology for adjustable floors

The main advantage of such floors is that the stability of the fastening is significantly increased due to the increase in the area of ​​the lower stop. Disadvantage: the deadlines increase, the inability to do the work yourself.

The logs are fixed to the U-shaped plates using self-tapping screws; the height of the logs is adjusted using a series of vertically located holes on both sides of the plate.

Step 1. Using a blue rope, mark the locations of the floor joists. Calculate the required amount of material and additional structures.

Step 2. Determine the floor level, make marks on the walls. Place metal plates and joists along the lines. The width of the plates must correspond to the lag tire. The distance between the plates depends on the parameters of the log; forty centimeters is enough for a bath.

Step 3. Use dowels to secure the plates to the concrete base. Immediately hammer in the dowels until they stop, then it is very difficult to tighten them - the log lies on top and prevents access to it. If the metal plates move a little during fixation, it’s okay. When installing the joists, slightly bend their side parts in the desired direction.

Fixing the bracket

Step 4. Take the first lag and place its ends in the desired position. In this position, attach the log to the side surfaces of the U-shaped plates; use wood screws for fixation. Now you can fix the plates located in the middle of the log. But to do this, constantly check the horizontal position; the joist bends a little under its own weight. If you want to do the work faster and better, then use ropes to set the horizontal level. How this is done is described above. Make sure that the self-tapping screws do not split the joists, choose them according to size, and screw them in at a slight downward slope.

Step 5. After installing all the joists, you need to cut off the protruding parts of the plates with a grinder. This is quite inconvenient to do. But, despite the “difficult” cutting conditions, try to minimally damage the wooden joists with the disc.

Installing joists on metal studs

Adjustable floors of this type can be made independently; we will talk about this option. Select the dimensions of the logs taking into account the characteristics of the floor and maximum loads. Metal studs with zinc coating, recommended diameter 6÷8 mm. To assemble the structure you will need studs, nuts and washers.

Step 1. Beat parallel lines on the supporting base at a distance of 30÷50 cm. The greater the distance, the more powerful the logs you need to choose.

Step 2. Make calculations based on the number of joists, studs, washers and nuts. The recommended distance between the studs is 30÷40 centimeters. Prepare all materials, additional elements and tools for the work.

Step 3. Mark the holes in the joists for the studs; they should all lie on the line of symmetry. In the designated places, first drill a through hole Ø6 mm for the stud (if the diameter of the stud is different, then the hole must be drilled accordingly). On the front side of the joist, use a feather drill to drill a hole for the diameter of the washer. The depth of the hole should be several millimeters greater than the sum of the height of the nut and the thickness of the washer.

Step 4. Place each joist in turn on the broken parallel lines on the concrete screed. Very carefully, one by one, mark the future installation locations of the anchor threaded elements for each joist. Make sure that the joist does not move. For marks, use a drill or an ordinary pencil. For a drill, you need to take a drill with a pobedit tip. The places are marked - take away the lag and drill holes in the concrete. The dimensions of the hole must correspond to the dimensions of the anchors.

There is a second way to mark holes for anchors; it takes more time, but completely eliminates the possibility of errors. It's done like this. First, you need to mark only the two outer holes for the anchors, screw the studs into them on two nuts, and fix the joist in the desired position. Now during further marking the lag will not move anywhere. In this position, you can immediately drill holes for the anchors to the full depth. The work is completed - the joist is removed, all the studs are screwed into place. This procedure will have to be performed with each lag; labor productivity is reduced by half. But you must make your own final decision on the marking method, taking into account the condition of the concrete subfloor and your experience in performing this type of work.

Step 5. Screw a nut onto each stud and place a washer. It is advisable to immediately determine approximately the location of their height, this will speed up the work. Screw the studs into the anchors firmly. To do this, you can use a special plumbing tool or other simple methods. You can purchase studs that have holes at the end for an insert barb or a hexagon for an open-end wrench, but they cost much more than ordinary ones.

Video - How to tighten hairpins

Step 6. Place the logs on the studs one by one, using a wrench of the appropriate size by turning the bottom nut left/right to align the position of the logs. We have already told you how this is done. Keep in mind that the thread pitch of metal nuts is much smaller than plastic ones. In some cases, you will have to twist for quite a long time, which is tiring. Moreover, the position will be uncomfortable: you will have to sit on your knees and bring the key from the bottom of the joist.

Step 7 The logs are exposed - you can start fixing them. Use a washer and nut and insert them into the top hole.

Important! Tighten the top nut with great force; even a slight loosening can cause very unpleasant squeaks when walking on the floor.

Step 8 Cut off the protruding ends of the studs with a grinder. Be careful with the joists, do not damage the integrity of the lumber with the saw blade.

Installing floors with leveling plywood

This subfloor is only suitable for laminate or soft flooring. For installation, you need to buy a set of factory-made elements; the work is more difficult to complete.

Step 1. Mark the installation locations for the bushings on a sheet of plywood and drill holes of the given diameter. The bushings should be evenly distributed over the entire area of ​​the sheet, the distance between them should not be more than thirty centimeters. Drill the holes vertically; if the edges are inclined, you will have to re-drill them. This is time-consuming and significantly increases the installation time of the adjustable floor.

Photo - drilling a hole in plywood

Step 2. Insert threaded bushings into the holes on the bottom side, secure them with small self-tapping screws; they should not turn when adjusting the floor height. Manufacturers provide four places for fixing the bushings, so many are not needed, just secure it with two self-tapping screws.

Step 3. Make markings on the floor, try to ensure that the sheets do not have to be “shredded” into small pieces. Marking is a plan for cutting sheets. It is advisable to draw it on paper, think through several options, and only then will it be possible to choose the optimal one.

Step 4. Screw in all the plastic bolts, turn the sheet of plywood into the desired position. Screw the bolts in the same number of turns. After installing the first sheet of plywood, pay attention to what level the bolts are located. Try to screw the bolts into the next sheet of plywood in the same position.

Step 5. Using a special wrench, screw in/unscrew the bolts until the sheet of plywood is in a strictly horizontal position at the required height. Constantly check its position in several planes with a level. Very important! All bolts must have slight tension, otherwise the plywood will sag. The work is quite complex, do not make the plywood sheets large. You must reach each bolt from the concrete floor. It is very difficult to adjust the position of the plywood sheet and stand on it at the same time.

Keep in mind that the fasteners to the concrete base are not fixed; the floor turns out to be “floating”. This factor should be taken into account when deciding on the installation of flooring in each specific room.

Step 6. After installing the last sheet of plywood, check the position of the subfloor again. Remember that the adjustment parameters do not exceed 2÷3 centimeters. If the concrete base has too many uneven surfaces, it will have to be leveled first. Plywood should only be waterproof.

Do not use chipboard, OSB or other materials instead of high-strength plywood, although some manufacturers give such recommendations. Pressed materials react very poorly to point multidirectional forces; in these places they quickly lose their original load-bearing abilities. Namely, such loads are present in the places where the plates are adjusted. Even though plywood costs much more, its price will pay off during the operation of the floor.

Prices for anchors for sheet materials

anchors for sheet materials

1. Do not forget to leave 1÷2 centimeter wide gaps around the perimeter of the room near the walls for natural ventilation and to compensate for the expansion of wooden structures. These cracks are then covered with baseboards and become invisible.

   

2. For logs, choose only high-quality lumber with a minimum number of knots. Large cracks, visible fungal diseases and mold damage are not allowed.

   

3. Do not drill holes for studs on knots; it is better to move them a few centimeters. The fact is that wood, if the integrity of a healthy knot is damaged, significantly loses its strength. The installation of adjustable floors requires the presence of forces not over the entire area of ​​the joists, but only at several points. This feature requires wood to have increased strength indicators. This remark also applies to the load-bearing base of the floor; point forces also act on it; the load per square millimeter increases significantly. Accordingly, concrete must be strong; during its production, it is not allowed to deviate from existing construction standards. Any deviations in strength will lead to the fact that over time, the base will be destroyed under the stops, the floors will begin to sag and, as a result, it will creak very unpleasantly. It is impossible to eliminate these sounds without dismantling the entire structure.

   

4. The higher the level of the adjustable floor above the ceiling, the more it “sounds”. To reduce noise levels, it is recommended to use compressed mineral wool. At the same time, it will insulate the floor.

   

And the main advice in conclusion. Use adjustable flooring options only as a last resort. Practice shows that the number of disadvantages of such structures exceeds the number of advantages. The cost of adjustable joists alone can exceed the total cost of flooring made in the usual traditional way. Decide what is faster to do: lay several joists at once or drill dozens of holes in them and then “screw them in” with bolts and nuts.

Video - How to make an adjustable floor