PSU/Cabling mods.

[Flyinfinni]

Guys- I'm working on getting a mod underway and am planning on doing some extensive cabling work. I'm planning on doing individual cable sleeving and was wondering what size and type of sleeving/heatshrink you guys suggest. Also- what type of wire? I'm planning on using 16 or 18 AWG wire, but would y'all suggest stranded conductor or solid conductor wires? Also- suggestions on where to buy sleeving and heatshrink? Places like Frozen CPU seems to be pretty expensive for small quantities.

 

[Vort Max]

Guys- I'm working on getting a mod underway and am planning on doing some extensive cabling work. I'm planning on doing individual cable sleeving and was wondering what size and type of sleeving/heatshrink you guys suggest. Also- what type of wire? I'm planning on using 16 or 18 AWG wire, but would y'all suggest stranded conductor or solid conductor wires? Also- suggestions on where to buy sleeving and heatshrink? Places like Frozen CPU seems to be pretty expensive for small quantities.

I've always used Performance PCs for cabling needs as they have a wide selection of colors and choices. They have everything you would need for sleeving a PSU or other cables inside your case. As long as you have the specialized tools to remove the Molex connectors and such it isn't too bad, just time consuming. I'm not clear what you are planning to do with the wire though?

 

[Flyinfinni]

I've always used Performance PCs for cabling needs as they have a wide selection of colors and choices. They have everything you would need for sleeving a PSU or other cables inside your case. As long as you have the specialized tools to remove the Molex connectors and such it isn't too bad, just time consuming. I'm not clear what you are planning to do with the wire though?

I'm building a totally custom PC built into my desk, so I will be custom-wiring the whole thing so that I have exact connectors, cables and lengths that I need while routing all the cables in a nice way I'm mostly wanting to make sure that I'm looking at the correct size of wire, sleeving and heatshrink etc. I was thinking I'd need 1/8th inch sleeving for individual 16 or 18 guage wires with a larger heatshrink -like 1/4 inch with a 3/1 or 4/1 shrink ratio. My PSU is totally modular, so I'll just be keeping the stock cables as spares/backups, and custom building all the new cabling that I need for the machine.

 

[WiSK]

You need 18 gauge wire and to fit the crimps exactly the plastic insulation should be between 2.0mm and 2.4mm diameter. You can use black wire for everything except when sleeving white or yellow, then you should get coloured wire because the wire will show through the sleeve. You can crimp using pliers or use the proper tool to make a crimp which bites the insulation. The only issue is that those crimping tools are very expensive. Luckily Nils from MDPC can provide low-cost crimping tool which makes the perfect crimps. Those are personally tested by him (he sends the proof in a baggie with your order). Have a look at http://en.mdpc-x.com/mdpc-crimping/mdpc-crimping-tool.htm. Nils also provides perfect quality sleeve, shrink, connectors, etc but I'm already sounding like a commercial for him so I let you discover that for yourself.

 

[fantomau]

mdpc-x is kick ass

 

[Warrior]

My PSU is totally modular, so I'll just be keeping the stock cables as spares/backups, and custom building all the new cabling that I need for the machine.

You'll need the PSU end connections from the cables. So you can plug the into the PSU...

 

[Flyinfinni]

You'll need the PSU end connections from the cables. So you can plug the into the PSU...

I'm trying to contact Seasonic to get a new set of just the modular connectors. I'm trying to build a complete set of custom cables.
So- do you guys think 18 AWG is sufficient?

 

[WiSK]

18 AWG is not "sufficient" it's exactly the spec recommended by Molex which is the company that designed all the connectors which are in PCs nowadays While 16 AWG can fit into the pins, the insulation will be bigger and hard to get into the connectors. And while 20 AWG is smaller and more flexible, it doesn't allow enough current for the specifications of PCIe and EPS cables.

So to fit the crimps best, try to get wires with 2.2mm diameter insulation. This is ideal for sleeving as it allows enough room for the heatshrink to get into the connectors without having to force it.

 

[Flyinfinni]

18 AWG is not "sufficient" it's exactly the spec recommended by Molex which is the company that designed all the connectors which are in PCs nowadays While 16 AWG can fit into the pins, the insulation will be bigger and hard to get into the connectors. And while 20 AWG is smaller and more flexible, it doesn't allow enough current for the specifications of PCIe and EPS cables.

So to fit the crimps best, try to get wires with 2.2mm diameter insulation. This is ideal for sleeving as it allows enough room for the heatshrink to get into the connectors without having to force it.

I just keep noticing people saying 16AWG elsewhere, and while I thought 18 was the spec wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing something ;-) Thanks.

 

[WiSK]

Let's be straight here: all of those sizes work. Maybe PSU manufacturers are even using 16 gauge themselves. Even huge 14 AWG can be fitted into crimps, and electrically that might have some benefit. But since you're asking about sleeving, so I'm giving the advice from that point of view.

Now I look in your sig and see you have a Seasonic modular. This is what you intend to sleeve on? Then it's even more important to get correct wire size, and not too wide insulation. Since those Seasonics have a 10pin+16pin to the ATX. 26pins to 24pins. So you will have to crimp some pins double. Better get a PSU tester

 

[Flyinfinni]

Let's be straight here: all of those sizes work. Maybe PSU manufacturers are even using 16 gauge themselves. Even huge 14 AWG can be fitted into crimps, and electrically that might have some benefit. But since you're asking about sleeving, so I'm giving the advice from that point of view.

Now I look in your sig and see you have a Seasonic modular. This is what you intend to sleeve on? Then it's even more important to get correct wire size, and not too wide insulation. Since those Seasonics have a 10pin+16pin to the ATX. 26pins to 24pins. So you will have to crimp some pins double. Better get a PSU tester

Thanks for that- I hadn't thought of the fact I'll need to double crimp
Don't think I'll need the PSU tester though- I'll just use my DMM and make sure it matches the stock cables when I'm done.