Redoing Power Connectors

[dem1an]

Not sure this goes best in this forum, but I like the lurkers here.

I bought some sleaved fans, but they ended up not having the right connectors on them. I'll want to redo them and I need to get up to speed on the subject anyhow. Where do you guys buy your molex 3 and 4 pin connectors and pins? Anyone have some good sources in the states to buy them? I know ppc and some stuff is at svc. Any others, perhaps electronics shops?

Also, if you know of any faqs or articles on sleaving, I'd appreciate those as well.

[Chas_The_Man]

Sidewinder has 3 pin fan connectors. They were so cheap I bought 50. They are all white though. I couldnt find any black ones.

On the sleeving, for 3 wire fan cables 1/4" is good as 3/8" loom is too big. However, if you are going to extend the cable, i.e. make it longer, your connections will need to be very neatly done to fit it in 1/4" sleeving. Then use 3/8" herat shrink over the ends to give it a finished look. The 3/8" heat shrink won't fit over the molex so you need to get a bit creative and first do the extension. Then do the sleeve, then the heatshrink and then the molex. All very logical and time consuming. If you have a dozen fans, it takes all frigging day.

[dem1an]

Thanks for that link. The bulk price is really reasonable. 100 3 pin headers for $5.

It looks like they used 1/8" on 2 wires going to a 4 pin molex (a separate wire going to a 3-pin connector). Do you think I can fit the third wire into the 1/8" sleaving? If not, it looks like the sleave job was a total bust and I'll need new sleaving as well. Arggh. I hate wasting money.

Do you solder on your male 3 pin connectors?

Do you get away with using a lighter or do you use a heat gun?

Yea, one of my y splitters came with reddish brown connectors and some others came with ivory connectors and then my fans came with bigh white molex connectors. Would be nice to get them all black and get some bulk pricing.

[mcoffey]

just got all my connectors and sleving from Performance PC. Incredible selection and good turn around on shipping. Just go to this link and you can get everything you need and a whole lot more:D

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=60&zenid=b0a3e7dbcbaad1299961e0ba234dcdea

[serialk11r]

Wimps...you gotta make the connections yourself with some tape or heatshrink! :p: lol maybe I just have too much time.
(no offense intended)

[mcoffey]

Wimps...you gotta make the connections yourself with some tape or heatshrink! :p: lol maybe I just have too much time.
(no offense intended)

that's what I'm doing Mr Wizard. and tape don't cut it. we're not talkng about buying them pre made, making them ourselves.

andyc

[serialk11r]

that's what I'm doing Mr Wizard. and tape don't cut it. we're not talkng about buying them pre made, making them ourselves.

andyc

OH So you mean, you buy the connectors and take wires and make them yourselves? Good to see tough people :D

[mcoffey]

yeah, you get the molex or 3 pin connectors, a crimp tool, wire, sleaving and heat shrink. you can make any combination, length whatever. not to hard really and that way you can make all the cables for everything custom fit. get any colors you want.

I'm doing several 1 to 3-3 pin connectors, sleaving my lights, 3 pin to molex, all kinds of fun stuff. not to mention when you do them right, the pride you get.

with the right tools and parts, not really that hard.

I call it the fine art of Cablegami:D

andyc

[voigts]

I don't see how you can have a good wiring job without making your own cables and extensions. In my custom case, I have PS cables that I had to extend about 3' and extensions made to exactly the lengths I needed to be able to have cables long enough without extra unnecessary bulk. Performance-pcs is a great place for molex connectors and pins. I have gotten to where I usually solder the pins onto the wire to make sure they don't come off. And sleeving is a must also if you want a neat wiring job.

[mcoffey]

I don't see how you can have a good wiring job without making your own cables and extensions. In my custom case, I have PS cables that I had to extend about 3' and extensions made to exactly the lengths I needed to be able to have cables long enough without extra unnecessary bulk. Performance-pcs is a great place for molex connectors and pins. I have gotten to where I usually solder the pins onto the wire to make sure they don't come off. And sleeving is a must also if you want a neat wiring job.

yup,

I'm doing neon blue uv sleaving, uv red connectors with uv red shrink. should be just the right amount of accent I'm looking for. making some PCi-E splitters too.

And I agree, it's how you put the finising touches on your pride and joy build IMO. With a MM case, to keep things nice and neat, stock cables won't work without a mess and all kinds of tag ends hanging out.

Now, if I could just get the stones to change out my 24 pin atx :) and re sleave my PSU. PPC has some great custom services where they modulate everything on any PS, with any color combo you want. might just go that way if and when I trick out the PSU.

really fun stuff.

andyc

[jinsean]

Oh, how I wish I took the electronics class in high school... pity party over.

So, could you guys point me to any guides on creating custom cables. In particular, I wanted to know how to create 7v / 5v modifications so I can undervolt 12v fans...

I know NOTHING about this area except P=IV? So any little detail would help me =D

If you're a bit "busy" (lazy) then could you suggest some keyword searches I can do on google and/or this forum. I'm so clueless on this topic that I don't even know what keywords I should be using to look up some guides myself =/

Thanks in advance.

[Kilyin]

7v fans - http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=372297

Sleeving - http://www.thetechrepository.com/showthread.php?t=14

[jinsean]

7v fans - http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=372297

Sleeving - http://www.thetechrepository.com/showthread.php?t=14

Thanks for the links =D