Melted molex - MCW50T (pics)

[Marvin]

Hi, i am running my Radeon 9800 pro fine with a Swiftech mcw50T. I was checking the water stuff ,then i noticed the molex that feed the peltier is melted...
It is only a 80w pelt. Should i need to replace the molex or it is just fine ?
http://premium.uploadit.org/Marvin/P1010120.JPG
http://premium.uploadit.org/Marvin/melt.JPG
http://premium.uploadit.org/Marvin/melted3.JPG
http://premium.uploadit.org/Marvin/melted.JPG

[a5h]

woaw ....somthing went wrong there :p

thats not safe, if its all still working, change the molex, otherwise send the block back.

my case is open atm and i have the same block running ...i just touched the molex and it is HOT!! hmmmm, an issue swiftech?

[saaya]

they are probably soldered too thin. the thinner, the more current has to flow through a smaller area=more heat.

is the psu plug ok?

[Marvin]

yes, it is pluged fine, but i dont know the zippy molex quality.

[Karnivore]

Looks to me that one side or the other of that Molex was sub-par quality, and started arcing, which in turn overheated a portion of the wires. Would definately not use it without some repairs. Wiring direct and eliminating the Molex would probably be a good thing at this point...

[yaboc]

i got the same thing on my MCW50 + the wires get REALLY hot when it's plugged in.

[saaya]

well if you dont care about warranty or have voided it already then cut off the molex plugs and connect the wires directly, and then insulate it.

ive noticed that tecs in the states use a much thinner wiring than the tecs ive bought here in europe. the tecs i own are mostly from russian and japaneese manufacturers, and they use really thick wires, much thicker than the wires of any psu ive seen, your tec looks like it has really thin wires.

[Unseen]

i had the same problem with you..

[Unseen]

i had put a small heatsink :D ... but nothing

so i solder two big cable from inside the psu to my pelt and i solve the problem..

[saaya]

LOL@heatsink! omg! :rotf:

[Kayoz]

Of course its melting!:D Psu cable ain't strong like peltier ones, u need to join at least 3 negative pole cabs togheter and 3 positive pole togheter, in parallel mode, then join each cable to the right pole cable of the peltier:D, so u have 1/3 power stress on each cable and nothin will melt;)

[UnderWare1213]

If you're wires are hot to the touch, is this something to be very worried about?

[NitroRat]

mechanical connections (plugs, molex connectors) create resistance which causes heat, which melts the connection. Pelts draw an excessive amount of current and should be soldered together to avoid excessive resistance with the connection.

[saaya]

yes, but all this doesnt help if the tec cable is too thin, i dont think the psu cables are too thin...

how hot ,underware?

well i touched my 55W tec wires and they are slightly warm. as long as they dont melt its not a problem, but if they are REALLY hot id recommend to solder two ground and two 12v rail cables together. i still think its rather the thin tec cables that create the excessive heat, but its really hard if not impossible to solder thicker cables to your tec.... :/

[UnderWare1213]

Problem solved. I was using very thin wiring, but now I switched to thicker wiring and the wires are barely warm.

[iceman2g]

UnderWare1213 have any pics of the mod.

[saaya]

my mcw 371 arrived.

swifftech 80W tec air cooled, thin tec wires, but they dont get warm at all... neither do the psu wires... weird.

[a5h]

my molex on my MC-50-T are HOT! not burning tho, so im not bothered

i'll have to put a heatsink on it i guess :D

[UnderWare1213]

Originally posted by iceman2g
UnderWare1213 have any pics of the mod.

I'll be posting a new thread when I have my whole TEC cooling system set up. Should be within a week or so.

[Wstinkbait]

Actually I'm not surprised at the burning Molex, That was the first thing I thought when I took mine out of the box. Those connectors aren't suppose to carry that much load. The first thing I did was wack it off and attach it to a terminal strip. I run two 80 watters now thru a 12 gauge cable and even that gets warm.

BTW this is not a PC just a cooler and Power supply.
http://members.cox.net/wesc502/lf24.jpg http://members.cox.net/wesc502/lf27.jpg

http://members.cox.net/wesc502/lf22.jpg http://members.cox.net/wesc502/lf18.jpg

[Tedinde]

You usually dont see that too much on a 80 watt, But you will see it on a "cheap power supply Molex" end. If you really need to be able to disconnect. I usually hit pep boys, or auto zone for some GM weatherpak connectors. Or just cut the wires and use wire nuts if needed.

My other gripe also is for the 80 watt tec's the guage wires are border line, But as everyone else on here with bigger tecs have noticed. Does anyone else worry about the size gauge wires on the 226 watt tecs?? Using my pyramid 36 amp PS with gauges on it. my 226 watt is pulling 24 amps. Which is a lot of amps for such a thin wire and they get warm also.

My main reason to switch to a Vapo years ago, for CPU cooling.

[saaya]

woa Wstinkbait nice rig! :slobber: post them in the case mod gallry!

i didnt know you guys really replace the wires, i thougt it would be way to much work... :D

all my tecs, except for the swifftech ones, are from russia or japan and have nice and thick wires that dont get warm at all. only the 227W tec wires get a bit warm, but not much.