Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Solved

when using an atx extender do wires have to be the same gauge as the atx cord from the psu?

Tags:
  • ATX
  • Components
Last response: in Components
Share
August 26, 2013 7:08:32 PM

as the title says.. i am sleeving a couple of extenders, one for my 24 pin and the other my 8 pin supplemental cpu power, i was looking in my case and it appears the actual cords from the psu are 16g wire and the ones on the extenders are 18g... so should i just go buy a roll of 16g wire and make my own wires or will the extenders work without dropping my volts?

More about : atx extender wires gauge atx cord psu

August 26, 2013 7:24:18 PM

If your PSU has 16ga wire, I'd want to use the same on the extenders, your biggest electrical loss would likely be the connectors themselves but keeping the wire gauge the same will help some.
m
0
l
August 26, 2013 7:25:06 PM

I think you should be ok. You won't get a drop in voltage, but you limit the amount of current that can be handled safely through the wire. 16 Gauge wire is good for 13 Amps and 18 Gauge is good for 10 Amps. Also you are only talking about a few inches in length. So I would say go ahead and use the extender. If you are worried about it, once the machine is up and running, touch the wires, if they are hot to the touch that is a sign that you have to much current for the size of wire you were using.
m
0
l
Related resources

Best solution

August 26, 2013 7:26:06 PM

severity said:
as the title says.. i am sleeving a couple of extenders, one for my 24 pin and the other my 8 pin supplemental cpu power, i was looking in my case and it appears the actual cords from the psu are 16g wire and the ones on the extenders are 18g... so should i just go buy a roll of 16g wire and make my own wires or will the extenders work without dropping my volts?


Thinner gauge wires have a higher resistance to current flow so there will be a voltage drop. The amount of voltage drop will depend on the amount of electric current being drawn through the wires. You should be using at least the same or heavier wire gauge as the original PSU wiring to prevent any potential problems.
Share
August 26, 2013 8:07:44 PM

well thanks for the fast replies im just going to make my own out of 16 gauge lol
m
0
l
!