Most PSU reviews i've read state the minimum recomended gauge for any cable is 18 AWG. 16 AWG is recommended for high draw cables, such as the motherboard, PCI-E and CPU, but the peripherals can run on AWG18 without any problem as whatever is connected to them is not that powerhungry.

All the PSU's i've owned from major manufacturers (Antec, Silverstone, Corsair) came with AWG 18 cables. The only exception is my Seasonic Platinum, which has AWG 16 cables on the CPU and PCI-E connectors, but as far as i remember the SATA and Molex connectors are AWG 18.

 

Further to Starbomba's comments. PCIe specifications limit the draw to 4 amps maximum per wire, which in itself not high draw and quite predictable. The problem comes that some PSU manufactures like to include cables with connectors doubled up on the same wires. PSU manufacturers are also concerned consumers will use splitters to further double up the draw. So the use of 16AWG for PCIe is not necessary if you have just a single 6- or 8-pin connector coming from the PSU, and even an 8-pin which is doubled with a 6-pin is no problem for 18AWG. But your question was not about PCIe...

Sata power cables have only one wire for each voltage: 12V, 5V, 3.3V. So if a peripheral uses 10W on only the 12V line, this is less than 1 amp, and you can have 4+ devices connected with passthrough connectors on 18AWG no problem. However, if the devices are using 10W on primarily the 5V line (optical drives mostly), then you can see there is 2 amps per device. If you have 4 devices all taking 2 amps at 5V then it starts to be a concern for that single 5V wire. So again the advice is, as for PCIe power, to limit the number of devices per wire coming from the PSU.

If you have a specific list of hardware you are planning to connect, I can give more specific advice.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiSK

Further to Starbomba's comments. PCIe specifications limit the draw to 4 amps maximum per wire, which in itself not high draw and quite predictable. The problem comes that some PSU manufactures like to include cables with connectors doubled up on the same wires. PSU manufacturers are also concerned consumers will use splitters to further double up the draw. So the use of 16AWG for PCIe is not necessary if you have just a single 6- or 8-pin connector coming from the PSU, and even an 8-pin which is doubled with a 6-pin is no problem for 18AWG. But your question was not about PCIe...

Sata power cables have only one wire for each voltage: 12V, 5V, 3.3V. So if a peripheral uses 10W on only the 12V line, this is less than 1 amp, and you can have 4+ devices connected with passthrough connectors on 18AWG no problem. However, if the devices are using 10W on primarily the 5V line (optical drives mostly), then you can see there is 2 amps per device. If you have 4 devices all taking 2 amps at 5V then it starts to be a concern for that single 5V wire. So again the advice is, as for PCIe power, to limit the number of devices per wire coming from the PSU.

If you have a specific list of hardware you are planning to connect, I can give more specific advice.

Thank you.
I'll plugged these hardwares:

Silverstone SOD02 DVD-R SATA Slot-in Slim

Seagate Barracuda - 1TB S-ATA II ST 31000333AS

That's it.
Regarding the placement of the wires ( the stock AWG16: orange, red, black, black and yellow ) there is no problem? I mean with the grounding wire.
I'll put the AWG18 such in a straight line to the 5-pin connector.

 

Two drives on one Sata power cable is fine.

The Sata/Molex power connector is indeed (orange, red, black, black, yellow) at the PSU end. So it means your Sata cables will have a little twist between red and black, but your 4-pin molex cables will be untwisted.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiSK

Two drives on one Sata power cable is fine.

The Sata/Molex power connector is indeed (orange, red, black, black, yellow) at the PSU end. So it means your Sata cables will have a little twist between red and black, but your 4-pin molex cables will be untwisted.

Ok, you have clarified things very well. Thank you so Much!!

Then AWG18 cables will be placed in this way, taking into account: Orange, Red, Black, Black and Yellow



Is this okay?

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrYakuZa

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Is this okay?

Yup that's exactly right.

 

Just to add my two cents and ease your mind a little more.

I have been doing custom cableing for a while now as most know.

18awg has always been used for my custom cabling and I have done everything from extreme rigs to torture benches and experimental rigs for hardware and companies that I have to not disclose to to being under NDA. But none have ever had a problem.

However I have created a 16awg cable that is made just for heatshrinkless sleeving as 90 percent of 16awg wire is way too large to be used. Check my shop for more info or PM me.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiSK

Yup that's exactly right.

Thank you very much for clarifying my doubts! You're a Crack! You're right about the order of the wires!



Quote:

Originally Posted by Lutro0

Just to add my two cents and ease your mind a little more.

I have been doing custom cableing for a while now as most know.

18awg has always been used for my custom cabling and I have done everything from extreme rigs to torture benches and experimental rigs for hardware and companies that I have to not disclose to to being under NDA. But none have ever had a problem.

However I have created a 16awg cable that is made just for heatshrinkless sleeving as 90 percent of 16awg wire is way too large to be used. Check my shop for more info or PM me.

Thank you very much for your input. What more could be said about you, you are the god of Sleeving / cables, until I subscribed to your Youtube channel! xD
I'm calmer now, after knowing your experience with AWG18 cables!
If you lived closer to where I live, you'd have my orders, but did not rule out a future!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrYakuZa

Thank you very much for clarifying my doubts! You're a Crack! You're right about the order of the wires!

Thank you very much for your input. What more could be said about you, you are the god of Sleeving / cables, until I subscribed to your Youtube channel! xD
I'm calmer now, after knowing your experience with AWG18 cables!
If you lived closer to where I live, you'd have my orders, but did not rule out a future!

Not a sleeving god lol just someone who likes to help others.

I actually keep my international shipping pretty cheap, you many want to check it out.

 

Hello!

I have another concern.
I still want to order best wiring and I want to connect the 2 laing D5 directly to the psu, specifically using a 5-pin connectors.



The idea would crimp the ends of the two wires of each pump (red and black), a total of 4 cables.

What order / positioning is red wires about blacks?

 

So i can't use 12 AWG wire and sleeve it?? I wanted to use this because it is stiff and will be easy to manage????

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrYakuZa

Hello!

I have another concern.
I still want to order best wiring and I want to connect the 2 laing D5 directly to the psu, specifically using a 5-pin connectors.



The idea would crimp the ends of the two wires of each pump (red and black), a total of 4 cables.

What order / positioning is red wires about blacks?

D5 pump is 12V, so although your one has red and black wires, actually needs to connect to the yellow 12V wire (and one of the black).

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiSK

D5 pump is 12V, so although your one has red and black wires, actually needs to connect to the yellow 12V wire (and one of the black).

Thank you very much!

I feel no signs of life, is that I have the TJ11 removed.