Custom cable sleeving

[Nocturnal]

I have two cables I want to sleeve together. They're about 1/2" in diameter flat.

The tip is a molex that cannot be removed as it is a pre-made cable and not one from a regular ATX power supply.

So the molex cable head is roughly 1" in diameter flat.

Is there any PET cabling that would stretch over that but also keep the 1/2" diameter?

Also as far as heat shrink goes, what size is ideal if I'm going with 1/2" sleeving? Would I get 1/2" 2:1 heat shrink as well?

 

[aigomorla]

So you want to sleeve a PSU molex line?

Or is this a simple fan header?

And theres many types to sleeving also, murdermod style? or normal style?

 

[Nocturnal]

Actually it's just two cables that I want sleeved. It's very similar to a molex however again, the size is 1/2" in diameter flat.

I have been reading up on the Murdermod style or whatever it is but ideally it would just be a 1/2 - 5/8" sleeve. I just need to know if I should get the same size heat shrink or if I should go one size bigger.

 

[aigomorla]

same size heat shrink usually.

Or 1 lower size.

The wires should not be tight inside the heat shrink b4 shrunk, yet you must be able to get the sleeve inside the shrink.

 

[Nocturnal]

Thanks. Do you know if Murdermods uses a specific type of sleeving or do they manufacture their own sleeves?

 

[zagood]

Murdermod has a weave made especially for them. I haven't seen it in person but from the pictures and descriptions, it's very, very nice.

To sleeve something like you're talking about, you can probably get away with sleeving that's very close to the diameter of the cable itself. Since sleeving expands so much you should be able to get over the ends with no problem. You might want to melt the ends of the shrink before pulling though, this will cut down on fraying.

Where it's going to get tricky though is the heatshrink, since it sounds like the connector is fairly large. The shrink that you get needs to have a wide enough diameter that you can fit it over the connector, but still compress enough on the sleeved cable. From your description you will need 3:1 heatshrink. If the difference between the "molex" and the cable diameter is over 3:1, the heatshrink isn't going to compress enough to stay in one place on its own.

Here's a trick - after the sleeve is on, wrap the end of the sleeve in electric tape. This will hold the sleeve in place, and expand the diameter that the heatshrink needs to compress to. Cover the tape with the heatshrink and heat.

Tips, ideas, and plenty of murdermod information:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=202639

(doh! looks like you already found that thread...)

Good luck!

edit: see if you can take a less blurry picture of that connector from the same angle, and then one from the end so I/we can see the pins. You might be able to just pry it apart and then just pop it back together. If it plugs into standard 4-pin molex devices, you can probably use the same pins in a standard molex housing.

 

[bloodugly]

You need 3:1 shrink ratio heatshrink. This will pass over the connector and fit tight. PM me if you need more info.

Thanks

I have two cables I want to sleeve together. They're about 1/2" in diameter flat.

The tip is a molex that cannot be removed as it is a pre-made cable and not one from a regular ATX power supply.

So the molex cable head is roughly 1" in diameter flat.

Is there any PET cabling that would stretch over that but also keep the 1/2" diameter?

Also as far as heat shrink goes, what size is ideal if I'm going with 1/2" sleeving? Would I get 1/2" 2:1 heat shrink as well?

 

[Tristor]

I've done a LOT of cable sleeving and custom cabling. Here's what I've found out:

PET based sleeving is easier to work with than Nylon.

Regardless of what you use, make sure you cut with a hot knife not with scissors to prevent fraying.

If you don't mind increased cost to save time and reduce work, use 4:1 and 3:1 heatshrink tubing in larger diameters so you can avoid removing connectors.

I've never worked with the MurderMod sleeve, but it seems pretty nice. I personally stick with TechFlex brand products. I tend to use FlexoHW for large wraps (it goes up to 4" in non expanded diameter, and is extremely tough, PET based) and FlexoPET for general sleeving.

Out of all the vendors I've worked with, MarkerTek is where it's at. Good prices, fast shipping, helpful people if you have any questions. Like the Newegg of random electronics crap

 

[aigomorla]

Thanks. Do you know if Murdermods uses a specific type of sleeving or do they manufacture their own sleeves?

also ive seen nil's job.

And other guys over at MM.

They use 2 shrink wraps.

1. to get the sleeve in, then another on top to get the connector and even out the shrink size.

As for there sleeves, they are great... however i prefer mnpctech's better.
Call me a sucker for carbon fiber.