Wire Management

[xAq]

Hey guys

Been wanting to do this for a while just have never gotten around to doing it. I've finally decided to clean up all those IDE ribbons, power cables and misc wires I have everywhere.

The main question is how to hide the power cables that from from the power supply to all my devices? The 4-pin connecters are pretty large and the wires start to clutter the more devices I put in. So I was wondering what the best ways to hide them were?

I have the IDE ribbons taken care of just the power cables. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks,
x

 

[lenjack]

Sometimes you can route them undr the mobo or behind the drives.

 

[ExpertNovice]

I'm about to build one and have the same question.

What I'm wondering is are extensions (if they exist) a good or acceptable idea? My thought is that the cables might be tied to the corners of cages but the cables may need to be lengthend to do so.

I never thought about stringing them under the MoBo but if that is an acceptable method it would make the case neater.

 

[xAq]

Well OCZ makes a power supply that would help a bunch, but I'm not in the mood to pay 115 for it when my Enermax works just fine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104155

Anyone know any other PS's like this?

 

[Zepper]

You could get a modular conversion kit from SVC.com et al. and then wire the drive connectors using the ID (insulation displacement) molex instead of the crimp-type molex connectors. Like this. Makes for much neater drive power runs.

.bh.

 

[drpootums]

I have the Tsunami and the Modstream, and although these are crappy pics this is what i did:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/drpootums/HPIM0424.JPG

 

[glorygunk]

This thread I posted a while back....might help you guys.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=37&threadid=1548485&enterthread=y

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

 

[NoBull6]

The main power connector can usually just be bent up to the top of the tower and then bent down to the mobo connection.

For the molex connectors, there are a couple things you can do. If you only need to use 3 of the 4 on a string, skip the first one and then plug in the rest - saves you from having an extra molex dangling at the bottom. The connector you skipped can be zip tied out of the way or stuck in between the optical drives.

For routing, you can often shove them between the optical drive cage and hard drive cage to get them out of the way. My ThermalTake Tsunami has room, but yours may not.

 

[ExpertNovice]

Originally posted by: NoBull6
The main power connector can usually just be bent up to the top of the tower and then bent down to the mobo connection.

For the molex connectors, there are a couple things you can do. If you only need to use 3 of the 4 on a string, skip the first one and then plug in the rest - saves you from having an extra molex dangling at the bottom. The connector you skipped can be zip tied out of the way or stuck in between the optical drives.

For routing, you can often shove them between the optical drive cage and hard drive cage to get them out of the way. My ThermalTake Tsunami has room, but yours may not.

Thanks. I'm not hijacking this thread but as I have the same questions it seems best to have a single thread... for this week.

The case I'm getting is the new P180 with a PSU / HDD chamber that is (nearly) isolated from the rest of the system. This will in itself bring additional challengs.

One of the things I thought might be necessary is to extend cables. Snaking them around the side, between cages, up corners, and in general following edges may mean the cable needs to be longer. However, I have read that adding an extension can increase resistance. While they discussed loss of voltage or amperage, pick out the correct one I left my EE degree in my other life, I would think increased resistance means additional heat is being generated somewhere. Which confuses me because I thought the heat would be generated where the resistance was encountered.

So, if a cable needs to be extended, is it better to extend by cutting the wires, adding the extension, and soldering the wires. Of course wrapping them to avoid shorts! The one thread that said don't do this talked about resale value which I don't care about.

Is extending wires generaaly worse than obstructing airflow?

Also, what about interference? Given the jumbled mess it seems as if the electrical current running through the wires does not create problems with the system. Yet, if power cables are put near data cables (video monitor), even if shielded, there can be some interference. So, it seems snaking power cables under a MoBo could cause problems. Maybe less than snaking them around the data cables.

More input! -"Johnny 5"

 

[CrispyFried]

You may have to reduce the xfer speed to a lower one (like udma4 or ata66) with the longer ide or sata cable. You can extend it by adding wires as you said. Adding to the power connectors should not be a big deal, just use good qaulity wire the same size (or better slightly bigger gauge). Use silver solder if you can.

My Antec 1080 has tons of room behind the drive cages, a lot of just went back there. Between the mobo tray and the side cover might be good too but Ive never done it.

I would never run something under the bare mobo, Id be afraid something will short.

 

[NoBull6]

Obstructing airflow isn't ideal, but a stray wire here and there won't make a large difference - this is a computer case, not a 747 ;-) Is it worth spending all the time cutting/extending/soldering wires, with the possibility of something going wrong, to get that last wire out of the way? You'll have to decide.

Yeah, I would never put cables behind a mobo, but that's just me. There is the likelyhood that something could short, although not a high possibility. The other consideration, as you mentioned, is electomagnetic infterference. I would avoid that routing scenario if possible.

 

[Zepper]

Cutting and splicing is best if you must extend, particularly in high-current circuits.

.bh.
.

 

[ExpertNovice]

Originally posted by: NoBull6
Obstructing airflow isn't ideal, but a stray wire here and there won't make a large difference - this is a computer case, not a 747 ;-) Is it worth spending all the time cutting/extending/soldering wires, with the possibility of something going wrong, to get that last wire out of the way? You'll have to decide.

Thanks CrispyFried and Zepper.

NoBull,

Of course. I will probably go to an extreme on this case since it will be my first attempt. Any splicing or extensions will be done ONLY as a last resort.

The way I figure it is what ever is done must strike a balance between initial effort, benefits, potential problems, and most importantly efforts to maintain.

As you state, we each have to decide and we have to do it for each system until we know what is right for us.

 

[NoBull6]

If you're going to do it, do it right - that means take some pictures so we can share in the coolness that will be your clean case!

Let us know how it turns out, and post it back in here.

 

[Zepper]

In a recent review of some PSUs, the factory 20-24 pin adapter caused the voltage on the 3.3 line to drop from acceptable to below spec at the load. For that much of a drop, I'd have to say there was some poor crimping in that adapter. Yet another good reason to own your own DMM (digital multimeter)...

.bh.