Cable Sleeving

[Afro000Dude]

I'm thinking of sleeving my psu wires, and have a question about the sizes of the flexo PET at svc. What size should be used for molex/atx/fans? I'd rather have a tight fit than big fat wires, but would 1/8 inch sleeving even fit over the four molex wires? I think it would fit over the three smaller fan wires, but I have doubts about a molex. Quarter inch seems like it would have a bit too much room, but I could be wrong. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[cheapgoose]

guide

 

[mechBgon]

I just did mine. Quarter-inch is just right for the four-wire leads, and 1/8" is great for fans with their smaller wires. I got all obsessed and put two layers on so the wiring is nearly completely hidden. Here are some photos I put up: Link to sleeving photo page

While you might think 1/8" will end up tighter, it's also going to have to balloon out to accomodate the wires more, resulting in it being stretched thinner and not being as opaque or attractive (IMHO).

 

[mechBgon]

Also, here's a close-up photo showing what double 1/4" looks like. The big fat cable just below the several small ones is my case's USB wiring and also has two layers of 1/4". photo

 

[mechBgon]

By the way, I probably owe my sanity and my successful sleeving job to MDay's sleeving guide Read and succeed, folks. MDay, if you read this, PM me your PayPal address and I'll send you five bucks for your beverage-of-choice fund... you earned it.

 

[Blooz1]

Great job, Mech!

I can't believe you did two layers of sleeving, though! How many feet of material did you wind up using for the whole thing?

I sleeved most of the cables on my Lite-On PS (from Directron - now I wish I had bought a couple more, dammit!), and I know what you mean about the heatshrink! The connectors on the Lite-On were incredibly well assembled - they were very difficult to get apart, even with a Molex tool!

 

[mechBgon]

Thanks! I ordered... lesse here... I think I ordered six 5-foot sections of 1/4", plus eight 5-foot sections of 1/8", and I managed to use up all of the 1/4" and almost all the 1/8" in the process of developing some custom fan wiring for my Lian-Li. This stuff is addictive!

I have some more on order, so I can sleeve the sensor cables for my Fanmaster, my mobo's Firewire-header cables, and some 3/8" stuff for that darned 4-pin ATX12V line (I could NOT figure out how to extract the pins from it, and 1/4" sleeving won't fit over the plug! ).

If anyone does go with the double-sleeving route, cut the second layer about 1.5" longer per foot because it contracts lengthwise as it expands in diameter to fit over the first layer. You can always scoot it back off the end and shorten it if it proves to be too long. Also, wrap the end of the first layer with masking tape before sliding the second layer over it, so the fibers don't snag and fight you.

I keep wondering what a two-layer job would look like with UV-reactive under black...

 

[Mday]

you double sleeved? why???

anyway, i have to update that write up =\

 

[phoeneous]

I think he double sleeved because the sleeving that he used was very dense. The stuff from svc is great and only needs to be single layered. I did my psu and everything else that has a wire Will upload pics soon.

 

[Afro000Dude]

Wow, thanks mech. Your sleeving looks really good! The pics are a big help. And thanks to Mday too for the guide! I was considering ordering 15 feet of 1/4" and 5 feet of 1/8", plus 2 feet of 3/8" heatshrink, but I see I may have to rethink that one.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Mday
you double sleeved? why???

Hey, I'm trying to stimulate the economy, ok?





I double-sleeved because I preferred the very solid black color, with as little wire color peeking through as possible. It was definitely overkill and a ton of extra work. Anyway, I seriously appreciated your tips and if you want that five bucks, LMK your PayPayl address any time

 

[bluntman]

Mech, thanks to you I tried this mod this evening. It didn't end up as nice as yours - I only went for a single layer of yellow sleeving - but its pretty good nonetheless. Unfortunately, I could only find 0.25" sleeving up here or else I would have done everything!

 

[bigpow]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Also, here's a close-up photo showing what double 1/4" looks like. The big fat cable just below the several small ones is my case's USB wiring and also has two layers of 1/4". photo

Okay... this picture is very disturbing!
I don't see any IDE cables? neither rounded or ribbon, I saw some sort of dongles instead with LEDs?

What's that dude? They are C00L!