Retrofitting the "Molex" (Mate-n-Lok) +5/+12V connectors on a PSU

[Howard]

I'm planning on powering a mic amp and a speaker amp (low power) from the +12V from my power supply (I'll figure out what rails to pull from).

Now, I don't really want to use the Molex connectors on the PSU to connect to the cases of the amps, because panel-mount Molex connectors are somewhat scarce and the whole friction-fit idea doesn't really jive with me. I'd like to cut off the connectors and solder in something that'll get me +12V and ground (just two conductors). Any connector recommendations? Please don't say RCA - that's a disaster waiting to happen.

EDIT: Forgot to mention: the mic amp will draw very little, while I'd like to get ~60W for the speaker amp (5A).

 

[mpilchfamily]

How about listing your full system specs including PSU so we can see if the PSU in question has enough power to support what you want to do with it. Sure you can change out the connectors if you want. But you need to know if you have enough available power for it.

 

[VirtualLarry]

You really want to power sensitive audio gear off of a noisy SMPS?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: mpilchfamily
How about listing your full system specs including PSU so we can see if the PSU in question has enough power to support what you want to do with it. Sure you can change out the connectors if you want. But you need to know if you have enough available power for it.

I do. Thanks for your concern.

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
You really want to power sensitive audio gear off of a noisy SMPS?

I'm pretty confident in the PSRR of the op-amp used in the mic amp, and the power amp has been supplied by an SMPS for others without any complaint, so I think it'll be alright.

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: mpilchfamily
How about listing your full system specs including PSU so we can see if the PSU in question has enough power to support what you want to do with it. Sure you can change out the connectors if you want. But you need to know if you have enough available power for it.

Howard is the Original Martha Stewart Disciple, and PSU Disciplinarian.. here at AT..

He was one of the people that would smack you right upside your earhole if you had a slacker PSU, or Your drawers were not in order.....

He has just not been around as much as he used to be..

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Mr Fox

Originally posted by: mpilchfamily
How about listing your full system specs including PSU so we can see if the PSU in question has enough power to support what you want to do with it. Sure you can change out the connectors if you want. But you need to know if you have enough available power for it.

He has just not been around as much as he used to be..

Yeah, tired of butting heads. That and there were lots of capable people around to help, so I gave up.

 

[zzuupp]

No recommendation, but some other ideas

power connector page from universal radio

 

[boomerang]

The first thing that comes to mind is automotive connectors. I mean the factory style. They've all got locks on them. No chance of them coming apart accidentaly.

Your local dealer will have them. Any manufacturers dealer will. The crimp on part of the terminals themselves may present a problem as special crimpers are truly needed to crimp them on the wires. They're pretty miniaturized these days.

But if you're handy, you could work around that. Solder would most certainly be more than sufficient to keep the terminal and the wire as one, but what you have to pay attention to is removing the part that would normally be crimped while retaining the portion that retains it in the plastic connector. If they ain't crimped, they won't fit into the connector.

Hope this makes sense.