F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop Connecting two SATA power input cables together

Connecting two SATA power input cables together

Connecting two SATA power input cables together

C
camntroy
Member
132
07-10-2021, 08:42 AM
#1
Can I merge two sat power input cables to boost overall current? I'm trying a project and currently using Molex, which allows up to 11 amps per connector, while SAT power connectors cap at 4.5 amps each. Would linking two cables in parallel be effective? Should I replace the single Molex connector with two SAT ones?
C
camntroy
07-10-2021, 08:42 AM #1

Can I merge two sat power input cables to boost overall current? I'm trying a project and currently using Molex, which allows up to 11 amps per connector, while SAT power connectors cap at 4.5 amps each. Would linking two cables in parallel be effective? Should I replace the single Molex connector with two SAT ones?

T
Tavado
Senior Member
505
07-11-2021, 06:36 PM
#2
SATA operates at three different voltages: 3.3v, 5v, and 12v. Which one are you dealing with?
T
Tavado
07-11-2021, 06:36 PM #2

SATA operates at three different voltages: 3.3v, 5v, and 12v. Which one are you dealing with?

P
PersieO
Posting Freak
786
07-22-2021, 11:51 PM
#3
However, Molex only offers 12 and 5v connectors, which can be combined within the specified limit. The PSU on that branch can handle the voltage accordingly.
P
PersieO
07-22-2021, 11:51 PM #3

However, Molex only offers 12 and 5v connectors, which can be combined within the specified limit. The PSU on that branch can handle the voltage accordingly.

I
Infinity_Ward
Junior Member
7
07-30-2021, 04:02 AM
#4
So, you have two limited factors.
Amps per cable. You wrote 11A, but this is for very short bursts only and prolonged period with this much current flow will overheat and potentially melting the plastic insulation on the cable. In general, it's said that about 5 amps per cable is considered safe.
Output channels on your PSU. The limitation here is on the PSU itself (have a look at the label to see how much current it can deliver on each voltage) and the limitation for your specific usecase is obviously also dependent on the total amount of power drawn from the same PSU.
This of course assume you use one single PSU.
In short: Say you have one single PSU with multiple ATX connectors (doesn't matter if this is traditional molex connector or sata power connector) and you connect two identical power connectors in parallell, and also having no other load on the same psu. You then increase the maximum current draw to about twice of one cable, assuming:
The soldering and connectors on the receiving side doesn't have weak spots, like poor connector, soldering spot or thin wire somewhere.
ATX wire isn't bundled together and isolated in a way that it cannot effectively emit heat.
The wire doesn't pass a location where ambient temperature is much higher than room temperature (ok, this one is kind of nit picking for small projects, but if not considered - it actually could grow into a problem later).
I
Infinity_Ward
07-30-2021, 04:02 AM #4

So, you have two limited factors.
Amps per cable. You wrote 11A, but this is for very short bursts only and prolonged period with this much current flow will overheat and potentially melting the plastic insulation on the cable. In general, it's said that about 5 amps per cable is considered safe.
Output channels on your PSU. The limitation here is on the PSU itself (have a look at the label to see how much current it can deliver on each voltage) and the limitation for your specific usecase is obviously also dependent on the total amount of power drawn from the same PSU.
This of course assume you use one single PSU.
In short: Say you have one single PSU with multiple ATX connectors (doesn't matter if this is traditional molex connector or sata power connector) and you connect two identical power connectors in parallell, and also having no other load on the same psu. You then increase the maximum current draw to about twice of one cable, assuming:
The soldering and connectors on the receiving side doesn't have weak spots, like poor connector, soldering spot or thin wire somewhere.
ATX wire isn't bundled together and isolated in a way that it cannot effectively emit heat.
The wire doesn't pass a location where ambient temperature is much higher than room temperature (ok, this one is kind of nit picking for small projects, but if not considered - it actually could grow into a problem later).