What would occur to a high wattage PSU without using the official or provided cable?
What would occur to a high wattage PSU without using the official or provided cable?
I understand this might seem odd or unreasonable, but if you have a 1000w PSU and lose its original cable, you could try another PC PSU cable from an old desktop. Usually, high-wattage cables are thick, which helps prevent stress and ensures proper power delivery. Using a thinner cable might cause issues with power supply.
Not every PSU will share the same pin configuration for its power supply units. Using aftermarket cables not designed for your specific PSU could damage the unit, components, or both. Just because you can insert a fork into a live socket in your wall outlet doesn't justify doing so.
It's about the primary wire connecting to the power source. A rating of 250v/13A equals 3250w. You shouldn't worry about a 4A draw affecting the cable.
This got me reflecting on the details.
If a typical UK mains plug to IEC 60320 C13 power cord has a 10A rating, it’s interesting why most suppliers install a 13A fuse rather than a 10A one in the plug top. British mains fuses are available in 2A, 3A, 5A, 7A, 10A, and 13A sizes. For a table lamp, a 2A or 3A fuse would be more appropriate.
When examining the time vs current graph for a standard 13A Fast/medium speed British plug top fuse, it needs a steady current of 20A for at least 700 seconds before tripping. Higher fault currents will trigger the 13A fuse much quicker—for example, 1,000A in just one millisecond. Refer to page 3 of the linked document for more details.
No matter how accurate the fit seems, it suggests that a well-made IEC lead should easily handle a 1kW ATX power supply.
The 10A rating is defined by the IEC. Before the section linked, it seems North American standards might validate C13/C14 up to 15A. If the UK uses a certification body similar to UL in the US, they could be performing comparable work. Additionally, most connector standards tend to be underestimated compared to their true limits for safety and flexibility.
DO NOT MIX CABLES!!! Unless you enjoy shorting, burning, and smoking.
If you're out of cables, a cable mod is likely the most affordable option, Corsair believes their cables are highly valuable.
Thinker wire tends to perform better, though it isn't always necessary. Most standard PSU wires are between 18 and 16 gauge, with some rare models using 14. There are also cheaper options with 26 gauge. As long as you're using 18 or 16 gauge, you generally don’t need thicker cables for your components—it’s a limited production run anyway, and 12v resistors wouldn’t be a big concern.
I’m more concerned about the power cable from your wall to the PSU. An 18-gauge at 110v can usually handle up to 600 watts, possibly more, but it might become unstable and could cause problems. The cord could overheat if it exceeds that amount, posing a fire risk. Most OEMs stick with 18 gauge, but their PCs don’t draw much power. If you go with 16 gauge, it can handle up to 1400 watts, 1800 watts with 14 gauge, and offers better resistance for overclocking. For most users, this isn’t a major issue.
Everyone who says "don't mix cables, use a 100$ cord from a modding company" is just following a rule. You can simply purchase a cable that matches the amp requirements of your PSU and it will work. Check the PSU's specifications at 240VAC for the required amperage and look for a compatible standard cable.
It's noteworthy how ratings vary for the same cable across regions. At work, we generally reduce mains cables to 50% to manage self-heating in bundled wires within trunking and hot climates. In Europe, the standard equivalent to Underwriters Laboratory is CE. When testing systems for EMI and EMC compliance in anechoic chambers, I checked both UL and CE standards, spanning across the Atlantic.