Can I use any power cable for my PSU?

[Felix Susilo]

Am I able to use any power cable for my 1000 watt power supply? I have recently lost mine and I want to know if I could use any cable the fits the 3 pin. If not, are there any certain voltages that the cable supports or something.

 

[MD1987]

Yeah, they are pretty generic for the most part.

 

[sheag123]

it is recommended that you only use cables that were meant for your specific psu

 

[Recycled]

ARe you talking about this cable:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60320#C13.2FC14_coupler

If so, yes. Any cable will work.

A 1,000W power supply (80% efficient) will pull about 10 amps at full load. That's well within the specs of any of those cables.

Some compaines do sell heavier duty cables, with larger wires in them, but there's no need in this case.


--Andy

 

[Felix Susilo]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/IEC60320_C13.jpg/100px-IEC60320_C13.jpg

Yes talking bout this one

 

[Felix Susilo]

it is recommended that you only use cables that were meant for your specific psu

How am I supposed to if I don't have it

 

[sheag123]

oh ya sorry i thought you meant the modular psu cables like these ones.
http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.overclock3d.net/gfx/articles/2009/06/05202116527l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/power_supply/bfg_ex-1200_1200w_modular_psu/3&h=684&w=1024&sz=285&tbnid=q5mb3GDHjjXftM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&zoom=1&usg=__FYxCBG_-4-w5nUQ6BRoc5H0o8Zw=&docid=PYpLmQxIVScufM&sa=X&ei=SelxUvP0LoWO2gWx_IGgBA&ved=0CGsQ9QEwBg


ya you can switch that one you are talking about out no problem.

 

[Felix Susilo]

haha ok thanks

 

[theonetruedark]

it is recommended that you only use cables that were meant for your specific psu

I know this isn't a solution to this post. But I came across it, and it sparked a question.

I recently used a SATA power cable from my Corsair RM850 in my ThermalTake 1500W Toughpower PSU because I had run out of connectors. The exercise burned out 2 harddrives, violently. My only guess is that the two brands of modular cables aren't compatible somehow - though, I would love to know why?

 

[tooandrew]

I know this is super old, but to answer your question, theonetruedark, the values have a different pinout on modular power supplies, so if you use a different cable, it puts 12v where there should be 3v, 3v where there should be 5v, 5v where there should be ground, etc. Hard drives and most anything else don't like it when you apply voltage where it's not supposed to be.