How many molex connectors can you chain together?

[totakeke]

I was wondering how many molex connectors you can safely chain together? For example, if I hook up one molex connector from the PSU to a bunch of fans, how many can I safely chain together? Thanks.

 

[dagger]

I was wondering how many molex connectors you can safely chain together? For example, if I hook up one molex connector from the PSU to a bunch of fans, how many can I safely chain together? Thanks.

That depends on how much power each fan draw, and your psu rail ratings.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

I find that 3 fans or 1 major component + 2 fans works well, though I would only connect 2 major components together at once.

 

[dagger]

I find that 3 fans or 1 major component + 2 fans works well, though I would only connect 2 major components together at once.

How major is that component?

 

[chookman]

Hard drive, CD-rom, floppy, ext power for sound card etc.

Fans you should be able to get away with more then 3

 

[darkguset]

How long is a piece of string??

It all depends on how powerful is your PSU on the current rail, the quality of the connectors, how much current your devices draw at start-up, idle and load, etc etc...

 

[Lord Gornak]

This makes me want to see how many fans I can chain together on an old 250W power supply as a test...

 

[chookman]

This makes me want to see how many fans I can chain together on an old 250W power supply as a test...

As darkguset suggests the results will vary with fan power draw so when you get an answer it wont be absolute.

Wont all molex connectors run of the same rail?

 

[Grimmy]

Hmmmm... to take a guess (being safe that is), typically you would have 2 or 3 4pin molex on one rail, which would can hook up 2 HDs and 1 DVD/CDROM. Basically that would be around 20-30W per HD or DVDROM.

Soooo... 60-90W roughly on a single rail. If you have fans that are rated 3W a fan, to equal 60W that would be 20 3W fans. :lol:. o O (just the thought of running 20 fans)

 

[Shez]

Heck, with that many fans you might be able to get the computer to hover.

Here's a question though: if you're adding fans, should the fans be at the beginning of the chain or at the end (after the 'major' component has been powered)?

 

[bob8701]

it does not matter since all the part are connected parallel together.

 

[Grimmy]

I don't think it would really matter, except what would give your better cable management.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

As I stated in my first post, for fans only use 3 together on one connector, and only 4-5 on 1 cable. Also that is only if there are no major components on the that cable, CD/DVD drives, HDDs, floppy, extra cards, motherboard, anything that is not a fan or cathode really. I use a PC P&C 750w, so Im using the best for that wattage and one of the absolute most reliable power supplies money can buy, and I am still careful about this. If your system is using 10 or more fans, then a lot of people use 5.25" power supplies and hook up 3-5 fans to them so you are not hurting the rest of your system.