Question How to correctly identify and oragnize PSU cables with their respective PSUs

[BlackOrangutan]

Hello there!
I have cables belonging to 3 diffrent brands of PSUs.
Cooler master, Antec/Seasonic and Corsair.
I'm aware that these cables are not interchangeble and so need to organize them and match them to their compatible PSUs.
There are no markings on the cables.
How can I sort them safely?

 

[SkyNetRising]

How can I sort them safely?

Probably by using a multimeter.
Connect cable to a PSU, check all voltages on output pins.
If voltages match with spec of the connector, then cable is compatible with particular PSU.

Note - a single mismatch will most likely cause hardware damage, when you use the cable in an actual computer.

 

[BlackOrangutan]

Probably by using a multimeter.
Connect cable to a PSU, check all voltages on output pins.
If voltages match with spec of the connector, then cable is compatible with particular PSU.

Appriciate the response.
What output voltages should I be on look out for, and which pins do I check to be safe from shorting the supply?

 

[Eximo]

You can start with the obvious, PSU end connector form factor. If it doesn't fit, probably doesn't belong.

Then check the keying to see if they match at all, that isn't a guarantee since the same keying may be used by multiple vendors without matching the pin out, but it is a start.

At that point I would think the materials and particular wires used would start to become obvious.

And as SkyNetRising stated, once you confirm they fit, you power up the supply by shorting its standby power pin to a ground and then checking to see if the voltages are going to the right pins. As long as you don't connect the other end to an PC hardware, there is no risk.

 

[SkyNetRising]

What output voltages should I be on look out for, and which pins do I check to be safe from shorting the supply?

You check all pins and all voltages.

 

[pcwolf]

Thank goodness SeaSonic at least prints cable model numbers embossed on the PS side plug.

 

[hotaru.hino]

Hello there!
I have cables belonging to 3 diffrent brands of PSUs.
Cooler master, Antec/Seasonic and Corsair.
I'm aware that these cables are not interchangeble and so need to organize them and match them to their compatible PSUs.
There are no markings on the cables.
How can I sort them safely?

First check if the PSU manufacturer as pinouts of their PSUs. As a freebie, here's Corsair's

Then you have the fun task of checking which pin from the PSU side goes to which pin on the other side. You can use a continuity tester (either a standalone unit or as part of a multimeter's function) for this.

You can easily find pinouts for ATX 20/24-pin, EPS 12V, PCIe, 12VHPwr, SATA, and Molex 4-pin if you use it. As long as the voltage and ground go to the corresponding voltage and ground on the other side, it's fine. Though the 20/24-pin connector has a few pins that need to map to a specific pin, such as the PS_ON and sense pins.

I did this recently to check to make sure some custom cables I ordered were wired up correctly. I hope you have a weekend to do this because it's rather tedious.

EDIT: An easier method if PSU manufacturers did this is check the physical connection on the PSU side. They may be keyed differently preventing one from being inserted into the "wrong" manufacturer's PSU.