Note: This is a user
submitted guide by modnut.
Disclaimer: Even though this mod
isn’t too terribly difficult, if you happen to break your PSU, yourself, or any
of your components, it’s not my fault. This may also void you
warranty.
Introduction:
Many people nowadays are into wire
management. This is a time consuming art that turns an unsightly mess into
something pleasing to the eye. No matter how hard you try to conceal the
wiring, you still end up with exposed wires. This is where sleeving comes
in to make that mess of wires look nice in your case.
The sleeving itself is just a mesh
tube that comes in all sorts of colors (even UV reactive) that slips over the
wires. You can find this sleeving at many mod supply sites or use this
link above to find the lowest prices. There are two major ways sleeving is
sold; by the foot or in a kit. I chose a kit because it has everything in
it to do a great job. The thing I like most about the kit is that you get
a lot more sleeving then you really need for a lot less money than buying it by
the foot. As far as the mod goes, it is pretty easy, but takes a
while.
These are the materials that I
used, but you might not need all of them.
- PSU
- Sleeving (1/8”, ¼”, 3/8”,
½”)
- Heatshrink (1/2”, 3/8”, ¼”)
- Scotch tape
- Molex removal tool
- Small flathead screwdrivers
- Lighter
- Scissors
- Diagonal cutting pliers
- Hot air gun (or other heat
source)
- Some staples
As I said before, it’s not very
hard, but it will take a couple of hours. It will also void your
warranty. The major thing you need know is which pins go where because if
you screw this part up, it might screw up your components.
The first thing you need to do is
switch off the PSU and take it out of the case. Then go find a clean
workspace to lay all your things out on. I have a Coolmax CX-450B 450W PSU
that I will be sleeving with a Vantec Blue sleeving kit with black heat shrink.
I prefer to end the sleeving just
inside the PSU, which means that I will be taking the cover off of the
PSU. This comes with a warning, however, because the capacitors inside the
PSU keep a charge even though it is unplugged (Just don’t touch anything and you
will be fine).
Now remove the zip tie that holds
the bundle of wires together and take the grommet out.
Then cut all of the zip ties on the
wires off. Now you are ready to begin the sleeving process. There
are 3 parts to this process; remove the connector (make sure you know where each
pin goes), put the sleeving on, and then putting the connector back on.
This is pretty simple, but there are many different kinds of connectors that
need to be removed and each requires a special technique. The first one is
the chain of Molex connectors.
This particular kind of molex
connector is extremely hard to get out if you don’t have a pin remover. I
suggest that you go to Radioshack and buy a molex pin remover. Then all
you have to do is pop the pins out by sticking the pin extractor all the way on
the pin and pushing the plunger. The pin should just come out.
