I need some help shortening molex power cables

mjallan123

mjallan123

mjallan123

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27 Aug 2011
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266
I would like to shorten a couple of 4 pin molex power connectors and was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to go about this?

I guess I will need a wire cutter, crimper and new pins but no sure the size I would need.

Anyone here done something like this before?
 
mjallan123 said:
I would like to shorten a couple of 4 pin molex power connectors and was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to go about this?

I guess I will need a wire cutter, crimper and new pins but no sure the size I would need.

Anyone here done something like this before?
Click to expand...

Wouldn't be as neat, but if they're hidden cables anyway... You could cut the cables to length (by cutting length out of the middle), solder and heatshrink the connections

All depends really on how neat you need it and what tools you already have
 
azibux1 said:
Wouldn't be as neat, but if they're hidden cables anyway... You could cut the cables to length (by cutting length out of the middle), solder and heatshrink the connections

All depends really on how neat you need it and what tools you already have
Click to expand...

It would be out of the way so I doesn't need to be super neat. However, I don't really want to solder because I haven't done that before and I'm sure I'd mess that up ha!

I thought just crimping new pins on the ends would be an easier solution?
 
mjallan123 said:
I guess I will need a wire cutter, crimper and new pins but no sure the size I would need.
Click to expand...

I used little wire snips to cut the wires, fingernails to strip the wires and a small flathead screwdriver to crimp the new pins on.

You can get a new Molex plug with pins (or just the pins alone) from places like Maplins.
 
mjallan123 said:
It would be out of the way so I doesn't need to be super neat. However, I don't really want to solder because I haven't done that before and I'm sure I'd mess that up ha!

I thought just crimping new pins on the ends would be an easier solution?
Click to expand...

Hmm okay

Probably have to go with the suggestion from ttaskmaster then
 
soldering is pretty easy. Then as azibux1 said heat shrink the exposed solder. That would look the neatest also. Youtube a video and you'll see its nice and easy and most likely quicker than crimping
 
Bare in mind the 12v line can be carrying quite a bit of amperage so make sure the connections are sound and don't skimp on the gauge if your sourcing your own wire.
 
ttaskmaster said:
I used little wire snips to cut the wires, fingernails to strip the wires and a small flathead screwdriver to crimp the new pins on.

You can get a new Molex plug with pins (or just the pins alone) from places like Maplins.
Click to expand...

I've tracked this down and it looks to be pretty much what I need but 1) It's US and 2) It's quite expensive and I don't need the whole thing: http://www.molexkits.com/76650-0176

Tried looking on Maplins but no joy.

Looks like I need the male version of this:
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/compact-power-connectors/6794732/

Think I've found the pins:
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/pcb-connector-contacts/2363230/
 
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