Power Distribution

[TheShaner]

I have a second power supply in my box that I am using for all of the rest of the small power needs I have throughout my cabinet.  Namely for the lights and fans.  I need a way to break out 12v to use for several items.  The thought was to cut off a molex connector and use the wires from it to start the feed.  After that I would like to take the wires to some form of panel that I can screw multiple wires into.  Like a punch panel if you are familiar with networking.  I have seen it done, but have not been able to figure it out standing in radio shack or altex.  Does anyone have a suggestion for something that can be used?

Thanks!

[HaRuMaN]

http://www.nicemite.com/PowermiteDD/PowermiteDD.htm

[bkenobi]

That's a sweet little board!  Wish I had seen it/it was available a few years ago.   

[TheShaner]

That is pretty sweet, but I figured we would just be looking at some form of plastic splitter with metal connections on it.  Almost what you would see for car audio speakers and the sort.  I dont mind splicing into the molex connector.  I just like the idea of spending a couple of bucks rather than ordering off for yet another piece of circuitry to put in the cab.

Thanks!

[Mysterioii]

You just need some cheapo terminal blocks.

[PL1]

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103229


Cut to length for shorting the desired number of terminals.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103227


Scott

[TheShaner]

Awesome, that is what I figured.  So, pardon for a my ignorance here, but from what I gather, I should be able to come into the end of one of the terminals, then daisy chain it all down that side.  On the other side, I would run in any wires that I need to use to carry power.  Correct?

On another note, I have a smart power strip that I am going to be running everything through.  I want to bring this out to the back of the cabinet.  The idea was to take a female end from the back of an old power supply, cut the plug off of the power strip and wire it to it, then connect the wires via solder.  Here is a pic of the female end I took out of the power supply:




Does anyone see a problem with this approach?  Too much electricity coming through the plug?  I have a bad ass power cable for server racks, but this seems like it could be a weak point.  Also, can I silicone the soldered connections afterwards to prevent accidental electrocution???  Or would that just be a bigger fire hazzard?

[Mysterioii]

Well, you can buy panel mount jacks like that and then you'll know exactly what amperage they're rated at if you don't want to take chances.  I guess those are filter caps they've got soldered onto the back there?  Never seen it done that that, but then again I don't tear down power supplies as a general rule.

I personally would slide a little shrink tubing over the solder joint and lugs rather than gooshing it up with silicone, although I don't know if that's necessarily BAD.  You can just cut shrink tube off with an exacto knife if you ever need to get at the joints again.

[PL1]

Awesome, that is what I figured.  So, pardon for a my ignorance here, but from what I gather, I should be able to come into the end of one of the terminals, then daisy chain it all down that side.  On the other side, I would run in any wires that I need to use to carry power.  Correct?

You got it.  The second picture is a shorting strip that you tighten under the screws on one side of the terminal strip to daisy chain the terminals much faster and easier than cutting and stripping wires.

The nice thing is that if you need 4 terminals with 5v, 2 with 12v and 2 with ground, you can cut the shorting strip accordingly.


Scott