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What gauge wire should I get for my PC power connector?

Vitalius
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Posted

Hi guys, 

[i'm assuming this goes here.]

I need a longer power cable for my PC and monitors. What gauge should I get? I went to Monoprice to see my options. Here they are:

18AWG, can support up to 10 amps with 125 Volt load.
16AWG, can support up to 12.5 amps with 125 Volt load.
14AWG, can support up to 15 amps with 125 Volt load.

Does this even matter? This is going from the wall to my PSU. I assume the PSU takes whatever the wall gives and just changes it and feeds it to the rest of my PC components, so I would imagine it doesn't matter at all. However, I can't be sure. 

Any help would be very appreciated.

Thanks,
Vitalius

† Christian Member †

For my pertinent links to guides, reviews, and anything similar, go here, and look under the spoiler labeled such. A brief history of Unix and it's relation to OS X by Builder.

 

 

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IIRC, most power supplies use 16AWG wire, so I would say get that.

 

It might also be 14AWG like @Zeal said. 

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Most PSUs should come with 14 AWG wire for the power connector. I had recently cut mine up to do some modding:

F0nBAUG.jpg

 

Most power outlets in NA are 15A sockets as well. Get the beefier 14AWG power cable.

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Alright, thanks guys. I'll spend the extra $3 :). 

I assume 18AWG is fine for my monitors. I doubt they use much amps or volts (relative to a monitor) at all.

† Christian Member †

For my pertinent links to guides, reviews, and anything similar, go here, and look under the spoiler labeled such. A brief history of Unix and it's relation to OS X by Builder.

 

 

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Posted

Hi guys, 

[i'm assuming this goes here.]

I need a longer power cable for my PC and monitors. What gauge should I get? I went to Monoprice to see my options. Here they are:

18AWG, can support up to 10 amps with 125 Volt load.

16AWG, can support up to 12.5 amps with 125 Volt load.

14AWG, can support up to 15 amps with 125 Volt load.

Does this even matter? This is going from the wall to my PSU. I assume the PSU takes whatever the wall gives and just changes it and feeds it to the rest of my PC components, so I would imagine it doesn't matter at all. However, I can't be sure. 

Any help would be very appreciated.

Thanks,

Vitalius

The bigger the better. It would be wiser to get a thicker gauge just so you have comfort. Don't want to be burning your house down because of this. 12 gauge or 14 gauge is what I would use for everything just for piece of mind.

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