Phobya Molex Power Connection Kit Review

Phobya Molex Power Connector Kit Review

by

Dark Mantis

Just a quick little review this time as I have some of Phobya's kits for replacement of the plugs and sockets of power connector cables. These particular ones are the four pin Molex connectors. They sell both male and female sets of five complete plugs or sockets dependant on your specific requirements. They are both the same apart from one is the female version and one is the male. The male has five of the plastic oblong type plugs that fit four wires in a row and twenty of the pin connectors and the female socket has the same but the female version. Both of these packs come supplied with black plugs and sockets.

These come on two strips that you just remove the individual pin from and then attach to the end of the wire. Wires need to be prepared first of course by removing approximately 8mm of the insulation sheathing and then twisting the copper strands together. once ready the wire end is inserted into the clamp end of the pin and slid forward until it is stopped by the insulation. Once there the metal tabs/wings of the pin are folded around the cable. A special tool is available that makes this job very easy but most people just use pointed pliers. I would advise buying the dedicated crimper if you have more than a few to connect up as it does make the job exceptionally easy and it is very easy to damage the pins when doing it manually. This has to be done with some care though because it is easy to maleform the pin and once done is ruined and would have to be discarded.

These Molex connectors are the most common way of providing power to the computer devices especially internally. It used to be almost universal and was used for just about everything but now the newer SATA drives use a different style of connector that is slimmer and smaller. This is what you will find already attached to most computer power supplies and internal devices. Some external components also use these as a way of receiving power if it comes via the computer's own PSU.

These may be replaced because of damage to the existing ones or because they have had to be removed prior to fitting braiding over the wires. Often when trying to remove the pins from the plug/socket they get damaged and so again require replacement. These are not gold plated as some are but I think that is more of a sales pitch than technically necessary so I don't consider that a detriment. Personally I think more pins should be included as most people waste some pins by damaging them when making the connections unless the proper crimper is used. Apart from that they are usefull little kits and well priced compared to purchasing the parts individually.

I give these kits 8/10.

Supplier : C and C Central Website : http://www.candccentral.co.uk Price : £1.79