Guide : Sleeving a 3-pin fan! (56k Warning)

[llama_egg]

Holy crap batman! Very nice guide! Time to begin sleeving everything in my computer! BWHAHA! xD

[Patriote]

Originally Posted by MonkeyHood

Very nice guide, was looking for something like this on XS. I just have a few questions. Where can you buy a solder, and how much do they cost? Where do you buy sleeves and heatshrink tubes? I've looked on jab-tech, but the shipping costs 3x more than the equipment. Is Jab-tech a reliable site?

Almost 3 months later, i answer your questions. Sorry!

You can get a solder iron @ home depot even @ Walmart. Depending of the quality, it's pretty cheap.

I personally love Jab-Tech. But yeah, if you are in Canada, you better place a big order with them so you will save on shipping. If you plan on just buying sleeving, then maybe you should consider buying sleeving kits or so in Canada which you can find @ www.ncix.com, Buy Computer Parts, Computer Hardware, PC Parts at Best Online Computer Shop - DirectCanada etc...

[Babrbarossa]

Good you see you around Pat!

[Patriote]

Originally Posted by Babrbarossa

Good you see you around Pat!

Thanks :) Been working a lot and someone took a new place in my life :)

[MonkeyHood]

Originally Posted by Patriote

Almost 3 months later, i answer your questions. Sorry!

You can get a solder iron @ home depot even @ Walmart. Depending of the quality, it's pretty cheap.

I personally love Jab-Tech. But yeah, if you are in Canada, you better place a big order with them so you will save on shipping. If you plan on just buying sleeving, then maybe you should consider buying sleeving kits or so in Canada which you can find @ www.ncix.com, Buy Computer Parts, Computer Hardware, PC Parts at Best Online Computer Shop - DirectCanada etc...

And almost three months later I answer! Huzzah, the circle is complete!

The thing is, I just want to sleeve some fan cables. On NCIX, they have PSU sleeves which means I get a whole bunch and some are way too big. Is there any place to get thin sleeves and several feet?

EDIT: Wait, found one but it's blue. Not the end of the world, but I'd prefer black.

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=28858

[elninio]

Where can I get cable sleeving in Toronto.. theres no way I'm shipping some from the other end of the continent

[Lithotech]

Great guide! Sure to help a lot of folks!

Fan tails are perfect for noobs to sleeving, the lines are short so use little material, and monetary risk of damage is very low!

A few tidbits of info from my experiences:

I have found the sleeving kits to be utter crap. You will rarely use the larger sizes, and there is barely enough of the smaller material to do a system. The nylon braid is not very good quality, and over priced. It doesn't expand or flex very well, lower heat rating, and dull colors.

All the cables in your computer (except the ATX line, and possibly the 12V 4 pin PCIe, EPS 8 pin) can be sleeved with 1/4 inch sleeving. I buy it in 10 foot lengths for less than $5 a pack (including tax) from here:

RP Electronics - Test Instruments , Power Supplies , Inverters , Electronic Project Kits and more!

Search for Flexible Sleeving. Burnaby, BC location. They do ship!

This stuff is aircraft quality.

I use 1/4 inch shrinktube with 1/4 inch sleeve, plenty of slack to fit over the sleeve and wire, and shrinks to a tight fit. 3/8ths shrink is a little big for this. The heatshrink tubing is a couple bucks for a 3 foot length.

A 10 foot pack is plenty to do an entire system including fans.

For the main ATX line, I use the 1/2 inch Split Braid sleeving. This stuff is great, you can apply it without taking off the connector which is a big risk if you don't get the wires back in exactly right (BOOM!). The only problem is you can't apply heatshrink on the ends, so I just use a ziptie. Also, it's only stocked in black.

PCIe lines will be a tight fit, so I use 1/4 inch split braid for this. Sata lines are difficult to remove the connectors, so I leave them alone. They route easy enough and usually hide perfectly so you don't see them anyway.

I have a variety of tools for removing the connectors, Sunbeam makes a kit with 4 or 5 tools, and there are also some new selections at NCIX (will be trying one or two in the near future).

To cut this stuff, I heat a box cutter knife with a propane torch, then cut the sleeve on a small piece of 2x4 wood. You get a perfect end every time with no fraying.

I keep a variety of colors in stock at all times, built up over time as I needed new colors or replenish stock. I keep it all in an old briefcase, so when I need to do sleeving I just grab my kit and everything is there.

.

[Lithotech]

All NCIX carries these days is Mod Smart:

NCIX.com - Canada's Premier Computer Store - Great Technology, Service and Selection.
NCIX.com - Buy Modding In Canada.

You would be better off getting RP Electronics to ship to you. One of their 1/4 inch 10' packs will do, with a 3ft long shrinktube.

.

[cwestwell]

I picked up my latest batch of heat shrink and goodies from Frozen CPU...Shipping sucked though

[enaberif]

Since I'm local I just go shop at RP Electronics.

But the best bet is to just call around to various electronic shops and see if they have the sleeving.