PWM pump power wire cleanup

[OceansCrashing]

I understand (or at least think I understand) the inclusion of molex on pumps is done so you’re less likely to plug a pump into a hub and over-burden a header causing a fire hazard.

If Im using a powered fan hub with a separate molex power connection, is it generally ok to eliminate the molex connector running to the fan, and instead merge the four wires into a single four pin fan connector?

 

[Conumdrum]

The molex is the power to the pump, think higher power current/voltage. The small plug is millivolts used to control the PWM. Most small plugs can't carry the current required to power the pump. Hope that helps.

 

[OceansCrashing]

I understand that logic, but since the wires themselves are the same gauge (22-24 if IIRC,) I don't think the connector is providing any extra protection for the individual pump. Having the molex on there WOULD prevent you from connecting the pump to a hub that is sharing other duties though. I'm thinking the connectors are organized that way so that you don't end up connecting a pump and say 3 fans to a single hub that doesn't have its own external power, overloading the motherboard's header.

I'd be well within the limitations of each 4 pin header at 18watts per pump, and the hub being provided power from the molex would only see 36 watts at the molex connector. I think I'm just going to go ahead and try it, I don't see any reason it shouldn't be fine. I guess we'll see haha.

 

[GTXJackBauer]

There should be a limit with the hub but chances are with that much load, you probably will fry the hub and possibly everything else connected to it. Usually a hub is meant to spread the load of fans to all headers instead of one. Putting a single 18w pump on one header might not be such a great idea hence the point of the power molex connection.

 

[OceansCrashing]

Yeah, while I dont think 36 watts would fry the hub as a whole, 18 watts on a single header might be pushing it.

 

[maxfly]

i was in the same boat as you but i chickened out and decided id better stick to what the manufacturer built. i look forward to your results.