Removing Molex connectors

[Designer]

I know that there are tools that I can buy to remove the 4 pin Molex connectors as I was thinking of fitting some sleeving and UV reactive molex connectors. How reliable are these removal tools with regard to damaging the connectors as I dont want to stuff up all my wiring.

Also, is there a removal tool for the ATX connector and 4 pin power connector wiring?

Thanks

[bailey]

I belive that the same tool will do both.
your refering to the 20 pin motherboard power connector.
doing that can be dangerious, if you make a error putting them back on, it could distroy something.

[Designer]

I'm hoping that provided I number everything up it will be OK to do as i'd like to sleeve the cables as they look a little untidy and it's been a real pain trying to get sleeving over the connector due to it's size.

[bailey]

very good, if you have any problems post it here as I have a chart for the color wire per pin position.

[Designer]

Will do, thanks Bailey.

How reliable are those molex removing tools as I was a little worried about knackering the pins?

[bailey]

they are pretty good, I have used them for many years in industerial electronincs and robots

[Designer]

Great, I'll give it a go. Thanks Bailey

[inflames988]

i ordered some uv stuff too i was planning on doing it with a small screwdriver as i saw in a tutorial..is this safe?

[the 6th jackson]

Hey bailey mind linking me to that chart you have.....I'm planning on an Lcd mod thats going to require a little soldering and knowledge of the wire layout, it would be greatly apreciated.

Thanks,
Chase

[JPMiller]

Save yourself some money...
simply take a ballpoint pen (cheaper the better...) apart and remove the plastic ink stick, (clear or white tube the ink is kept in..)
you can use that to slip over the post which pushes the tabs in, and then pull out the wire.
when you put them back in you just use the edge of something thin to slightly bend back the tabs outward..
As for the larger main cable to the motherboard... you can bend the wires down and use masking tape to smooth it out...
I also use a razor blade to shave the sharper edges and corners...

[bailey]

Originally Posted by the 6th jackson Hey bailey mind linking me to that chart you have.....I'm planning on an Lcd mod thats going to require a little soldering and knowledge of the wire layout, it would be greatly apreciated. Thanks, Chase

I will make a copy of it for you and e-mail it to you
there is no link as it is in my file cabinet.

[bailey]

here try this

http://xtronics.com/reference/atx_pinout.htm

and remember that google is your friend

[the 6th jackson]

lol Thanks I apreciate it

[Redfallon]

Designer, hope ya check back in on this thread, as I've done the very thing you're working on. Without the tool, removing the molex connectors took FOREVER and a day, and many were getting buggered up. Bought the tool, and had smooth sailing. It is WELL worth the money, and I recommend getting a few extra male and female molex pins, as you're bound to mess up one or two, even with the tool. While you're at it, replace the connectors with black, or UV, or something

**edit** I see you are replacing the connectors as well, dang, I was right I have done the exact same thing

[Designer]

Was thinking f going for UV green for everything as it'll go with my motherboard. Definately think i'll get the kit, they do complete kits for PSU's

[carlmccut]

A good site for the kits and tools ishttp://www.svc.com

[inflames988]

Originally Posted by JPMiller Save yourself some money... simply take a ballpoint pen (cheaper the better...) apart and remove the plastic ink stick, (clear or white tube the ink is kept in..) you can use that to slip over the post which pushes the tabs in, and then pull out the wire. when you put them back in you just use the edge of something thin to slightly bend back the tabs outward.. As for the larger main cable to the motherboard... you can bend the wires down and use masking tape to smooth it out... I also use a razor blade to shave the sharper edges and corners...

where are the tab things located?? what exactly do you mean about bending them back outward?? what do u use to do this?

[Redfallon]

SVC has the best sleeving I've found, it's much better quality than stuff I've bought other places. I've used their UV in about every color.

The tabs he's talking about are on the metal pins inside of the 4pin molex connectors. There's two per metal pin.

[Designer]

I've found this for £7.99



and this complete PSU kit for £9.99



Hopefully these will go on without too much grief, hope to get my acrylic case shortly.

[inflames988]

i just tried getting my molex's off to do my UV stuff and havent had any luck. im thinking im gunna buy the tool (would circuit city, officemax, or staples have this??)....JPMiller, tried ur idea and sounded good but didnt work with any pens i had--did u use a certain kind? mine were too small.

[inflames988]

also, how do i bend these pins back out once ive gotten them out? do i just bend them out then stick it back into the connector? seems like that would make them stay.

EDIT: just got one out on a molex splitter thing for practice...i used a safety pin to get it out then just bent the pins to get it back in...this should work right? seems like everythings alright

[Designer]

OK, definately gonna sort this out after xmas (money pending)