4-Conductor "Power Supply Cable" for Benchtop Power Supply? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: MRiddickW
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2022, 06:21:46 pm
content: Hi all,Maybe an odd question: Does anyone make power supply cable, and can I buy it by the foot? By "power supply cable", I'm thinking a 4-conductor cable. One (twisted?) pair would be probably 14 AWG or 16 AWG, and another twisted (shielded?) pair would be 22 AWG (or whatever is appropriate) for the remote sense wires.Reason for asking is that I have an HP 6626A , which has four outputs in the back. It's on the top shelf of my bench stacked under several more supplies, so trying to hook up or reconfigure anything back there is a major PITA. So I was thinking it'd be nice to just have a self-contained cable for each output that I can run to a more convenient location on my lab bench and break out there to some sort of terminal block, and as a bonus, I could connect the remote sense there.I guess it wouldn't be that much more trouble to just have a cable and two wires, or two cables, and bundle them together myself, but I figured I'd ask.Thanks!

author: HKJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2022, 06:38:12 pm
content: You can get braided sleeving that is easy to pull over a couple of loose wires.With a battery drill you can make a few meters of twisted pair.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2022, 07:25:29 pm
content: if you dont mind paying for 2 unneeded conductorshttps://www.vdctrading.com/products/van-damme-ambicore-power-signal-tour-grade-multicore-20a-3-x-25mm-per-metreor just use a 4 core 2.5,for examplehttps://www.vdctrading.com/products/van-damme-black-series-tour-grade-4-x-250mm-multicore-per-metre

author: MRiddickW
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2022, 03:13:17 pm
content: Quote from: HKJ on July 24, 2022, 06:38:12 pmY'know you just reminded me that I have 1000 ft spools of braided sleeving at 1/4", 1/2", and 3/4" diameters I got because "it might be useful!" So thanks for the reminder!Quote from: themadhippy on July 24, 2022, 07:25:29 pmThanks you!

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2022, 04:45:04 pm
content: 4 core speaker cable might suit your needs and will certainly handle some current.Our NZ Jaycar has this:https://www.jaycar.co.nz/pro-audio-speaker-cable-4-core-sold-per-metre/p/WB1762Alternatively a lighter conductor shielded microphone cable would be suitable for low current usage:https://www.jaycar.co.nz/4-core-screened-professional-microphone-cable-sold-per-metre/p/WB1540Years back I used a stranded multicore alarm cable with sense/sector pairs much lighter than the supply pair that in short bench work lengths could work quite well as PSU leads with sense capabilities.

author: Roehrenonkel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2022, 11:07:11 am
content: Hi MRiddickW,for the "low-volt"-PSUs (up to 250V) i use the Speakon-Connectors with Belden 46379 Speakercable (2.5mm²).The receptacles fit nicely into (Neutrik) D-Series patch-panels.For more voltage i use AMP CPC and 5*1.5mm² H07RN-F Gummikabel (rubber-cable (??)).Over 600V i just use PTFE-coax with Triax-BNC, HVBNC (depending on the machine).Hope it helps you.