Welcome to the SeeMeCNC Community

Hi all,

I cut the wrong wire on Step 48 of the hot end assembly (attached picture) I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for how to salvage the situation? The only thing that my noob brain can think of is that I need to buy another fan and clip off the power/ground from that one and this time not cut it where I did.

In my defense, it's really difficult to see the white plug in the photographs that I've been following

I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed by this assembly process thus far. Please act like you're explaining to a five year old if you respond.

Thank you,

Matt

Do computers use these same fans? I'm going to look at my old computer and see if it has any of these in it that I can use.

Most computers no longer use fans that small, nor do they use that connector form factor typically. If you have an older laptop or video card, it may have a connector similar to that. I'm not sure where that's meant to plug in (Perhaps on the accelormeter board? If so, you could always unsolder the connector from that and solder directly to the board.

Xenocrates wrote:Most computers no longer use fans that small, nor do they use that connector form factor typically. If you have an older laptop or video card, it may have a connector similar to that. I'm not sure where that's meant to plug in (Perhaps on the accelormeter board? If so, you could always unsolder the connector from that and solder directly to the board.

Right. I didn't find any of these on my computer.

It's meant to plug into the board in the photograph. PCB board I think is what it is called. I'm a little nervous to solder directly- the power and ground are really close on the other side of the board, and I'm not particularly good at it.

Is there a place I can buy a couple more fans with those connectors?

Right here I presume.

Xenocrates wrote:Right here I presume.

Thanks so much! I just ordered another. Also, the wire crimper advice you gave me can in handy in another step. I would've had two posts if I didn't have it. So I owe you two now!

Matt

Moral of the story?

When cutting connectors off, always leave some wire on them so you can re-use them later, even if you have no plans to use them in the future.

Turpinator wrote:Moral of the story?

When cutting connectors off, always leave some wire on them so you can re-use them later, even if you have no plans to use them in the future.

What's a good rule of thumb for length of wire to leave for reuse? 10mm?

If it's a small wire, say 20 gauge or so, I typically will leave 5-15mm. Larger wires up to 8 gauge, between 1-2 inches. A good thing to do would be to leave no less than a ferrule for that wire size of length (As this gives you room for the ferrule= tape or heatshrink), or enough for a good solder join, thus why the larger wires see such a dramatic leap, as I like to interpenetrate them when soldering, and unless I want a giant fan all of a sudden, that takes some length to do well.

ill normally leave 1" minimum, and yeah, more on thicker wires. Or, if its solid and not stranded, even more.
Buuut, if im using the rest of the wire for something else, ill leave as much on the connector side as i can. Its always easier to cut excess off the wire than it is to add more to it.