<p>The block on the supply will accept the bare wire</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/En7sd.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/En7sd.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>you <em>could</em> use the yellow in the middle on the right, but the screw on the block essentially does its own crimp.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-16T19:53:11.360Z
2016-01-16T20:00:02.413Z
2016-01-16T20:00:02.413Z
Matt Clark
<p>It is okay to just use bare wires in the type of screw connector found on your power supply. They're designed for it; they have a little plate under the screw that prevents the wires from being frayed by the screw.</p>

<p>If you want neater wire termination, you should use one of the spade type ones. Pick the smallest size that fits your wires.</p>

<p>PC power cords are generally fitted with an IEC C13 plug, and those are rated for 10A (meaning also the wires themselves will be able to carry at least that much current). This is fine for any home 3D printer which usually draws a fraction of that.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-14T19:33:04.023Z
@TextGeek thank you for the link!  Why don't you make it the answer and I'll select it: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/wire-gauges-d_419.html
leeand00
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-17T23:01:44.887Z
Specifically, a power supply rated 30A at 12V, is therefore taking in a bit over 3A at 120V. Wire gauge 18 to 24 or so is fine (depending on air circulation, bundling, etc.). See [http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/wire-gauges-d_419.html]. Wires on the 12V side should be heavier.
TextGeek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-16T18:48:58.270Z
2016-01-16T18:48:58.270Z
Tom van der Zanden
<p>From what I understand, when you hook up the <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B007KG0ZYI">Switching Power Supply 12v Dc 30a 360w</a> to the wall outlet, you have to be <strong>very careful</strong>; careful not to get the wires mixed up; careful not to have anyone or anything touch the leads (in fact the first proper project I intend to print out will be <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:31659">a casing to fit around the switching power supply</a>), or just order one from someone.  </p>

<p>Now there are three wires that go into the US wall of particular concern, and these wires come out of a standard PC cable with the female end cut off, and they hook the power supply.  Like the external casing, these three wires are also insulated, and when you take the insulation off the bare wires and connect it to the power supply, you have to use Electrical connectors of some sort to connect them to the power supply's screw leads.</p>

<p>I bought some electrical connectors just for this purpose, but I'm not entirely certain they will be good for this purpose, so I thought I'd check here first.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/RTAFs.jpg"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RTAFs.jpg" alt="Picture of GE Electrical Connectors 50956, 40 piece set"></a></p>

<p>There are specifications on the back:</p>

<pre><code>╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬                  ╬        AWG           ╬  Wire Size  ╬ Stud Size ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬ Spade Terminals                                                   ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬  YF1.25-35 (red) ╬        22-16         ╬   0.5-1.5   ╬    3.7    ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬ Ring Terminals                                                    ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬   YF1.25-4 (red) ╬        22-16         ╬    .5-1.5   ╬    4.3    ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬ Butt Splice                                                       ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬   BF-1.2SS (red) ╬        22-16         ╬    .5-1.5   ╬   n/a     ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
</code></pre>

<p>Not sure if I should use ring or spade terminals, and I don't know what wire size to use; and I don't know what wire grade is inside a standard PC power cord or even if these are safe connectors to use for this.</p>

<wiring><switching-power-supply>
Are these the right types of electrical connectors for hooking my Switching Power Supply up to a wall outlet?
leeand00
# Are these the right types of electrical connectors for hooking my Switching Power Supply up to a wall outlet?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-16)

From what I understand, when you hook up the Switching Power Supply 12v Dc 30a 360w to the wall outlet, you have to be very careful; careful not to get the wires mixed up; careful not to have anyone or anything touch the leads (in fact the first proper project I intend to print out will be a casing to fit around the switching power supply), or just order one from someone.  
Now there are three wires that go into the US wall of particular concern, and these wires come out of a standard PC cable with the female end cut off, and they hook the power supply.  Like the external casing, these three wires are also insulated, and when you take the insulation off the bare wires and connect it to the power supply, you have to use Electrical connectors of some sort to connect them to the power supply's screw leads.
I bought some electrical connectors just for this purpose, but I'm not entirely certain they will be good for this purpose, so I thought I'd check here first.

There are specifications on the back:
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬                  ╬        AWG           ╬  Wire Size  ╬ Stud Size ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬ Spade Terminals                                                   ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬  YF1.25-35 (red) ╬        22-16         ╬   0.5-1.5   ╬    3.7    ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬ Ring Terminals                                                    ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬   YF1.25-4 (red) ╬        22-16         ╬    .5-1.5   ╬    4.3    ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬ Butt Splice                                                       ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬
╬   BF-1.2SS (red) ╬        22-16         ╬    .5-1.5   ╬   n/a     ╬
╬──────────────────╬──────────────────────╬─────────────╬───────────╬

Not sure if I should use ring or spade terminals, and I don't know what wire size to use; and I don't know what wire grade is inside a standard PC power cord or even if these are safe connectors to use for this.

**Tags:** wiring, switching-power-supply

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-16. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

It is okay to just use bare wires in the type of screw connector found on your power supply. They're designed for it; they have a little plate under the screw that prevents the wires from being frayed by the screw.

If you want neater wire termination, you should use one of the spade type ones. Pick the smallest size that fits your wires.

PC power cords are generally fitted with an IEC C13 plug, and those are rated for 10A (meaning also the wires themselves will be able to carry at least that much current). This is fine for any home 3D printer which usually draws a fraction of that.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Specifically, a power supply rated 30A at 12V, is therefore taking in a bit over 3A at 120V. Wire gauge 18 to 24 or so is fine (depending on air circulation, bundling, etc.). See [http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/wire-gauges-d_419.html]. Wires on the 12V side should be heavier.  
> **username_0**: @TextGeek thank you for the link!  Why don't you make it the answer and I'll select it: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/wire-gauges-d_419.html  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2016-01-16. Score: 3

The block on the supply will accept the bare wire

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/En7sd.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/En7sd.jpg)

you *could* use the yellow in the middle on the right, but the screw on the block essentially does its own crimp.


---

