Magic II Wire Guage

[amptor]

Hi,

I just recently did a great job installing my Magic II. Everything works as it is suppose to.

Anyways, I used 30 AWG wire on all connections. Nothing gives me any trouble, but I'm wondering if this will ever give me problems in the future because I used 30awg on the power connections and the ground. I'm also wondering what problems I may experience if I leave it this way.

I've run the PS2 for hours with no problem so far. No smoke coming out of the system or anything, as I would expect if the wire was too small.

Also, how many amps are running through that ground? If it isn't much, that means the 30AWG is fine basically. Because I mean, how many volts can it really be there. If it's low current, it doesn't matter unless it is way high voltage which I entirely doubt.

[charlie_ps2]

Half an amp has been measured. You are advised to make the Ground at least 24 awg; 22 awg is best. This applies to magic 2. messiah uses less current.

[nugohst]

Use 18 gauge speaker wire on Ground, 3.3v, & 5v & your ps2 will run like an ice box. I haven't encounter any warm or hot air blowing out yet With 30 gauge wire you might be encountering warm or hot air blowning out. Too much play & your system will over heat & cause your games too freeze up or blow your system Just some advice

[amptor]

Allright, now I just have to figure out where I can buy that guage of wire. Not really looking foreward to opening the system back up, but better safe than sorry.

Although, on the PCB, the guage of the trace on the board for ground isn't anywhere near 22awg heh.

[charlie_ps2]

Originally posted by amptor
.....Although, on the PCB, the guage of the trace on the board for ground isn't anywhere near 22awg heh.

DOH! There are hundreds of GND traces each carrying their milliamps. But the circuit you're worried about is the Magic 2, running at 50MHz, using 3.3v for its core and its outputs and 5v for its peripheral circuits. The GND wire carries ALL the current for the 3.3v and 5v sections.

[amptor]

Oh, but I'm talking about the trace on the actual magic2 pcb, not on the ps2 main board.

[amptor]

Ok well I just did a lot of digging around on the web and came up with this URL:

http://www.finecables.com/product/ul1007.htm

stating that tinned copper core 30awg wire (which is what I believe I used, because if I cut the tin off with a razor, it appears to be copper underneath) can carry a maximum of 2.3 amps. I guess all I'd gain is a little less heat on the wire. I think the circuit would've blown out by now since I haven't changed the wires yet. But 0.5amp isn't much current. A cheap nicd AA battery can hold that much.