PCIe-5 signal / side-band sleeving guide

This tutorial will teach you how to sleeve the 4 signal / side-band wires of a 12V-2×6 / 12VHPWR PCie-5 connector with MDPC-X Micro-Sleeve.

We avoid trying to single-sleeve each wire, because the wire and crimp terminals of the signal / side-band connections are so extremely thin and fragile. Don’t create any unnecessary stability risk by messing around on or too close to these fine structures.

Let’s start making custom PCIe-5 signal / side-band cables!

You should have the following items and tools:

  • 12V-2×6 / 12VHPWR PCIe-5 connector and signal / side-band crimp terminals
  • 23-AWG / 0.25 mm² wire (not less!) with a maximum outer diameter of 1.4 mm
  • Clear / transparent heat-shrink which shrinks down to 2.0 mm
  • Lighter or butane torch
  • Nail scissor
  • Utility knife or precision knife or wire-stripper
  • diagonal cutter
  • Measurement tool (we measure in millimeter in this guide)
  • Crimping tool with the capability to crimp 23 to 26-AWG
You can be very creative and use many solutions. We will show you one of our favorite solutions: 2 wires in 1 MDPC-X Micro-sleeve. You can also do 4 wires in 1 sleeve with the same techniques and methods. You would then need MDPC-X XTC size sleeve.
Measure your wires, cut them to length. Measure your sleeve and cut it to length. Slightly melt the cuts of the sleeve. Sleeve the wires. Put clear heatshrink over the transitions of sleeve and wire. Now strip the wires on a length of 2-3 mm.
Melt the transition of sleeve and wire inside the heat-shrink. The wire insulation and sleeve material will melt together, creating a very strong bond. With a little bit of practice you will achieve exceptional results with precisely controlled melting.
Remove the heat-shrink while it’s hot and soft.
Now crimp the signal / side-band crimp terminals onto the stripped wires exactly as shown on the image.
Insert the crimp terminal (crimped onto the wire of course) oriented as shown on the image.
Done! Enjoy your creativity and skills.

Be creative: You can also do 4 wires in 1 sleeve with the same techniques and methods. You would then need MDPC-X XTC size sleeve.

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