Molex cables power DVD-ROM drives.
The Molex company produces a wide array of connectors for various applications, many of which have four pins. However, the term "Molex 4-pin" commonly refers to a specific connector used to attach the power supply of a personal computer to other peripheral components.
Applications
The standard Molex 4-pin is compatible with many types of devices. It can provide power to disk drives, fans, video cards, motherboards and exterior chassis lighting, according to PlayTool.
Function
Each of the connector's four pins leads to a color-coded cable that indicates the pin's voltage. On one end is a yellow cable supplying 12 volts of electricity. The two black cables in the middle act as a ground. At the other end is a 5-volt red cable.
Design
The end that provides power contains female pins in a male casing; the end that receives power has male pins in a female casing. To ensure that the connector can only be attached in its correct orientation, one of its edges is beveled.
Tags: four pins, Molex 4-pin