StarTech.com 15.7 in (400 mm) SATA Power Splitter Adapter Cable - M/F - 4x Serial ATA Power Cable Splitter (PYO4SATA), Black

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They serve the essential function of transferring data. They should not be confused with SATA power cables – which supply power to the SATA hard drive. Image: SATA Power Cable

Either way though, you should have plenty of "overhead" using these type of connectors to use 5-10 drives on one 18 AWG cable, possibly more but I'd need more specifics to say for sure. That cannot be done with SATA, unfortunately. The name itself suggests the difference between the two. SATA is a SERIAL bus interface, whereas PATA is a PARALLEL bus interface.

Essentially it’s the pins within the connector shorting out, not the wires themselves. There’s no good way to tell if a molded connector is good, or fire hazard. So the safest thing to do is to use cables with crimped sata connectors. This can allow for increased storage capacity and improved system performance when compared with using an internal drive alone. A SATA port multiplier is an advanced storage technology that allows multiple hard drives to be connected to a single SATA host connection. DIY or IT installers both appreciate the convenience of sharing a PSU connection when installing new internal components like a DVD burner; the cable adapter provides sufficient length for internal cable management in most configurations

Using a split SATA data cable allows for two drives to be connected to the same port with one cable, reducing clutter and simplifying setup. It also reduces the risk of overheating due to poor air circulation within a computer case by allowing for better ventilation. Additionally, it increases drive performance through improved communication between the motherboard and drives. Conclusion So theoretically, yes, you could connect 3 hard drive off a single power point. More would exceed the designed limits of the connector that would connect to the PSU.Overall, using a SATA splitter can be beneficial if you need more storage capacity without investing in additional hardware or cables. Can You Use One Sata Cable for Multiple Things?

So, in your case if you have one "cable" or set of wires with 3 SATA Connectors already. You could easily use (3x) 3-way Y-Adapters for a total of 9 drives using the example above of 0.5A/drive! Reliable Performance – The connection between the drive and motherboard remains stable even with multiple connections sharing resources. If you look at that spec, you notice that the connector is rated to 1.5 A DC and the wire they use is 18 AWG (I'm a mm² man myself but let's roll with it). If you look up recommended wire gauge to current rating (such as here) you'll note that 18 AWG is rated to 16 A for short runs. So our connector is the weak point, more specifically the point were two connectors meet. Each of our mods are custom tailored to the PSU being used, the HDD/SSD/ODD being used, and the system itself. Now let's look at HDDs (as per your comment). Say you have a Seagate Barracuda 1 TB, when you look at its specs, it draws about 6 W under operating conditions. We'll say this is 0.5 A @ 12 V (though it is probably a combination of the rails) to simplify. This isn't the worst case though, this drive draws 2 A on start up but the connectors can handle it for a short time.SATA cables are able to connect to a variety of devices and can utilise hot plugging technology only when decides and operating systems are compatible. Examples of SATA capable devices are.