Hello, so I'm looking to use a 5 volt 5 amp and potentially higher amp wall dc adapter as a power supply to my pca9685 as shown below in the image. I realized the current jumper wires I currently have that connect the power supply to the pca9685 v++/gnd are only 24 awg so I would like to upgrade them to wires that can handle higher currents. I found 20 awg jumper wires but I heard that even though 20 awg wires can handle 5 amp or more, the end point of the connectors (male connection) can only handle 1-3 amp. I would appreciate any quality wire recommendations since I don't want to start a fire.
You don't need "5 A jumper wires" - you need an appropriate power connection.
From your photo, the correct place to inject the servo supply is the green screw terminal. Don't try to feed 5 A through Dupont jumper wires or standard 0.1" header pins.
Using 20 AWG jumper wires doesn't solve the real limitation. The wire may be capable of 5 A, but the Dupont crimp contacts and header pins generally are not designed to carry that current continuously.
Instead, connect your 5 V supply directly to the screw terminal using proper stranded wire (18-20 AWG is fine for a short run). The servo current will then be distributed through the board's V+ rail.
Also remember that a 5 V / 5 A power supply does not force 5 A through the board. The actual current depends on the servos. If you later use multiple servos with a combined current approaching 5 A (or higher), verify that the PCB traces and screw terminal on your particular PCA9685 breakout are rated for that current.
Edit:
Since you're using the screw terminal, I'd also recommend crimping bootlace ferrules onto the wire ends. They're inexpensive and provide a much more reliable connection than bare stranded wire.
I've had good luck buying wire from Mouser and eBay. Whatever source you choose, make sure you're getting stranded copper wire, not CCA (Copper-Clad Aluminum). CCA has significantly higher resistance and isn't a good substitute for copper in most applications.
I almost always use stranded copper wire rather than solid-core wire because it's much easier to work with, especially when routing wires through an enclosure or making repeated connections.
Also, don't overlook the terminations. Even the correct wire size won't perform well if the connections are poor. Good crimps or properly soldered terminations are just as important as selecting the right wire.
Looking at your picture in post#1.
Why do you ask for jumper wires.
The power path has screw terminals at each end.
Don't you have an old mains power lead in your junk box.
Strip the wires out of it and connect two short pieces to the screw terminals.
That type of cable is generally used where flexibility and heat resistance is required.
The fine wire makeup gives it a lot of flexibility, which makes it ideal for test leads.
If I'm not mistaken, it's similar to leads used on multlimeters etc. My old Fluke 83 is supplied with leads that are rated to for the high current range fused at 10-A.
Your choice will probably do the job, but ultimately you must do the necessary calculations to ensure that it fits your application.
The highest current items found at home are things like electric kettles that can pull up to 13-A. If anything gets warm, it's usually not the cable, but the connections that get warm. The UK fused 3-pin plug soon warms up at 13-A.
Honestly I checked my servo datasheet, I'm only providing 5 volt, I'm only using 3 servos under low load conditions, and when I use them the wires for pca v++ and gnd don't seem to get hot. Do I even need higher awg wires or am I overreacting?
The only reason I suggested 18 gauge because it's commonly used as the power cord on household appliances/lamps and I thought maybe you could cut the cord off of one.
But do I even need them? These are my current jumper wires I'm using that says its 24 awg. I'm using 3 motors at 5 volt so that's 3.3 Amp at stall and I'm using my servos under low load, the wires don't seem to get hot either. I don't know if I even need them and maybe I just overreacted
Also I bought the ones I linked above, but how do I strip them by hand? because if I get it I won't be able to return it if I decide I don't need them,
