I noticed many of our server cables are thicker than the standard ones for a desktop PC. Would any power cable work, regardless of gauge? I want to use shorter server power cables for cable management purposes, since some of our server cables are over 10-15 ft. in length and only need 3 ft. or so.
It depends on the gauge of the wire. It will be printed on the cable such as 18 AWG 3C Which means each wire is 18 gauge in size and there are 3 wires or conductors (3C). The higher the number on the gauge the smaller the wire. For instance a 12 gauge is much bigger wire than an 16 or 18 gauge. That means the lower the number the more current it can handle. The better companies such as HP will also use cable that is shielded more to prevent interference to outside devices. It's best to go with the same gauge or larger (lower number). The longer the cable the bigger (lower number) the wire is needed. For instance a power saw would use a 12 gauge wire and a table lamp would use a 16 gauge wire. If the table saw is at a construction site and it is plugged in at the other end of the house it would need a 10 gauge extension cord because of the distance.
You could shorten the cables, but you shouldn't use a smaller gauge. The gauge of the power wire is sized appropriate to the power supply of the server. If you use a wire that is to small a gauge you could create a fire hazard.
