Finding Front Panel Harnesses

  • Thread starter Thread starter Searcher7
  • Start date Start date
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to buy F-Panel harnesses for
computer cases? I need the LEDs and wiring harness that run between
the front panel of a large ATX case to the motherboard.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/FrontPanelOutside.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/FrontPanelInside.jpg

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
Click to expand...

I've scrapped many a computer over the years and I've found there were
significant harness differences between cases. You might need to rifle
through some old cases to get the various LEDs, switches, etc. and then
make up your own harness from individually suitable components. I have a
box full of harness components that I use in just these circumstances or
when a lead breaks off a component and the tag end is too short to
solder a new lead on. It's the bower bird in me, I guess.
 
Don't think the wires will be much of a problem--it's the mechanical fit
of the component on the end of the wire that will have to match up with
your hardware.

The microswitches, in my experience, have been fairly consistent but the
LED's come in different shapes.  Your case does appear to expect
circular/domed LED's, so what you've picked will probably fit the
bill--or at least you can make up the difference with a shot of hot glue.

On the motherboard side, those plugs have essentially become the
standard.  As long as your motherboard has been manufactured in the last
5 or 7 years, it should match up neatly enough.
Click to expand...

Well, that's the problem. My ITX case and motherboard is older than
that. The motherboard end of f-panel cable has a 9-pin connector. This
picture is what I think the pin0outs are going by looking at and
following each lead, but I can't be sure until I try trial and error
to see what works. http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/ITXCaseF-PanelConnector.jpg

And thanks to the present keyed connector I can only test motherboard
pin positions 1 through 8 if I re-pin the existing connector.
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/...Computer/?action=view&current=MoboF-Panel.jpg

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
Searcher7 said:
Well, that's the problem. My ITX case and motherboard is older than
that. The motherboard end of f-panel cable has a 9-pin connector. This
picture is what I think the pin0outs are going by looking at and
following each lead, but I can't be sure until I try trial and error
to see what works. http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/ITXCaseF-PanelConnector.jpg

And thanks to the present keyed connector I can only test motherboard
pin positions 1 through 8 if I re-pin the existing connector.
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/...Computer/?action=view&current=MoboF-Panel.jpg

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
Click to expand...

The cables would typically be arranged as twisted pairs. So on the
2x5 harness on the computer case, there would be a pair for
HDD_LED, PWR_LED, PWR_SWITCH, RST_SWITCH. Tracing the two switches
and two LEDs, back to the 2x5, will tell you for sure what the pinout is.

If the 2x5 has a bend-out tab on each hole in the shell, you'll be
able to back the pins out of the 2x5. Then, purchase four 1x2
shells, and insert the wires and pins into that.

http://www.frontx.com/cpx075_8.html (need four of those)

Now, after the cable harness is modified, you'll be able to
bring those four 1x2 connectors, and place then on the 2x8
motherboard connector.

PWR_SWITCH 1x2 - to pins 3,5
HDD_LED 1x2 - to pins 2,4
PWR_SWITCH 1x2 - to pins 6,8
RST_SWITCH 1x2 - to pins 10,12

Again, the question would be, what alternate sources are there
for 1x2 polyester shells on the Internet.

You could buy an Ebay assembly, and strip the 1x2 pieces off that.
Note that in this picture, the Power LED is a 1x3 connector, but
you can set it up as a 1x2 or a 1x3 when installing the pins.
The header on the ITX motherboard, even takes that into account,
and can handle a connection via pins 1,5 instead of 3,5. Only
one of the two "PWR_LED+" signals need to be connected, so a 1x2
or a 1x3 can be used as alternatives.

http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/sceusa/CASE_FRONT_wires.jpg

HTH,
Paul
 
If three 1x2 connectors, and one 1x3 connector is all you need to solve
this problem, email me your mailing address and I'll send them to you.

The 1x3 connector would be handy for the Power LED connection, as it
appears to support a tri-state power indicator: (1) no power at all, (2)
powered but shutdown, and (3) powered and running.

You may have to dink with it a little if your case's power indicator is
strictly binary.  (Some cases have a green and amber LED embedded in a
power button.)

- - - - - -

My email is:

grinder twenty-one twelve

at a Google's popular mail service
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I've been trying to avoid Ebay. All of the available F-Panel cables
seem to be in China.

Here's a link to the outside and inside of the F-Panel:
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/ITXCaseF-Panel.jpg

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
Thanks.

I've been trying to avoid Ebay. All of the available F-Panel cables
seem to be in China.

Here's a link to the outside and inside of the F-Panel:http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/ITXC...

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
Click to expand...

Ok. Thanks for the f-Panel cables you sent me.

The pic at the below link shows what I think I have in the small
connector and the letters illustrate how I intend to connect the leads
to the larger one which represents the motherboard pin-outs.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/ITXCaseF-PanelConnectorPin-outs.jpg

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
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