Headers for HDD LED and Power LED don't match

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris Fonville
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C

Chris Fonville

I am having trouble attaching my Power LED light from my case to my
motherboard. In the motherboard manual it says that the Power LED should
only have 2 connectors, but mine has 3 (actually it's 2 with a space in the
middle). With the power switch attached where it has to be, there's not
enough room. Also, my HDD led doesn't work even when attached where it's
suppose to be. The manual also says the Reset switch should be 3 but it is
only 2. Any advice? Or will I just have to go without the Power and hard
drive lights? Thanks,
Chris
 
Yep, there is an adapter available.
http://www.directron.com/3pinled.html
Cost is $1.99, but minimum order is $2......haha. Cost more for shipping
than for the 2 parts I ordered.

Note: there are two versions available 3 to 2 and 2 to 3....specify which
you want.....
Check with your local sources.

I considered sawing through the vacant middle connecter to make it fit, but
the power light not working did not affect start-up.....just my peace of
mind.

Pepperoni
 
Chris Fonville said:
I am having trouble attaching my Power LED light from my case to my
motherboard. In the motherboard manual it says that the Power LED should
only have 2 connectors, but mine has 3 (actually it's 2 with a space in the
middle).
Click to expand...

Pull one of the ends out of the plug and move it to the middle.
Also, my HDD led doesn't work even when attached where it's
suppose to be.
Click to expand...

LEDs are polarized; plug it in the other way.

Jon
 
I am having trouble attaching my Power LED light from my case to my
motherboard. In the motherboard manual it says that the Power LED should
only have 2 connectors, but mine has 3 (actually it's 2 with a space in the
middle). With the power switch attached where it has to be, there's not
enough room. Also, my HDD led doesn't work even when attached where it's
suppose to be. The manual also says the Reset switch should be 3 but it is
only 2. Any advice? Or will I just have to go without the Power and hard
drive lights? Thanks,
Chris
Click to expand...

So you have one plug that needs be two pin positions, but is three,
and another that is two, but needs be three. The solution is simple,
use a needle to gently, barely pry up the locking tab on the
connectors and swap connectors as needed... just remember that you
did, perhaps some black paint or marker over any text on the
connectors so at least they don't have inappropriate text on them.
 
kony said:
So you have one plug that needs be two pin positions, but is three,
and another that is two, but needs be three. The solution is simple,
use a needle to gently, barely pry up the locking tab on the
connectors and swap connectors as needed... just remember that you
did, perhaps some black paint or marker over any text on the
connectors so at least they don't have inappropriate text on them.
Click to expand...

The front panel connectors are about 10 (or 12) pins in two rows, closely
spaced. there is no locking tab, the connectors merely slide down over the
tiny pins. The entire thing is about 3/8 inch long. The older boards and
cases used the three pin plug, the new board uses a two pin plug. It's a
minor thing; the case supplier (or board maker) should provide the adapter.
(if the world were perfect). An easier way to do it would be to make the
two pins have their own tiny plug, so each could be slid onto the correct
pin; the vacant socket in the three pin plug would merely be replaced by a
gap.

The offending plug is for the green power light. The machine will run, but
the light will not work. It is mostly just irritating to build the thing
and the only glitch is a tiny mismatched connector.

The HD light problem is with polarity, just flip the plug around to fit the
other pin. I believe there is a vacant pin when finished. (I don't have
the schematic available)
 
The front panel connectors are about 10 (or 12) pins in two rows, closely
spaced. there is no locking tab, the connectors merely slide down over the
tiny pins. The entire thing is about 3/8 inch long.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think I've seen a panel connector or two, am familiar with
them. The locking tab is what retains the wire in the plug itself,
not a mechanism to keep the plug plugged into the pin-header. They
all have a locking tab except those very crude or OEM-integrated,
with insulation displacement.

The older boards and
cases used the three pin plug, the new board uses a two pin plug. It's a
minor thing; the case supplier (or board maker) should provide the adapter.
(if the world were perfect).
Click to expand...
An easier way to do it would be to make the
two pins have their own tiny plug, so each could be slid onto the correct
pin; the vacant socket in the three pin plug would merely be replaced by a
gap.
Click to expand...

I can't agree with that, I had those individual pins, they just make
it harder than necessary... we need to move to the standard pin layout
Intel has used for years, and stick with it. I'm against following
Intel when it's just a move to proprietize, but in this situation we
simply needed a single standard, and to stick with it.
The offending plug is for the green power light. The machine will run, but
the light will not work. It is mostly just irritating to build the thing
and the only glitch is a tiny mismatched connector.
Click to expand...

It's not all that irritating though, is a whole lot faster and easier
to swap a wire or two, than any of the other tasks in building a PC,
like installing drives or OS, selecting fans or (take your pick), it
only takes about 30 seconds to do... would take longer to find a
different case, note that detail when choosing one.
The HD light problem is with polarity, just flip the plug around to fit the
other pin. I believe there is a vacant pin when finished. (I don't have
the schematic available)
Click to expand...

What I'd like to see is a case arrangement where there's at least 4
IDE lights, each attaching directly to the drive itself, and
dual-color for read/write.
 
kony said:
What I'd like to see is a case arrangement where there's at least 4
IDE lights, each attaching directly to the drive itself, and
dual-color for read/write.
Click to expand...

Same here, that would be cool.
 
I think I had tried every combination of forward/backward that you could,
but just didn't think about it for that one obviously. Flipped the HDD
light around and it worked. I also had moved the wrong connector over on
the Power LED, so it was reserved. I had to move both of them over again
and this time it worked. Everything's great now, thanks for your help, it
just cleared it up. Thanks again,
Chris
 
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