Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Wire colors for system panel connectors

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    363
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Wire colors for system panel connectors

    I have the Lian-Li case PC-A10 and Asus P5B Deluxe WiFi-AP mobo. When I look at the mobo manual, I can see (in spite of the black&white pictures) that the white wires going into the following connectors are just opposite the white wires in the PC-A10 case. That is, if the HDD LED minus wire is white in the mobo manual, it is orange in the PC-A10 case (and the white wire is plus).

    The following connectors are connected to the system panel connector:

    - HDD LED: + and –

    - Power LED: + and –

    - POWER SW: Power and Ground

    - Reset SW: Reset and Ground

    - Speaker: Speaker and +5 V

    I have not started up my new computer yet, and I do not want to do it until I know there is not a problem.

    My question is if anyone have had any problems with the above? Is there a wire standard, for instance, that white wire is always the minus wire? Or does it not matter for these connectors how they are attached (by the way, I have attached the individual connectors with the text on them outward, that is, visible)?

    Hope that someone has some knowledge of this kind-a obscure issue. Thanks!

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Leicester-far-from-Sea
    Posts
    722
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    28 times in 21 posts
    For me on every build the case connectors are the worst part!
    I tried researching on the web once and saw so much contradictory "webexpert" advice, that I was better off just guessing.
    For switches, like power and reset, it shouldn't matter (someone correct me if I'm wrong) - you are just closing a circuit.
    I always seem to wire up the HDD light wrong i.e. no illumination and usually fix it some weeks after build.

    I just built a barebones machine, so mostly pre-connected, and it just didn't seem right not to have to go through a stressful hour, fiddling with a magnifying glass, a torch and needle nosed pliers (but enough of my love life).

  3. #3
    cat /dev/null streetster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    London
    Posts
    4,138
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked
    100 times in 82 posts
    • streetster's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P7P55D-E
      • CPU:
      • Intel i5 750 2.67 @ 4.0Ghz
      • Memory:
      • 4GB Corsair XMS DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 2x1TB Drives [RAID0]
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2xSapphire HD 4870 512MB CrossFireX
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX520W
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Black Widow
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • DELL U2311
      • Internet:
      • Virgin 50Mb
    basically, with the Power and Reset switches it doesnt matter which way around they go, for the LED ones you wont do any damage by connecting them the wrong way around - as snedger says, they just wont light up

    The speaker, usually red and black? just connect red to +ve

  4. #4
    Amateur photographer Hans Voralberg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Birmingham
    Posts
    1,889
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    11 times in 11 posts
    There is no way you could do damage wiring the thing wrongly, so just experiment really if you have no idea what to do, after a few build it's just second nature
    Primary kit:
    Fuji S5 Pro - Nikkor AF 50/1.8 - Nikkor AF 85/1.8
    Epson RD-1

    Film Kit:
    Leica M3 - Summicron 50/2 DR - Zeiss ZM 25/2.8 - M-Rokkor 40/2

    Olympus OM2n - Zuiko 50/2 Macro - Zuiko 50/1.4 - Zuiko 35/2.8

  5. #5
    Flat cap, Whippets, Cave. Clunk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    11,056
    Thanks
    360
    Thanked
    725 times in 459 posts
    And have a look in the box, there is a little bag of "easy connectors"...like a block of jumpers with all the names written on them....just plug your wires onto the block, and then the block onto the motherboard and tadaaa.
    Quote Originally Posted by Blitzen View Post
    stupid betond belief.
    You owe it to yourself to click here really.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Inverness (UK)
    Posts
    293
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • Captain Fizz's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Maximus Hero VIII
      • CPU:
      • i7 6700K
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Corsair
      • Storage:
      • SM951 + Many more
      • Graphics card(s):
      • GTX 980Ti
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 750W
      • Case:
      • Thermaltake Supressor F51
      • Operating System:
      • Win10
      • Monitor(s):
      • XB270HU Predator
    For the Front Panel...

    Doesn't matter:
    -Power
    -Reset

    Doesn't cause any harm... Just turn them round if the LED's don't light up:
    -HDD
    -Power LED

    The rest of the connectors (USB etc) should just plug in.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    363
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Nerve-soothing answers, guys. This is a beautiful morning, in all respects. Sun, rather warm in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Macy's Thanksgiving balloons are up (low, because of winds near the no-balloon strength).

    I will switch the direction of all the connectors, because I think they are simply all wrong (Lian-Li, are you color-blind?).

    Have a very good day! Hans L

  8. #8
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish
    Heh yeah this is the most annoying part of any build. There's just no consistency. My most recent build even came with a 3 pin power LED connector - I've never seen a motherboard with more than a 2 pin connector so if course that never went on. GF was rather pleased as it meant the colour scheme didn't get ruined

  9. #9
    Big Member BlindMelon7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1,190
    Thanks
    12
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    Quote Originally Posted by snedger View Post
    (but enough of my love life).
    With love and many thanks,

    Melons

  10. #10
    The King of Vague Steve B's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Glasgow
    Posts
    5,051
    Thanks
    116
    Thanked
    67 times in 63 posts
    it doesn't really matter what colour the wires are, if you look at the underside (i.e. non-written on side) of the connector, there should be an arrow to represent the positive side

  11. #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    363
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by snedger View Post
    For me on every build the case connectors are the worst part!
    ... (but enough of my love life).
    Funny!!!

  12. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    363
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Steve B View Post
    it doesn't really matter what colour the wires are, if you look at the underside (i.e. non-written on side) of the connector, there should be an arrow to represent the positive side
    Great tip about the arrows. Speaker -- red wire was plus, and the connector had to be turned around, so the text on the connector is now hidden (probably not what Lian Li had in mind). For the other connectors, white wire is always positive. Only the system power LED connector had to be turned around, so the text on that connector is now also hidden.

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    systems panel wiring

    Help my front panel wiring is too short to reach the connectors on my Mobo, can i buy an extension?

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Wire colors for system panel connectors

    Hello Guys! Merry Christmas! My name is Bob and I just built an i7 rig with a Lian Li pc-7fnw. It was mentioned in this thread that someone ran into a situation of a three pin pwrled. I also have that on my lian li. Before I blow out my expensive mb trying to get one tiny led working was wondering what would be the proper way to convert the plug for use with my two pin board. If the middle pin is empty I am considering taking a plug from an old case and changing it on my own. One more thing is: Would it hurt anything to try a different light on the pwrled output to confirm the led is in working order. Sorry if I sound newbie but I am paranoid after putting up 2 grand for components. Thanks in advance, Bostonbaab

  15. #15
    Pre-Cambrian nibbler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,668
    Thanks
    913
    Thanked
    266 times in 216 posts
    • nibbler's system
      • CPU:
      • i5-2410m
      • Memory:
      • 6GB ddr3 1333mhz
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Plextor M5S SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 1GB 6650M
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64 bit

    Re: Wire colors for system panel connectors

    My antec 300 did the same, it slots into another connector perfectly, look for another on your mobo?

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •