Question Does anybody make a standard 10-pin block adapter for the case front panel cables

[Oldcompsci]

I've been struggling with attaching the case front panel cables to the motherboard for years, with my big fingers. The pin-outs for these cables have been standard on motherboards for years. Is there an adapter or will industry make a solid 10-pin block adapter that builders can easily use to plug the front panel wires into the motherboard with?

 

[USAFRet]

needlenose pliers are a good substitute for "big fingers ".

 

[Oldcompsci]

needlenose pliers are a good substitute for "big fingers ".

Agree as long as there is room to "swing" the pliers within where the MB is located ... that said, I'm about ready to build my own 2x5 DuPont connectors if there isn't a ready made solution

 

[USAFRet]

There is no universal case->motherboard connector for the front panel connections.

 

[alceryes]

There is no universal case->motherboard connector for the front panel connections.

This.
Different MB manufacturers have different 'pinouts' for this header. (power switch, reset switch, power LED, HD activity LED, speaker, etc.)

 

[drea.drechsler]

Agree as long as there is room to "swing" the pliers within where the MB is located ...

In which case one of the standard tools found in any properly equipped electronics tech's tool kit would do the job... long nose forceps:

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-locking-clamp-94952.html
or
https://www.harborfreight.com/10-1-2-half-inch-jumbo-curved-clamp-65711.html

That and a forehead lamp to get light focused on the job to get it done with minimum frustration while keeping both hands free:

https://www.harborfreight.com/swivel-lens-led-headlamp-63598.html?_br_psugg_q=headlamp

You can get better of both if you do this for a living and need durability. Just wanted to show you can get cheap for occasional, or even one-time, use too.

 

[doinstuff]

You can easily make one with a DuPont header pin kit and crimper. As for not being able to get your fingers in the case, I find surgical forecepts in varying sizes and curved / straight work very well.

DoinStuff

 

[rozel]

A bit late to the party but I too have struggled over many years with the connections from the Front Panel on the case to the Header on the Mobo. I have always had Asus mobo's and they always have these tiny connections - currently I have just installed an Asus Prime Z390_A. I too haven't any room for small long-nosed pliers and the "helper block" that came with the board doesn't fit the header! Can you believe that? My case is a Zalman Z-Machine GT-1000 and wouldn't swap it for the world as when the doors are closed the PC runs almost silently.

However may I ask for some help please? Ever since I have had the case (bought in 2008) I have never been able to get the Power Switch LED to work. The Power button, the HDD LED and the Reset button all work perfectly. The header on my board doesn't appear to have changed much over the years, if at all but I am very confused. There are 2 sets of connections for the Power LED (PLED as it's labelled) - 1 x 2 pin header and 1 x 3-1 pin header. So my first question is: why are there 2 sets? Which one do you use or do you use them both? Do they both control the Power LED on the front Panel? Then it comes to the wire colours. I have tried swapping and changing a lot over the years and have decided that the green wire is +ve and the white wire is -ve - is that correct?

If some kind person can shed some light on all this, I'd be very grateful. If needed I can upload screenshots of my board's header and front panel's wires, if that will help.

Thanks

 

[Mtop]

Rozel,
Page 21 item 11, Shows on top Pled and Pswitch at top of header. There is also a HDD light as well. PLED is the power led the other header is labeled PWRSW. So are you saying your plugs are labeled the same or the header? From what I see use your 1x3-1 header for the pwrsw connection make sure the blank spot lines up with the NC spot. Also I always consider the green wire as ground or - DC.
hope this helps.
https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1151/PRIME_Z390-A/E15017_PRIME_Z390-A_UM_V2_WEB.pdf

 

[rozel]

Case Wiring: -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3e5wmhs8stlokqo/Case Wiring Details.JPG?dl=0

Motherboard Wiring: -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/r8tdn7w4zzrfpkg/MB Header Details.JPG?dl=0

Thanks for your help. I am attaching links to the wiring info. As said earlier The Power button (PWRSW), the HDD LED and the Reset button all work perfectly it is just the Power LED that I am having difficulty with. As you can see there are 2 PLED connections (why?); 1 x 2 pin and 1 x 3-1 pin. Confused as to which I should use or both. Also when there is both a white and a green wire, which is positive? You see when I have connected black and white wires in the past, the black is always -ve, therefore the white is +ve. So with a white and green wire what is it? I have read conflicting opinions on which it is.

Hope this helps some more