Front Header Help Motherboard (Already Read Manual BTW)

[Tozzy2]

Hi guys, surely there will be a simple answer. I've just assembled my first new build, but haven't switched in on yet as don't have HDD yet. Everything connected up so far. Only problem, more of a concern really, is how I've connected up the front header slot for the System activity indicactor, power LED etc. Manual states to ensure the positive pin plugs into the positive pin contact and that the negative pin plugs into the negative pin contact slot. Now, there's indications on the motherboard such as -+ symbols, but nothing on the actual cables apart from 1 arrow (on one cable of the two cables) so I can only assume it means that the pin with the arrow on means it's positive. Would that be the right assumption to take? I think the manufacturer of the case should've used much clearer symbols as anyone with bad eyesight would have their work cut out. You can barely see the arrow and I have excellent vision close up. I'm 99.9% I've done it right, but I wanted to be 100% certain and there is nowhere in the manual which came with the case which tells me.
Please no silly answers such as switch it on and you'll find out lol. I know I could do that, but my motherboard manual states that the pins must be in the correct contacts otherwise it could harm the components. I can't afford to take any risks, even though I'm sure my assumption is correct. Please anyone?

Just incase my explanation wasn't clear, lets say I'm connecting the power LED indicator. It has just two wires and there is an arrow on one of the wires. It will be an indication of whether it's positive or negative, but how do I know for certain it's not negative. I've plugged it into the positive contact on the motherboard and done the same for all other wires.

 

[Cons29]

well negative is usually black (or white if there's no black, but im not sure, cant remember)

for switches it does not matter, as it only shorts the pins so no polarity.
for LEDS, as far as i know, if you happen to reverse the pins they will just not light up, but is still safe. so just reverse them.
the dangerous ones are the USB.

that's one thing i like about asus's boards, they have this err forgot the term that makes things easier because you can connect everything up close and then plug everything at once (per group)

 

[Tozzy2]

well negative is usually black (or white if there's no black, but im not sure, cant remember)

for switches it does not matter, as it only shorts the pins so no polarity.
for LEDS, as far as i know, if you happen to reverse the pins they will just not light up, but is still safe. so just reverse them.
the dangerous ones are the USB.

that's one thing i like about asus's boards, they have this err forgot the term that makes things easier because you can connect everything up close and then plug everything at once (per group)

Hi cons29, thanks for reply, no all it consists of are (talking about the power LED) 2 wires, one's white, the other is red and both have tiny black plastic plugs. Damn, I'm thinking now it might be the colours that determine which is which. Maybe the arrow is just like an insertion direction symbol or something and has nothing to do with it being positive. But thing is lets say white is negative, according to that, that logic is flawed in comparison with another cable (lets say the HDD indicator) which has black and red wires. Any way we can be sure? I know for sure I've got usb connectors in right way because there is only one way on my gigabyte board as has pin missing preventing it from going in if the wrong way.

 

[Cons29]

well, the black is negative, and so is white (if there is no black), so based on what you said, those are negative (black and white), the other is positive.
and as far as i know, LEDS wont get damaged even if you plug them wrong, they just wont light up, in such a case, just reverse them

 

[Tozzy2]

Posting this just incase anyone else encounters the same confusion: Left connected as they were, all worked as switched computer on . Cheers.