[SOLVED] Use motherboard's HDD LED connector as RGB switch.

[lordphoenixmh]

So the idea is to use two RGB bars as the HDD activity indicator instead of a small red LED. If I spliced a wire so that it connects to the HDD LED connector on my motherboard, would it turn the RGB light on and off when the hard drive is active? Similar to if I was flicking a switch on and off for the RGB lights.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

it would depend on the power needed to run the strips\bars and the power provided by the LED indicator.
i doubt enough power would be supplied to properly run the RGB LEDs.

you'd have to experiment unless you can get the actual stats on the indicator light from the case manufacturer.

 

[lordphoenixmh]

it would depend on the power needed to run the strips\bars and the power provided by the LED indicator.
i doubt enough power would be supplied to properly run the RGB LEDs.

you'd have to experiment unless you can get the actual stats on the indicator light from the case manufacturer.

I get what your saying, but I would be powering the RGB via a USB source. I would just splice in either the red, or black power wire to have the connector for the HDD LED connector for the motherboard. The connector itself wouldn't provide the power, but would "complete" the circuit allowing the power to flow to the RGB when the HDD LED would normally be activated.

I hope my crude MSPaint image helps get the idea across.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

then it would just depend on the type of signal from the drive monitor.
in theory it should work but you may still need to experiment some.

maybe contact a local junk yard or recycling plant and see if they'd let you yank out a bunch of front panel indicator lights from junked cases?

 

[lordphoenixmh]

I do have a failed motherboard that I can test it on, had to replace it anyway. It books, but something glitches in the BIOS after awhile and it locks the system (long story). When I have time test it I'll post my results here incase someone else would want to change the HDD LED from being a boring one to something more spicy. Thanks for your feed back, JohnBonhamsGhost.

 

[CountMike]

I do have a failed motherboard that I can test it on, had to replace it anyway. It books, but something glitches in the BIOS after awhile and it locks the system (long story). When I have time test it I'll post my results here incase someone else would want to change the HDD LED from being a boring one to something more spicy. Thanks for your feed back, JohnBonhamsGhost.

HDD indicator (as well as Power on indicator) use 5vDC and most RGB strips are 12vDC, Power is also low as it expects only one little LED.