Power/HDD/Reset leds - how to know which side is the + ?

Black Panther · Jul 13, 2012, 11:01 AM

On the motherboard they're clearly marked, but the tiny cables don't have the orientation written on them.
The case is a Switch 810.

I just assumed that where there's the writing should be facing upwards.

I know it won't make much difference, power will still work and if done wrong the leds just don't light up... but I'd like to get them right.

brandonwh64 · Jul 13, 2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Panther

On the motherboard they're clearly marked, but the tiny cables don't have the orientation written on them.
The case is a Switch 810.

I just assumed that where there's the writing should be facing upwards.

I know it won't make much difference, power will still work and if done wrong the leds just don't light up... but I'd like to get them right.

They are usually a solid color and then a white cable. The color is the + and the white is -

Example, This LED has a red and white. The RED is + and the - is white

Black Panther · Jul 13, 2012, 11:12 AM

Thanks! I really appreciate how solutions are given immediately on TPU!
This is only my 3rd build. The previous 2 I got them using trial/error.

EDIT: wait a sec... what if all cables are black?
That's how it is in my case.. I'll confirm later when I get back home.

scaminatrix · Jul 13, 2012, 11:17 AM

This is how I've always worked it out:
If any colour is the same on all pairs of wires, then the common colour is common (return, -)

Example:
Power wire - Red and grey
Reset wire - Blue and grey
LED wire - Yellow and grey

The grey has always been -/return/common in my case, and in every case I've found.

There's also trial and error - before i was familiar with this, I just trial and error'ed until I got it right. I've never blown a power LED or a motherboard while trying anything so that's an option too.
I see your last post, you're already knowledgable in the trial and error area

Black Panther · Jul 13, 2012, 12:01 PM

To the naked eye all the wires appear black.

But if you look really really close there are two of them which are a very dark brown.
I marked them below with a red dot.
They belong to the HDD led and to the Reset led.

INSTG8R · Jul 13, 2012, 12:32 PM

Well that is different. I would guess the one with the writing would be the positive.

brandonwh64 · Jul 13, 2012, 03:51 PM

Does it have a white stripe down one? If so then that is your + side.

INSTG8R · Jul 13, 2012, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonwh64

Does it have a white stripe down one? If so then that is your + side.

I didn't see that but it did have writing on one wire of the two so I would say that is the "white stripe"
Only other thing I can think of is sometimes one wire will have a "ridge" on it.

Crap Daddy · Jul 13, 2012, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonwh64

Does it have a white stripe down one? If so then that is your side.

Black Panther · Jul 13, 2012, 05:01 PM

I can't see any white stripes, just 2 wires which are slightly brownish, and some others which have wording on them. I'll pm the NZXT rep to have a look at this thread.

D007 · Jul 13, 2012, 05:08 PM

I had an issue on one case where I had to cut the case connection (the actual plastic part where the wires are inside) in half, because it had 4 pins in it, but neede to be 2 and 2 for 2 different plugs..
Oh fun..
Worst case it never hurt me in trial and error to see which was was the right way..lol
Have had quite a few times with issues, using case connection like what you're dealing with..
You'd think people would know how to diagram case connections by now. XD
Or have a universal method at least..
Cell phones finally caught on.. I think it's time..

Crap Daddy · Jul 13, 2012, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Panther

I can't see any white stripes, just 2 wires which are slightly brownish, and some others which have wording on them. I'll pm the NZXT rep to have a look at this thread.

That picture is taken from TPU review of your case and I see white stripes but of course, if there's no manual for the case then ask the reps.

neoreif · Jul 13, 2012, 05:28 PM

This:

The one with the triangle marker is the + terminal

Hope it helps!

Doc41 · Jul 22, 2012, 04:56 PM

I usually don't bother checking and just connect them, if they don't light up i just reverse them and since they receive just enough volts they wont burn if connected improperly (well at least that's in my case)
Or i think if you'r watching the side with writing the wire on the right is the + (just my theory)

de.das.dude · Jul 22, 2012, 05:19 PM

BP no need to worry. you cant fry the LEDs if u do it upside down. but generally the colored wire is the positive and it stays on the left of the connector!

Norton · Jul 22, 2012, 05:20 PM

It really doesn't matter for power and reset as they are momentary switches so the button just makes/breaks contact in the circuit and that's it.

LED's do need to be wired correctly or they won't work- your's seem to be clearly marked so it should be pretty basic to hook up.

If you can see into the LED (big magnifying glass) the positive end is on the Anode (shape of anode/cathode is pretty standard)

Jul 13, 2012, 11:01 AM	#1
Black Panther Senior Moderator™ Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7,044 (3.23/day) Thanks: 2,165 Thanked 1,836 Times in 1,102 Posts System Specs	Power/HDD/Reset leds - how to know which side is the + ? On the motherboard they're clearly marked, but the tiny cables don't have the orientation written on them. The case is a Switch 810. I just assumed that where there's the writing should be facing upwards. I know it won't make much difference, power will still work and if done wrong the leds just don't light up... but I'd like to get them right. __________________ *My Great White Bengal build* Join the techPowerUp! Official Group on Facebook.

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Jul 13, 2012, 11:12 AM	#3
Black Panther Senior Moderator™ Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7,044 (3.23/day) Thanks: 2,165 Thanked 1,836 Times in 1,102 Posts System Specs	Thanks! I really appreciate how solutions are given immediately on TPU! This is only my 3rd build. The previous 2 I got them using trial/error. EDIT: wait a sec... what if all cables are black? That's how it is in my case.. I'll confirm later when I get back home. __________________ *My Great White Bengal build* Join the techPowerUp! Official Group on Facebook.

System Name:	BlackPanther -- Great White Bengal
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Jul 13, 2012, 11:17 AM	#4
scaminatrix Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: By the Channel Tunnel, Kent, England Posts: 2,432 (2.07/day) Thanks: 1,834 Thanked 802 Times in 672 Posts System Specs	This is how I've always worked it out: If any colour is the same on all pairs of wires, then the common colour is common (return, -) Example: Power wire - Red and grey Reset wire - Blue and grey LED wire - Yellow and grey The grey has always been -/return/common in my case, and in every case I've found. There's also trial and error - before i was familiar with this, I just trial and error'ed until I got it right. I've never blown a power LED or a motherboard while trying anything so that's an option too. I see your last post, you're already knowledgable in the trial and error area __________________ MKMods Tribute Rig - the Power of the Community HeatWare Did I make the 2,000,000th post? If an 8 Core can hit 6Ghz with an H100 i'll post pictures of my hot fiance - Pestilence Every day I come to this site, I am reminded why I come to this site every day!!! - Iggster

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Jul 13, 2012, 12:01 PM	#5
Black Panther Senior Moderator™ Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7,044 (3.23/day) Thanks: 2,165 Thanked 1,836 Times in 1,102 Posts System Specs	To the naked eye all the wires appear black. But if you look really really close there are two of them which are a very dark brown. I marked them below with a red dot. They belong to the HDD led and to the Reset led. __________________ *My Great White Bengal build* Join the techPowerUp! Official Group on Facebook.

Jul 13, 2012, 12:32 PM	#6
INSTG8R Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lost in Norway Posts: 2,581 (0.83/day) Thanks: 934 Thanked 378 Times in 320 Posts System Specs	Well that is different. I would guess the one with the writing would be the positive. __________________ Sys. Specs. i7 2600K@4.6\|ASUS P67 Sabertooth\|2x4096 Corsair Vengence 1600 \|Sapphire HD7970 OC\|WD Caviar Black 6.0Gbps 1TB x2@RAID 0\|SB X-Fi Fatality Pro\|TT Toughpower 1.2kW\|TT Kandalf L.C.S.\|Acer V243H 24" 1920x1080\|Logitech G25\|Logitech G500\|Logitech G19\|Saitek X-52 Pro\|TrackIR4 w/Trackclip Pro

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Jul 13, 2012, 03:51 PM	#7
brandonwh64 Addicted to Bacon and StarCrunches!!! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chatsworth, GA Posts: 13,560 (10.04/day) Thanks: 2,138 Thanked 5,338 Times in 3,695 Posts System Specs	Does it have a white stripe down one? If so then that is your + side. __________________ Cruncher's: All GPU's GPU's: 7970 3GB Unlocked = 8 Threads 5770 1GB OCed = 2 Threads

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Jul 13, 2012, 05:01 PM	#10
Black Panther Senior Moderator™ Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7,044 (3.23/day) Thanks: 2,165 Thanked 1,836 Times in 1,102 Posts System Specs	I can't see any white stripes, just 2 wires which are slightly brownish, and some others which have wording on them. I'll pm the NZXT rep to have a look at this thread. __________________ *My Great White Bengal build* Join the techPowerUp! Official Group on Facebook.

Jul 13, 2012, 05:08 PM	#11
D007 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pompano beach, Florida Posts: 2,461 (1.09/day) Thanks: 452 Thanked 331 Times in 264 Posts System Specs	I had an issue on one case where I had to cut the case connection (the actual plastic part where the wires are inside) in half, because it had 4 pins in it, but neede to be 2 and 2 for 2 different plugs.. Oh fun.. Worst case it never hurt me in trial and error to see which was was the right way..lol Have had quite a few times with issues, using case connection like what you're dealing with.. You'd think people would know how to diagram case connections by now. XD Or have a universal method at least.. Cell phones finally caught on.. I think it's time.. __________________ There is nothing more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. "Martin Luther King"

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Jul 13, 2012, 05:28 PM	#13
neoreif Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Las Islas Filipinas Posts: 297 (0.24/day) Thanks: 389 Thanked 192 Times in 114 Posts System Specs	This: The one with the triangle marker is the + terminal Hope it helps! __________________ Help change lives of people! Crunch for TPU's WCGTEAM today! "CONTRARIA SUNT COMPLEMENTA"

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Jul 22, 2012, 04:56 PM	#14
Doc41 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bahrain Posts: 174 (0.18/day) Thanks: 156 Thanked 100 Times in 48 Posts System Specs	I usually don't bother checking and just connect them, if they don't light up i just reverse them and since they receive just enough volts they wont burn if connected improperly (well at least that's in my case) Or i think if you'r watching the side with writing the wire on the right is the + (just my theory)

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Jul 22, 2012, 05:19 PM	#15
de.das.dude Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Wild Wild East Posts: 4,493 (4.20/day) Thanks: 2,293 Thanked 1,307 Times in 895 Posts System Specs	BP no need to worry. you cant fry the LEDs if u do it upside down. but generally the colored wire is the positive and it stays on the left of the connector! __________________ Cheers!

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Jul 22, 2012, 05:20 PM	#16
Norton WCG Team Assistant Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Northeast, USA Posts: 5,126 (9.95/day) Thanks: 5,362 Thanked 10,003 Times in 3,161 Posts System Specs	It really doesn't matter for power and reset as they are momentary switches so the button just makes/breaks contact in the circuit and that's it. LED's do need to be wired correctly or they won't work- your's seem to be clearly marked so it should be pretty basic to hook up. If you can see into the LED (big magnifying glass) the positive end is on the Anode (shape of anode/cathode is pretty standard) __________________ *Why sit on the Bench* when you can get in the game and Crunch!!!- World Community Grid (FTW) CPU crunchers- FX-8350(4.4)/FX-8150(4.0)/FX-6200(4.0)/ PII 1045T/PII 1045T/i7-920/Xeon (6c/12t)....(44 cores/54 threads) GPU crunchers- no WCG GPU work available Folding@Home- 2x GTX 580's WCG-TPU Mothers Day Challenge (5/10 thru 5/19- crunch for our Team, for Mom, for games and prizes )**

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