Front Panel Connector > Power surge?

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Terrapin2190

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I've been researching this all day and have learned quite a bit. I'm planning on swapping front panel connectors that from 2 different cases that are different sizes.

All I really need to know is which pins are positive and which are negative... aaand if the diagrams are acurrate in depicting that the pin connections are horizontally paired. As I also figured out that I can swap the LED pins back and forth without damaging anything.
 
Solution
CountMike
Please, don't play with PSUs suspected to be bad, it should be changed or at least properly checked because it can cause widespread damage to all the components.
All front panel connections have very low voltage and even lower power so they can't directly cause any direct damage to PSU.
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CountMike

CountMike

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Cases mostly have standard connectors and so do MBs. Just look at MB manual to find out what goes where.
Some general things: switches (push buttons) have no polarity and doesn't matter which way they are turned. LEDs do have polarity and there's usually one wire that is same color on all LEDs, that one is usually negative. It doesn't really matter if you turn polarity wrong way because it just won't light up and if it doesn't just turn it around.
 
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Terrapin2190

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Thank you Mike so much for your input! I had been working on swapping mobos for a good 10-12 hours yesterday. Most of that time looking for info on both concerning wire placement of the front panel connectors and creating diagrams making sure I got everything in the right spots.

I found the answer you provided in great detail in another thread here. Though I still greatly appreciate the info. It might be a bit much to ask, but if you have time would you mind looking over my other thread here?

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3408749/swapping-front-panel-connectors-7x2-5x2.html

Mostly, what I'd like to know now is "can improperly rewiring a front panel connector cause the pc in question to emit a short buzzing sound followed by a loud pop and a shot of light coming from inside the case?" Instantly upon plugging it in.

From what I've gathered, I think my PSU shot craps. There are brownish marks close to the screws anchoring the mobo to the case, which makes me think the surge produced from the PSU was grounded into the case?

I did notice an electrical smell before plugging it in, which may mean the PSU was ready to go in the first place OR I did something wrong after removing it from the mobo, plugging it back in... Perhaps I should have unplugged the power cord before plugging it into the back of the unit after it being disconnected for so long?

So many deductions... Process of elimination.

Regardless, thanks for your input. First reply I've had so far.
 
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CountMike

CountMike

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Oct 31, 2015
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Please, don't play with PSUs suspected to be bad, it should be changed or at least properly checked because it can cause widespread damage to all the components.
All front panel connections have very low voltage and even lower power so they can't directly cause any direct damage to PSU.
 
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Terrapin2190

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I may try the paperclip trick I've been hearing about if I feel safe enough to do so. I was thinking of plugging it back in, but I'll have a professional take a look before doing that again.

The PSU I swapped into the case was the one that came with the motherboard. (Swapped PSU and mobo into my current case because someone took the hdd caddy making the current 'junker' build unusable)

I'm just trying to figure out where I went wrong. What could have caused an overload or short in the PSU. If it was my fault by not doing something before hooking it back into the mobo, after hooking it to the mobo, before plugging the unit in to a power source after being turned off for so long (which may have drained power from the mobo), or if it was just a bad PSU to begin with.

I may try a different PSU of equal or greater wattage if I can, but I don't want to end up frying it too if there's something wrong with the mobo that might create a backflow... In the case that I'm able to use one from a friend and end up blowing their equipment.

Are there any precautions, or prerequisites rather, when disconnecting and reconnecting a PSU from a motherboard and then reconnecting to an electrical outlet?
 
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CountMike

CountMike

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No special precautions unless you are opening PSU itself. What I usually do is to unplug from the wall, press start button for few seconds and only than start unplugging from MB and other parts. If I have to open PSU for servicing, I also short the prongs on input cord so it drains any electricity from input side too. There are some capacitors inside that can pack quite a wallop for long time.
That Paperclip test doesn't prove much more than if fan's working or not, it's not very valuable test. Another thing, never but never do anything inside computer while it's still plugged into power.
 
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Terrapin2190

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I didn't know that, about shorting the prongs. Good to know that about the paperclip trick as well. Some great info here!

Thanks again for your input! I've just updated my other thread. The mobo and PSU are inverted on my old desktop. I'm thinking that running the new PSU upside down may have been what caused it to go "poof!"

Hopefully it didn't damage the RAM, hard drive, or 'new' motherboard (in order of importance lol) and my old setup will still be useable.
 
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