Is there a 12 volt 1 amp dc header on a motherboard?

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LegitBoss002

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May 15, 2017
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I recently was given 2 white LED strips and on the strip it says they need 12 volts and .36 amps. I was wondering if there is a header on the motherboard I can connect the wires to (just one negative and one positive.) The motherboard is a few years old and doesn't have an rgb header. If I can not use the motherboard to power the LEDs what would you recommend? As I said the LEDs do not have any proper cord to be plugged in, it is just a positive and negative wire.

My motherboard: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA85V4S45691&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
 
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You're better off tapping into one of the 4 pin molex connectors from the PSU, they have 12V on them. You should be able to get a connector somewhere or cut the 3 pin plug off a molex to 3 pin fan adapter and join the wires.
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Dugimodo

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You're better off tapping into one of the 4 pin molex connectors from the PSU, they have 12V on them. You should be able to get a connector somewhere or cut the 3 pin plug off a molex to 3 pin fan adapter and join the wires.
 
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LegitBoss002

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What are the chances I mess up my power supply? Also would that lead to the LEDs being on all the time or only when I power my PC on? I would prefer having the ability to turn them on even when the PC is off so I can have some nice lights while I am dusting and working in the case, but if that isn't possible it would be fine.
 
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Dugimodo

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As long as you connect red to red and black to black and don't short anything out it'll be fine. I'm talking about wiring a plug onto your LED wiring and plugging it in, a fan adaptor cable just seemed like an easy way to get the right connector with wires already on it. It will go on and off with your PC if you wire it this way. A lot of LED lighting kits come with an adaptor for this purpose.

If joining the wires safely worries you it could be an issue, seems easy to me but I've been soldering things for decades.
 
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LegitBoss002

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My molex cables have 2 black and one yellow, not sure what is positive and what is negative...

I found this: https://www.techenclave.com/community/threads/using-led-lighting-strips-in-your-pc.147576/

I can probably follow that because it just uses black and yellow, but I want to be sure that's what I'm doing before I plug it into my power supply and boot up.

Here is a link to my molex cable (picture): https://imgur.com/gallery/mcGue
 
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Dugimodo

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Yes that link is exactly what I was suggesting. Black is always ground, Yellow is +12V and if there is a red it's +5V
Normally with the fan adaptor I was suggesting they use a black and red wire, but not always, and in that case it's still +12V and will connect to the yellow of the Molex.
 
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Dugimodo

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To answer your private message, I don't know why plugging it in would prevent the PC from booting unless you have the polarity around the wrong way maybe? When you connect it to the battery does the +12V terminal connect to the yellow wire and that works?.

The only other thing I can think of is if the LED strip is somehow shorting out to the case of the computer, but that shouldn't happen. Make sure it's not touching anything and try it - if it's a short to the case that should work.
 
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