Re: Connector Question

#1

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc Scott en Aztlán <scottenaztlan (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

Quote:

I think we're all familiar with the little connectors that come with
PC clone cases to connect the front panel power and reset switches, as
well as the LEDs for HD activity and power, to the motherboard. An
example of such a connector for the power switch is pictured here:

http://i3.tinypic.com/686vygj.jpg

My questions are what are these connectors CALLED? And what sort of
tool do I need to use to insert and extract the pins?

Background: I am upgrading the motherboard in an HP Pavilion tower PC.
The front panel switches and LEDs come into this connector:

http://i4.tinypic.com/4ut1tzm.jpg

The pinout, of course, does not match the header on my new
motherboard, so I want to extract the pins from the existing connector
and either re-arrange them or insert them into new housings (like the
standard connector in the first picture) so that I can connect my new
MB to the front panel switches/LEDs. However, I don't know what to ask
for when I call around to electronics stores to see who carries these
tools and connector housings.

I'd be very much obliged if you can help me sort this out.

As far as I know, they do not have a name. However they are
sort of a cheaper version of DIN 41 651 connectors. Those
usually fit. Removing the pins is easy: Lift the small plastic latch
(in you photo best seen on the left, were no pin is in) with
a needle and pull the pin out. You can re-insert them with little
force and they will lock in place.

Arno

#2

Scott en Aztlán wrote:

Quote:

I think we're all familiar with the little connectors that come with
PC clone cases to connect the front panel power and reset switches, as
well as the LEDs for HD activity and power, to the motherboard. An
example of such a connector for the power switch is pictured here:

http://i3.tinypic.com/686vygj.jpg

My questions are what are these connectors CALLED? And what sort of
tool do I need to use to insert and extract the pins?

Background: I am upgrading the motherboard in an HP Pavilion tower PC.
The front panel switches and LEDs come into this connector:

http://i4.tinypic.com/4ut1tzm.jpg

The pinout, of course, does not match the header on my new
motherboard, so I want to extract the pins from the existing connector
and either re-arrange them or insert them into new housings (like the
standard connector in the first picture) so that I can connect my new
MB to the front panel switches/LEDs. However, I don't know what to ask
for when I call around to electronics stores to see who carries these
tools and connector housings.

I'd be very much obliged if you can help me sort this out.

Scroll to the bottom here, to see how the latch works on those.
I use an X-acto knife to lift the tab.

http://www.frontx.com/head_con.html

Paul

#3

On Sat, 12 May 2007 14:44:03 -0700, Scott en Aztlán
<scottenaztlan (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

Quote:

I think we're all familiar with the little connectors that come with
PC clone cases to connect the front panel power and reset switches, as
well as the LEDs for HD activity and power, to the motherboard. An
example of such a connector for the power switch is pictured here:

http://i3.tinypic.com/686vygj.jpg

My questions are what are these connectors CALLED? And what sort of
tool do I need to use to insert and extract the pins?

Background: I am upgrading the motherboard in an HP Pavilion tower PC.
The front panel switches and LEDs come into this connector:

http://i4.tinypic.com/4ut1tzm.jpg

The pinout, of course, does not match the header on my new
motherboard, so I want to extract the pins from the existing connector
and either re-arrange them or insert them into new housings (like the
standard connector in the first picture) so that I can connect my new
MB to the front panel switches/LEDs. However, I don't know what to ask
for when I call around to electronics stores to see who carries these
tools and connector housings.

I'd be very much obliged if you can help me sort this out.

They're called header sockets. On the mobo are header pins. They're

usually on .1 inch centers or 2.5 mm. You can get them with or
without pins. To remove pins: on the pin, showing thru the slot in
body, there is a small tab slanted up so the socket connector slides
in the body, but can't be pulled out by the wire. Take a needle or
something and push that tab in while pulling on the wire, the socket
connector will come out of the body. DigiKey carries these.

#4

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc sdeyoreo (AT) hotmail (DOT) com wrote:

Quote:

On Sat, 12 May 2007 14:44:03 -0700, Scott en Aztlán
scottenaztlan (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

I think we're all familiar with the little connectors that come with
PC clone cases to connect the front panel power and reset switches, as
well as the LEDs for HD activity and power, to the motherboard. An
example of such a connector for the power switch is pictured here:

http://i3.tinypic.com/686vygj.jpg

My questions are what are these connectors CALLED? And what sort of
tool do I need to use to insert and extract the pins?

Background: I am upgrading the motherboard in an HP Pavilion tower PC.
The front panel switches and LEDs come into this connector:

http://i4.tinypic.com/4ut1tzm.jpg

The pinout, of course, does not match the header on my new
motherboard, so I want to extract the pins from the existing connector
and either re-arrange them or insert them into new housings (like the
standard connector in the first picture) so that I can connect my new
MB to the front panel switches/LEDs. However, I don't know what to ask
for when I call around to electronics stores to see who carries these
tools and connector housings.

I'd be very much obliged if you can help me sort this out.

They're called header sockets. On the mobo are header pins. They're
usually on .1 inch centers or 2.5 mm. You can get them with or
without pins. To remove pins: on the pin, showing thru the slot in
body, there is a small tab slanted up so the socket connector slides
in the body, but can't be pulled out by the wire. Take a needle or
something and push that tab in while pulling on the wire, the socket
connector will come out of the body. DigiKey carries these.

You need to lift the tab wit the model in his photo.

Arno

#5

On Sat, 12 May 2007 14:44:03 -0700, Scott en Aztlán
<scottenaztlan (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

Quote:

I think we're all familiar with the little connectors that come with
PC clone cases to connect the front panel power and reset switches, as
well as the LEDs for HD activity and power, to the motherboard. An
example of such a connector for the power switch is pictured here:

http://i3.tinypic.com/686vygj.jpg

My questions are what are these connectors CALLED? And what sort of
tool do I need to use to insert and extract the pins?

Background: I am upgrading the motherboard in an HP Pavilion tower PC.
The front panel switches and LEDs come into this connector:

http://i4.tinypic.com/4ut1tzm.jpg

The pinout, of course, does not match the header on my new
motherboard, so I want to extract the pins from the existing connector
and either re-arrange them or insert them into new housings (like the
standard connector in the first picture) so that I can connect my new
MB to the front panel switches/LEDs. However, I don't know what to ask
for when I call around to electronics stores to see who carries these
tools and connector housings.

I'd be very much obliged if you can help me sort this out.

You may not need to get a new/different socket pieces.

Take a small knife blade or a needle and gently lift the
tabs on the sides to release the wires. Don't over-bend
them, they are sometimes fragile.

With all wires out, you can take a razor blade or sharp thin
knife and slice that 5 x 2 header socket into 3, 2 x 1
individual sockets. By slicing you cut away one set of
holes between each two adjacent sets.

Otherwise you might be able to get some sockets from a
mom-n-pop computer shop, salvaged off an old case they were
throwing away. If you have the time to wade through an
electronics supply house catalog or website, you will
probably find them online as well.

#6

Ran into the same problem with my Power LED. Connector is 3 holes with one
wire at each end. Mate to it is two right next to each other on the mobo.
All the others are fine.
I never knew there were tabs on these things!!After dozens of custom PC
builds.

"Scott en Aztlán" <scottenaztlan (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:

I think we're all familiar with the little connectors that come with
PC clone cases to connect the front panel power and reset switches, as
well as the LEDs for HD activity and power, to the motherboard. An
example of such a connector for the power switch is pictured here:

http://i3.tinypic.com/686vygj.jpg

My questions are what are these connectors CALLED? And what sort of
tool do I need to use to insert and extract the pins?

Background: I am upgrading the motherboard in an HP Pavilion tower PC.
The front panel switches and LEDs come into this connector:

http://i4.tinypic.com/4ut1tzm.jpg

The pinout, of course, does not match the header on my new
motherboard, so I want to extract the pins from the existing connector
and either re-arrange them or insert them into new housings (like the
standard connector in the first picture) so that I can connect my new
MB to the front panel switches/LEDs. However, I don't know what to ask
for when I call around to electronics stores to see who carries these
tools and connector housings.

I'd be very much obliged if you can help me sort this out.

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Re: Connector Question

Miscellaneous PC Hardware Miscellaneous PC hardware topics (comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc)

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