Motherboard 'header sockets'

[elziko]

I have a new motherboard and need to attach my case's front panel switches and lights to it.

My new board expects 'header sockets' like this:

my case's front panel cables terminate in a single block that will fit my old motherboard but not the new.

Does anyone know what they're actually called? I need them quite urgently and have access to Maplin & RS locally but just can't find anything that will do on their web sites.

TIA

[Huge]

Look like Molex connectors to me.

[elziko]

Thanks, searching for Molex got me a part number.

Using the part number I didn't find anything in Maplin but in RS I found some for delivery only, minimum order of 50 - I only need a couple! I have checked all the old PCs in my office to see if I can nick the connectors from them but they're all DELLs and have an all in one connector block.

I'll have to just bodge this somehow I think!

[Phil Jones]

They're called PCB headers. Here they are:

[elziko]

you sure? They look a lot wider and have guides on them so that "This forms a polarised connector that will connect only one way round on the matching PCB header plug. "

That doesn't sound or look like the Molex ones. I'm not even sure if the pin pitch is the same.

Thanks

[Bob Eager]

You are right - that is not them! And actually, Maplin don't do them. They are 2.54mm pitch, aren't they?

CPC sell them, but you have to buy a pack of 100 pins/sockets to fit them. I just ordered some yesterday, as it happens. The housings are sold separately in various sizes. Oh, they call them '0.1" terminal crimp sockets". Part number CN01057 on the CPC website will get you started.

[elziko]

Thanks for the confirmation. You don't happen to know if the CD-AUDIO type cables are of the same pitch? I may be able to scavenge some of them and use them to get me going.

Thanks

[Bob Eager]

Yes, they are. I wasn't absolutely 100% sure, but I have a few strips of pins in the workshop for a project, and I just tried a spare CD cable on them.

[Steven Campbell]

Ask in uk.adverts.computer and/or uk.comp.homebuilt. Probably find some kind soul willing to give you some from their collection.

[Man at B&Q]

They're the same pitch (0.1") and will fit unless the motherboard has other components that will get in the way of the slightly larger housing. If you have a Maplin locally, just buy a couple to verify that they will be OK.

MBQ

[elziko]

Oh, thanks for looking. I'll find some tonight and see if I can bodge my connections together - it'll do for now!

[Andy Dingley]

Well you _could_ just shove anything in there...

[Harry Bloomfield]

elziko formulated the question :

> Are you sure? They look a lot wider and have guides on them so that "This

The pitch is the same and would fit, but the plastic outer would be too thick for more than one to fit side by side.

[T i m]

Is it just that any blank pins are in the wrong position (stopping the plug pushing home)? If so the blank can normally be pushed or drilled out and a connector fitted in it's place? If your plug has too many positions then it can be simply cut down with a Stanley knife (and maybe a tidy up with a file or some glass paper).

I think you will find the actual connectors within your multiblok can be released from the block (scalpel blade under the little flap by each connector) and then if covered with a suitable heat shrink could be pushed straight onto the individual pins on your Mb header (fiddley but it works).

Failing all that Maplin do sell the header plug / lead you show in your link and they may be stripped and used as recepticals for your existing pins or the cable cut / grafted (heat shrink again) to your existing wiring (even back to the front panel itself in many cases).

are £1.99 each but you get some free switches to play with or keep as case spares. ;-)

Given time your local PC shop should have an old case they are due to throw away and could give you a set out of that (or I might be able to find you some).

I have done all the above many times over the last 20+ years. ;-)

All the best ..

T i m

[edwardwill]

That's a fine website, my friend. Thanks

[elziko]

Thanks for all the suggestions. After al this I really can't beleive I never noticed that the case was too small for the new motherboard all along. I'll be gettng a new case anyway!

[Davao]

You'll probably need to buy a new case. Unless you can cut up the block from your case. The wire colourings may give you clues on how to cut. But if your desperate and out of cash. You could identify which part of the block comes from the power switch (Power SW) and if the M/b is working correclty you will be ok. But it would be safer to connect the speaker connector and connect that. If you have the case speaker working this will tell you if the m/b is faulty when you come to power up.

Arthur