Need help trying to reuse a Dell case

[ike69]

I have a Dell case that I'd like to reuse. The problem is that the pwron/reset/hdled/pwrled wires that are normally seperate, are in one ribbon wire with a single connector. My dell MB fried (along w/just about everything else) from a power surge. A replacement dell MB that has the single connector slot is about $300! So I bought a new case and built a new system. But the Dell case is great. Does anybody know if it would be possible to split that ribbon wire and put indivudal connectors on it. If so, where can I get the individual connectors. It semms very possible to me, but I took it to a computer shop, and they looked at me like I was crazy. Any ideas would be great.

 

[TruculentTucan]

hmmm... i dunno about that. But I took apart my case recently and pulled out the power switch, reset switch, hdd light, and power light. If you could find one of these somewhere, then just take off the front bezel of your dell and take out their LED's and switches and replace them with yours.

 

[cautery]

Absolutely.... You can do it two ways...

1)Go to Jameco.com and buy the appropriate 2, 3, and/or 4-pin 0.1" housings and pins to fit the (I assume) standard 0.1" spacing headers on your motherboard. Also get the prper pin crimper (the pins listing SHOULD have the tool's part # listed) Then ID the individual conductors in the ribbon (what function, + or -, etc). Split the wires carefully, trying not to cut through the insulation. Look at one of the pins... Notice two sets of "wings". The inner set needs to crimp around bare wire. The outer set (on the end) needs to crimp around the insulation to provide strain relief (no big deal if it doesn't). Crimp pins to each conductor that you need to use (try to keep them all facing approximately the same way so you don't have to twist the individual conductors much. One function at a time, locate the conductors and insert them into the correct housing in the right order. Plug 'em in. You can of course get fancy with all kinds of shrink tube and all...

2)While you are at Jameco, get wire too.... Then simply replace the entire wiring harness with new stuff.... #1 is easier, provided the current length of ribbon is long enough.

BTW, all your power, reset, HDD LED, etc aren't in one header block? Most newer motherboard designs are now... If they are, you CAN use a single say 2x9 (18-pin) housing to make it into a single plug solution.

Well, I got a minute, so here are the part numbers:

Jameco Electronics

Housings: All on page 61 of the catalog under .100" Non-Polarized Connector Housings and Crimp Pins. Left side of page at the middle and bottom, one section for single row, one for double row. Some of the numbers are as follows:

2-pin - 100811 ($0.15/pc 10 minimum)
3-pin - 157382 ($0.15/pc 10 minimum)
4-pin - 100802 ($0.19/pc 10 minimum)
20-pin - 103229 (you can cut one row off this connector and have a perfectly good 2x9 housing too) ($0.15/pc NO minimum)

Pins: 100765 ($0.10/pc 10 minimum)

Crimp Tool: 159265 on page 130. ($9.95/pr NO Minimum) Actually, you can use 99442 as well. I have both and they always come in handy.

22GA stranded wire: (if needed): on page 67.

126084 - Black
126033 - Red all colors $2.95/100' roll
126076 - White

Though I always just use black for everything, and am just careful to hook everything up right.

Hope this helps...

 

[ike69]

Thanks for your time. I'm going to look into both ideas.

 

[LouPoir]

Same problem here. Bought a Dell and the only part left is the case. And I love it. So I split the ribbon and rewired it to the standard connectors you see on a normal case, labelled them. And all is well.

Lou