Motherboard detail showing pin header rows for the front panel connections.
The front panel LED on a computer system allows users, managers and administrators to determine whether a computer is powered on with just a glance. When the LED is not connected to the motherboard it is easy to mistake the state of the system and press the power button, accidentally shutting down a system when trying to power it on. This situation is more critical in commercial or professional environments where racks of computers are often running at once and the LED is the only indicator that is visible to determine whether a computer is on or something is wrong.
Instructions
1. Power off the computer. Remove all cables leading into the computer and remove the computer from the rack if it is mounted in one.
2. Open the case and connect the anti-static wrist strap to one arm and to the metal case.
3. Connect a two-pin front panel Power LED lead to the motherboard pin header row in the location that is marked "Power LED" or "PLED" next to the power-on pins, which are marked "PON" or "PSW" and are typically located near the reset and HDD LED pins.
4. Connect a three-pin front panel Power LED lead to the motherboard pin header row in the location that is marked "Power LED" or "PLED" next to the speaker connection, which is marked "SPKR."
5. Remove the anti-static wrist strap, replace the cover, and mount the computer in the rack. Connect the cables and power on the computer to test the power LED.
Tags: front panel, anti-static wrist, anti-static wrist strap, determine whether, determine whether computer, front panel Power, header location