Date: 10/07/2023 14:30:12
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 2052328
Subject: Computer update

Got tired of fiddling around for the usb ports on the front panel of the pc.

Opened computer case, soldered 2, 12v fairy lights to the yellow (12+) and black neg leads on a 4 pin pc power supply connector.

Placed them just above the 2 usb ports on the inside of the case. Closed computer case.

Now have 2 back lit usb ports.

Can see where the usb ports are.

Happy now.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 14:34:42
From: roughbarked
ID: 2052332
Subject: re: Computer update

Tau.Neutrino said:


Got tired of fiddling around for the usb ports on the front panel of the pc.

Opened computer case, soldered 2, 12v fairy lights to the yellow (12+) and black neg leads on a 4 pin pc power supply connector.

Placed them just above the 2 usb ports on the inside of the case. Closed computer case.

Now have 2 back lit usb ports.

Can see where the usb ports are.

Happy now.

Cleverdick. :)

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 14:38:40
From: Woodie
ID: 2052335
Subject: re: Computer update

Tau.Neutrino said:


Got tired of fiddling around for the usb ports on the front panel of the pc.

Opened computer case, soldered 2, 12v fairy lights to the yellow (12+) and black neg leads on a 4 pin pc power supply connector.

Placed them just above the 2 usb ports on the inside of the case. Closed computer case.

Now have 2 back lit usb ports.

Can see where the usb ports are.

Happy now.

So am I.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 15:05:24
From: Bubblecar
ID: 2052352
Subject: re: Computer update

My new computer has USB ports on the top of the case.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 15:16:23
From: captain_spalding
ID: 2052358
Subject: re: Computer update

Bubblecar said:


My new computer has USB ports on the top of the case.


Convenient, but… dust traps?

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 15:17:30
From: Peak Warming Man
ID: 2052359
Subject: re: Computer update

captain_spalding said:


Bubblecar said:

My new computer has USB ports on the top of the case.


Convenient, but… dust traps?

Not in Bubblecar’s house.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 15:23:07
From: captain_spalding
ID: 2052362
Subject: re: Computer update

Peak Warming Man said:


captain_spalding said:

Bubblecar said:

My new computer has USB ports on the top of the case.


Convenient, but… dust traps?

Not in Bubblecar’s house.

Ah. Of course. I withdraw my query.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 15:26:48
From: captain_spalding
ID: 2052365
Subject: re: Computer update

ABC News:

Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what else will increase at any minute from now?

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 15:27:10
From: captain_spalding
ID: 2052366
Subject: re: Computer update

captain_spalding said:


ABC News:

Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what else will increase at any minute from now?

(sigh) wrong thread, again.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 15:28:54
From: roughbarked
ID: 2052368
Subject: re: Computer update

captain_spalding said:


Bubblecar said:

My new computer has USB ports on the top of the case.


Convenient, but… dust traps?

Yep. They’d need butt plugs.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 15:29:05
From: Cymek
ID: 2052369
Subject: re: Computer update

captain_spalding said:


ABC News:

Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what else will increase at any minute from now?

Breaking news, child care fees to rise in every single centre Australia wide, coincidentally

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 15:29:52
From: roughbarked
ID: 2052370
Subject: re: Computer update

Peak Warming Man said:


captain_spalding said:

Bubblecar said:

My new computer has USB ports on the top of the case.


Convenient, but… dust traps?

Not in Bubblecar’s house.

I dunno, his neighour’s smoke comes in.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 16:07:45
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 2052391
Subject: re: Computer update

Bubblecar said:


My new computer has USB ports on the top of the case.


Strange how they light up the fans but not the usb and audio ports which can be hard to see at times.

I find this problem slightly annoying as the fans don’t need to be seen but the ports do need to be seen when plugging things into them.

So its easy to solve with some tiny 12 volt lights.

The pc power supply usually has spare Molex connectors that offer 2 voltages 12 v and 5v

The 12 volt rail is the yellow wire, and the red wire is the 5 volt rail, these are generally used to power 5 volt or 12 pc accessories, but can be used to power fans and lights as well.

12 volt fans and 12 volt lights

5 volt fans and 5 volt lights

Either of these will work using either the 12v yellow wire plus back neg wire or 5v red wire plus black neg wire.

Here is a molex connector showing its wiring diagram.

Remember to use the correct voltages.

12 v fairy lights have usually have red and black wires and this is where you need to need to remember that the pc molex 12 volt wire is the yellow wire, so you will solder the fairy lights red 12 volt positive wire to the Molex’s 12 volt yellow wire and solder the fairy light’s black neg to the molex’s black neg. For a 5v light or fan solder its 5 v wire to the red 5 volt wire, and its neg to the molex neg.

50pcs 12V 5mm Red/Blue/Yellow/White/Green 5 Colors, 10pcs Of Each Color, LED Light Emitting Diode Pre-wired 7.9 Inch DC 12v LED Light Transparent Lens Small LED Light

https://www.temu.com/au/50pcs-12v-5mm-red-blue-yellow-white-green-5-colors-10pcs-of-each-color-led-light-emitting-diode-pre-wired-7-9-inch-dc-12v-led-light-transparent-lens-small-led-light-g-601099513154671.html

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 17:06:48
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 2052412
Subject: re: Computer update

If you have a 3D printer handy you can print a tiny fairy light holder and glue it into place so that the fairy light just pushes into the holder and pops out of the holder.

LED Lights come in 3mm and 5mm sizes.

The LED light I got was 5mm.

They come in white and different colours with some that constantly change colours.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 19:36:02
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 2052481
Subject: re: Computer update

Things I find strange in computer design

1 the use of lights for fans but no back lights for front panel ports usb, mic and headphone etc.
2 the use of red for 5v usb and yellow for 12V when the standard for 12V is usually red and black.
3 no internal lights inside cd drives or dvd drives or blueray drives etc
4 a pc front panel draw with no internal light
5 a swappable front panel ssd drvie also with no internal light.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 19:39:17
From: ChrispenEvan
ID: 2052484
Subject: re: Computer update

Tau.Neutrino said:


Things I find strange in computer design

1 the use of lights for fans but no back lights for front panel ports usb, mic and headphone etc.
2 the use of red for 5v usb and yellow for 12V when the standard for 12V is usually red and black.
3 no internal lights inside cd drives or dvd drives or blueray drives etc
4 a pc front panel draw with no internal light
5 a swappable front panel ssd drvie also with no internal light.

don’t need any of that light stuff.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 19:41:49
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 2052485
Subject: re: Computer update

a pc front panel drawer

https://www.i-tech.com.au/simplecom-sc501-desktop-pc-5-25-bay-accessories-storage-box-drawer-sc501.html

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 19:47:07
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 2052486
Subject: re: Computer update

Ive installed this Media Reader

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 19:49:48
From: Bubblecar
ID: 2052487
Subject: re: Computer update

Tau.Neutrino said:


Things I find strange in computer design

1 the use of lights for fans but no back lights for front panel ports usb, mic and headphone etc.
2 the use of red for 5v usb and yellow for 12V when the standard for 12V is usually red and black.
3 no internal lights inside cd drives or dvd drives or blueray drives etc
4 a pc front panel draw with no internal light
5 a swappable front panel ssd drvie also with no internal light.

My new PC has no front drawer or optical drive but it’s not a problem, as you can get a very fast slimline USB DVD burner etc for about $40 these days.

This is the one I use with the new PC:

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 19:53:13
From: Bubblecar
ID: 2052488
Subject: re: Computer update

As for lights, in practice my PC has enough lighting for the top USB sockets to be visible.

And since I have a transparent glass desk the PC is also illuminated by the monitor.

I usually have at least one lamp going in the pooter at night anyway.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 20:05:18
From: Bubblecar
ID: 2052490
Subject: re: Computer update

Bubblecar said:


As for lights, in practice my PC has enough lighting for the top USB sockets to be visible.

And since I have a transparent glass desk the PC is also illuminated by the monitor.

I usually have at least one lamp going in the pooter at night anyway.

Um, I mean one lamp going in the pooter room at night.

The PC itself has six large fan lights, a glass side and front to the body and a semi-transparent “roof”, plus a little blue and red light next to the top ports.

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 21:23:58
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 2052531
Subject: re: Computer update

If you find you are always using those connectors

I would buy one of these and put it in an external box 5.25” CD-ROM Drive Bay, pop it on the desk.

USB 3.0 Front Panel for PC USB 3.1 Type C + 2x USB3.0 + 2x USB2.0 Hub + HD Audio 3.5mm + Earphone MIC for 5.25” CD-ROM Drive Bay

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 21:29:18
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 2052535
Subject: re: Computer update

Tau.Neutrino said:


If you find you are always using those connectors

I would buy one of these and put it in an external box 5.25” CD-ROM Drive Bay, pop it on the desk.

USB 3.0 Front Panel for PC USB 3.1 Type C + 2x USB3.0 + 2x USB2.0 Hub + HD Audio 3.5mm + Earphone MIC for 5.25” CD-ROM Drive Bay


Link

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004865955402.html

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 21:29:28
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 2052536
Subject: re: Computer update

External volume controllers without interfering with the sound card driver.

USB Volume Control Knob EMEET USB Multimedia Controller Knob with One-Click Mute Function and Music Switching Multimedia Control

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005261359411.html

1-5PC USB Computer Volume Controller Multimedia PC Speaker External Audio Volume Control Adjust shift Knob One Key Mute Function

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005565818264.html

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 22:34:17
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 2052548
Subject: re: Computer update

Bubblecar has a glass desk and ports on the top of his pc showing that he has seen through the problem.

:)

Reply Quote
Date: 10/07/2023 23:24:45
From: Bubblecar
ID: 2052566
Subject: re: Computer update

Tau.Neutrino said:


Bubblecar has a glass desk and ports on the top of his pc showing that he has seen through the problem.

:)

Heh.

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