Case LED's

CosminGCole · 7 Nov 2014 at 11:42

Since my HDD led isn't blinking when it's processing, is it ok if i swap the cables around on the motheboard while the PC is on to see when the LED is getting power ? Or should I turn it on and off every time i switch them around ?

ExRayTed · 7 Nov 2014 at 11:51

[stockanswer] Safer to switch off between swapping them around[/stockanswer]

Although it probably won't matter, give it a try and see. If you fry your motherboard you'll have your answer.

topgun06 · 7 Nov 2014 at 11:54

Id always turn it off.

Many years ago a I blew my HDD, RAM and MOBO after plugging stuff in while the PC was on.

CosminGCole · 7 Nov 2014 at 11:56

Annnnndddd off it goes

I got the idea

The Matrix · 7 Nov 2014 at 19:10

I wouldn't ever entertain messing around with the motherboard while their is still power, especially with the electrical connections. Play it safe, knock it off as what's a few minutes extra for piece of mind.

Evian · 9 Nov 2014 at 02:39

The Matrix said:
I wouldn't ever entertain messing around with the motherboard while their is still power, especially with the electrical connections. Play it safe, knock it off as what's a few minutes extra for piece of mind.

This, I turn the power off at the wall, Pull the plug out, Turn the PSU power button to off, Sometimes I take the cable out aswell!

chaparral · 9 Nov 2014 at 09:37

Evian said:
This, I turn the power off at the wall, Pull the plug out, Turn the PSU power button to off, Sometimes I take the cable out aswell!

It meant to be best to leave the 3 pin wall plug in as it will have a earth connection.

Tealc · 9 Nov 2014 at 12:50

Seems a lot of hassle just to swap over a couple of LED wires.

I'd be quite happy swapping these things while powered up if I needed to. It is, after all, just a couple of lower power LEDs that are sitting on an exposed header on the motherboard. Those LED circuits are switching on and off all the time and it doesn't cause any problems so you can be pretty sure they'll have components upstream to deal with it.

And yes it is always a good idea to leave the earth connected but have the switch in the off position so at least there's a low resistance path to ground that isn't through a vital component.