Extending CPU power switch (Dell connector)

[Dougmeister]

Have the stupid proprietary connector running from the power on/reset buttons on my Dell to the motherboard.  8 dif't sets of jumpers on the MB, none of them really marked.

1) Will I hurt anything by randomly shorting out two pins at a time to see which ones are the power?

2) It is a Dimension 4100, P3-733, if that helps.  Around 5 years old.

3) Is there a recommended way to splice the wires?  Or should I try to solder onto the little circuit board w/ the switches?

4) Is there an easier/better way?

Thanks.  I've read up on this a good bit and most people seem to recommend those splicing connectors.

[DaveJ-UK]

1.) Probably not. I've done it many times and never had anything blow.

2.) Not really.

3.) Just unplug the power switch connector from the mobo, get a spare plug thingy for it and wire that to whatever you want the new switch to be.

4.) Yes, see 3.

[Paul Olson]

Butt connectors will work good.  If you don't have any, twist the ends of the wires together and wrap with electrical tape.  I would actually trust a connection like this more than the butt connectors.

Paul

[Dougmeister]

Thanks for the ideas.

The actualy connector has room for 16 pins, but one is solid, so only 15 pins on the motherboard and 15 openings in the "molex-like" connector.  It uses a ribbon cable in-between the connector and the circuit board that has the momentary on/off buttons.

By looking at the back of the circuit board, each button has four (4) traces that lead to the wires.

Am I better off finding  a "spare plug thingy", splicing into the ribbon cable, cramming some wires into the existing 15-pin connector on the motherboard, etc.?