Custom 80-conductor IDE cables

[corkypa]

I'm putting together a file server, and I am finding that standard, flat 18" ribbon cables are inadequate. The overall length is fine, but the I need the middle connector to be 1.5" inches from the end, instead of 6". Has anybody tried relocating the connector on a standard 80-conductor cable? Is there any problem with removing it from one location and using an IDC tool to install it elsewhere? Or should I just leave the existing connectors and install an extra connector and the desired distance? Or am I better off starting from scratch? I'm concerned about reliability, and would like to learn of anyone's experience.

 

[Peter]

There is a minimum distance between connectors that needs to be adhered to. Cables are the way they are because this is what works.

(Yes IDE sucks. Use SATA - this is exactly why it was invented.)

 

[corkypa]

I don't believe that there is a minimum between the drives if you use an 80-conductor cable, just between the motherboard and the drives. The ATA/ATAPI-7 standard, page 29 says device 1 (the middle one) must be at least 5 inches from the host, and the two disks must not be more than 6" apart. On the other hand, 40-conductor cables (p. 27) do have a minimum of 5 inches between devices.

Interesting tidbit, a report I found studied the feasibility of 27 inch cables and concludes that 27" cables are ok.

It looks like I'll try adding an additional connector to an existing cable. I'm afraid that removing the connector that is already there might damage the cable or lead to open wires in the cable.

Anybody know a good source for the connectors?