Have any of you rounded 80 pin IDE cables? How did you do it?

[Spoooon]

Did you so the standard split every 5 wires? Did it work fine after you did it? I was a little hesitant to round mine, but I'm thinking about doing it since I'll be getting a new mobo with some 80 pin IDE cables. I just don't want to do it only to find out that 4 out of 5 of you tried and it didn't work.

 

[johneetrash]

i think its every 8th one ... try just folding them instead of cutting them or something

 

[Mykex]

Great answer for the 80conductor cables. Dont cut them! Just leave them in a bright windosil like an underipe tomato. Once they warm up 5-10 mins depending on the sun just fold them. This folding methode is great on the 80s since the wires are so thin. I just tape them a few wraps every few inches. Before I install them I warm them up again so when I bend them where I want, they stay.

BTW an achordian like fold works good for me, it seem to give less stress to the cable ends.

 

[Frosty20]

If you do decide to cut them, be very precise and use a sharp blade-very sharp.

If you accidently expose a wire and this might cause crosstalk...

 

[ericd]

Here is how I have done mine which has worked well for me.

1. Decide how many wires are going to be in each group.

2. Make a mark with a extra fine tip sharpy (or your choice of writing instrument) in the groove inbetween each set of wires you want to split.

3. Find a XActo (doesn't have to be XActo but I would suggest at least getting XActo blades) hobby knife with a #11 blade.

4. Lay the cable down flat on a table or some other flat sturdy surface (preferably on that can get a little scratched).

5. Place the #11 blade so that the entire sharp edge is resting in the groove that you want to cut.

Before you proceed to step 6 it is very important to make sure that step 5 has been done correctly or bye bye cable.

6. With the entire sharp edge resting in the groove apply pressure to the blade and pull up on the cable the same time.

7. Using the approximately 1" cut that this has started you can just pull the sections apart and it will follow the groove that you started your cut in.

8. Once you have made all your cuts, use spiral wrap, split loom, electrical tape, cable ties, old shoelaces, really whatever the hell you want to group all of the segments together.

I wish that I had a digital camera to take pics but I don't so my description will have to do. If you have any questions feel free to post them here or PM me. Using this method I would say I have rounded around 10-15 cables and have not FUBAR'd one yet. Even if you don't use this method I would suggest using one that involves as little moving of the knife as possible, I think this minimizes the chances of slicing a conductor.

Eric

 

[dcdomain]

I'm thinking it would be better if you just folded them. Fold them once in half, then once more... nice size, wrap it up... Probably the same footprint as if you cut them up and made them rounded cables... Less work, and less chances of screwing them up, which could mess up some of your data during transfer.

 

[ericd]

I tried folding the cables once and while it does reduce the footprint greatly from it's ribbon form it is still bigger than if you cut the cable apart. I also found that you lose more cable length when you fold the cable rather than round it.

Eric

 

[bacillus]

well if you're that hesisatant, you can always buy them already rounded & some look like this

 

[jsbush]

AAAAHHHH don't cut them. Fold them in a W shape. I forgot where the link is. But you just fold it in the middle them you fold the sides so it makes a W and just use elastics or something to keep it together!

 

[Viperoni]

It really depends on the cable you have.
Earlier (older) ones don't round as good as newer ones.
It has to do with the plastic the cable is made of.
I wrecked a cable about 6 months ago, but I bought new ones and they round beautifully.
ericd's explanation is EXCELLENT

 

[Spoooon]

I went ahead and folded it. I wanted to split the wires because it makes it a little more flexible. I've been wrapping all my stuff in this grippy gauze that sticks to itself but not to anything else. It looks better than electrical tape. And with electrical tape, over time the tape doesn't stick as well and you get the glue all over everything.

 

[Dan]

I fold my 80-pin cables and hold the folds in place with plastic ties.

 

[BiteMe]

To everyone who keeps saying to use a very sharp knife to cut them, have you even tried a duller one? I've done 4 or 5 80 pin IDE cables with my pocket knife, which isn't all that sharp. Never nicked a wire, never had a problem. I did one with a razor blade, nicked the damned wires 4 times! I think I'll stick with my pocket knife.

 

[ZeroBurn]

i folded my cables up and used spiral wrapping, you'd get the same result by cutting and wrapping i assume so it's not a big deal.