Question about making rounded cables

[Cougar]

Ok folks, I've had the urge to buy me some rounded cables to clear up some clutter inside my case, but I can't seem to justify the cost. So I got to thinking that I've got plenty of extra cables laying around so I could just try and make my own. Now I want to start simple so I'm going to try to make a round floppy cable. The problem is that the cables I have contain 4 connectors:

34 pin----------34 pin-------5 1/4" connector--------twist--------34 pin

Now I was wondering if it would be possible to sever the cable after the 2nd 34-pin connector so it would look like this:

34 pin----------34 pin

Can I just clip the cable right there and then continue to separate the wires? I figured I'd separate every 4th or 5th wire like so:

---------
---------
---------
---------
---------
CUT
---------
---------
---------
---------
---------
CUt, etc.....

Am I making any sense? Is it possible to do what I want?

 

[Cougar]

Bump before bedtime.

 

[RaiderJ]

I'm not 100% sure what you are trying to do... but does this help:

In the floppy cable, you should see a twist in the cable near the end of about 5 or so wires. Any drive connected to the cable after this point will be seen as the A: drive, and any drive before this point will be seen as the B: drive. The only way I know of to reverse this is by changing a setting in your BIOS, if it supports it.

As for clipping your cable, I believe you should be able to cut the cable at any point and have the cable still work ok, but someone correct me on this if I'm wrong.

For rounding your own cables, I just use a razor blade to start the "tear" in the cable, and then just pull the wires apart by hand. This seems to work just fine. As for how often to make the cuts, it's up to you. I usually do it every 4 wires or so, but you could do every wire if you were patient enough. Get some heatshrink or electrical tape and tie up the wires into "round" ones.

Does that answer your question?

 

[Dan]

I routinely shorten long fdd cables (the ones with two or three connectors) so that I have just the short section between the next to the last and final connectors. (This short length should have the section with the "twist" that RaiderJ mentioned. The connection at the twisted end goes to the fdd, the other connects to your mobo. It works great and clears up a lot of clutter. (I make the cut with a razor blade and tape off the exposed end with electrical tape.)

I've done the same thing with ATA/33-66-100 IDE cables and never had a problem.

For rounded cables I make a slight cut with a razor blade and then pull the cables apart. (Pull lengthwise.) I separate in two-to-three wire segments. You can hold the cables together with electrical tape (colored tape is nice) but the results are a stiff cable. I prefer small zip ties. For a really finished look you can cover them with split loom, which is available in most auto parts stores.

 

[smp]

As for clipping your cable, I believe you should be able to cut the cable at any point and have the cable still work ok, but someone correct me on this if I'm wrong.

Should work, as Dan has already mentioned.

When I rounded my cables I decided against cutting them and I just folded mine .. like so;

\/\/\/

and then;

|||

VS.

_________


you understand? Comprende? I hope so, I know my ascii is weak.
You might be able to find some machine rounded cables in the FS/FT forum .. that's where I got mine, nice vantec ones .. super sweet!!!

 

[corkyg]

Vantecs are indeed sweet. One of the benefits of commercial rounded cables that is not often discussed is the braided, grounded shielding. That greatly reduces EMI penetration and allows longer cables, i.e. a full tower where the floppy is on top. I replaced my ribbons with Vantec rounds, and noted a reduction in boot/XP Pro load time by 25 seconds on average. Using a different color for each controller also is useful.

 

[Cougar]

<< I'm not 100% sure what you are trying to do... but does this help:

In the floppy cable, you should see a twist in the cable near the end of about 5 or so wires. Any drive connected to the cable after this point will be seen as the A: drive, and any drive before this point will be seen as the B: drive. The only way I know of to reverse this is by changing a setting in your BIOS, if it supports it.

As for clipping your cable, I believe you should be able to cut the cable at any point and have the cable still work ok, but someone correct me on this if I'm wrong.

For rounding your own cables, I just use a razor blade to start the "tear" in the cable, and then just pull the wires apart by hand. This seems to work just fine. As for how often to make the cuts, it's up to you. I usually do it every 4 wires or so, but you could do every wire if you were patient enough. Get some heatshrink or electrical tape and tie up the wires into "round" ones.

Does that answer your question? >>




OK, so I have to keep the end that contains the twist? I thought that it wasn't necessary in today's drives? I do plan on cutting them the way you mentioned. I guess my little illustration didn't do any good. I figure I'll just go about every 4th or 5th wire and separate them with a razor blade and then maybe stack them on top of each other and tape them together.

 

[RaiderJ]

AFAIK, you still need the twist in the cable, unless you change the setting in your BIOS that I mentioned

 

[DARRIN]

I have cut and rounded IDE and floppy cables before. It's not a big deal. Just be careful with the razor making an incision or you'll cut into the wire. Once you get it cut an inch or so you can just pull them appart. I cut about every 5th wire. I used 1/4 inch and 3/8 in split lume (sp) to put the cable inside once you've got it cut.