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How to make an IDE cable?

B

Bworp

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Joined
Apr 23, 2019
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33
Location
Tasmania, Australia
I've realised I'm probably best off making my own IDE cable for my 386 machine. Its interior is pretty tight in places, and the layout means it's also quite a stretch to attach both drives (a 3 1/2 and a 5 1/4). I'm pretty sure I've ruined the one I'm using because of trying to squeeze and stretch it in so hard. (One of the drives has become quite touchy as a result.) I really need one custom made to the right size.
A bit of googling makes the job sound relatively straightforward, but these things rarely turn out that simple for me.
So I'm just after a bit of advice about any potential pitfalls before I go and order the parts.

Specific questions:
What part numbers/descriptions should I look for, especially for the connectors? How specific do I need to be? Will any 34 pin edge connector of the right size work for the 5 1/4 drive for example, or are there other considerations?
Are all ribbon cables basically the same?
Do I need a crimping tool, or will a vise suffice?
Is there any trick to attaching the connector over the "twist"?

Thanks for the info!
 
When I saw IDE cable, I thought about a 40-pin IDE hard drive cable, but you need a floppy drive cable. The connector to the motherboard and the 3.5" floppy is an IDE-34 connector, such as http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=IDE34

The card edge connector is an IDC-34 connector, such as
https://www.ebay.com/itm/34-Pin-Car...-2-54mm-Pitch-Flat-Ribbon-Cable-/391819362310

Or you could try to find a longer floppy drive cable, such as
https://www.amazon.com/CablesOnline...pin+card+edge&qid=1568804963&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I've made cables with a vise and a crimping tool. Either will work as long as you are patient. Be careful on orienting the connector on the cable so pin 1 is on pin 1.

For the twist, I make the cable a bit longer than needed so that it extends past the connector. You can stabilize the twist with tape, then trim the excess after crimping.
 
There are also round IDE cables, which may be more practical than trying to squeeze a flat one through limited space.
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Stone said:
He doesn't want an IDE cable -- he misspoke. He wants a 34 conductor floppy cable.
Click to expand...
Correct. I've always just called every ribbon cable inside a computer an IDE cable - a bad habit from never having been corrected by anybody who knows better!


lafos said:
When I saw IDE cable, I thought about a 40-pin IDE hard drive cable, but you need a floppy drive cable. The connector to the motherboard and the 3.5" floppy is an IDE-34 connector, such as http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=IDE34

The card edge connector is an IDC-34 connector, such as
https://www.ebay.com/itm/34-Pin-Car...-2-54mm-Pitch-Flat-Ribbon-Cable-/391819362310

Or you could try to find a longer floppy drive cable, such as
https://www.amazon.com/CablesOnline...pin+card+edge&qid=1568804963&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I've made cables with a vise and a crimping tool. Either will work as long as you are patient. Be careful on orienting the connector on the cable so pin 1 is on pin 1.

For the twist, I make the cable a bit longer than needed so that it extends past the connector. You can stabilize the twist with tape, then trim the excess after crimping.
Click to expand...

Great, that's just the info I'm after!

I was thinking about getting a longer cable, but as I've said, in addition to needing to stretch it a long way, there is also quite little space, so I have a fairly narrow window of length that will work.
 
FWIW, putting this cable together yourself will likely cost about twice as much as buying a fully assembled one.

And then there's always the possibility of not getting everything lined up exactly correct during assembly and having it not work or maybe worse.
 
Bworp said:
......I was thinking about getting a longer cable, but as I've said, in addition to needing to stretch it a long way, there is also quite little space, so I have a fairly narrow window of length that will work.
Click to expand...

I tend to Re-work IDE / Floppy cable's to the length i need, I usually find with Pre-made cables they are either way too long / too short or the right length but the secondary conector's are in the wrong place on the cable, If you're careful you can usually remove the connectors without damaging them and move them as required, I have a box full of used cables i keep for that purpose and have some new connectors just in case i need them. I use a table top vice, It takes a bit of practice at first but certainly doable.
 
I've also just recycled old cables to make my own. The crimping process goes a lot easier if you have a vice or duck bill vice grips to evenly press the entire length at once if you would rather not buy the specialty tool.
There are also round IDE cables, which may be more practical than trying to squeeze a flat one through limited space.
Click to expand...
NEVER USE THESE.
These defeat the purpose of each signal line being separated by a ground on higher speed disks and controllers for the purpose of reducing noise and crosstalk. These things are terrible. That being said, those cables that at least braided their pairs were a little bit better.
 
Same, always just reworked old cables. I had the special tool for IDC dual row connectors, ended up selling it, I find a small arbor press is a lot more convenient. A vise also works, like NeXT said. You could probably make do with a C clamp.
 
Bworp said:
Correct. I've always just called every ribbon cable inside a computer an IDE cable - a bad habit from never having been corrected by anybody who knows better!
Click to expand...

IDE: Integrated Drive Electronics (Hard drives, CD & DVD drives etc.)
IDC: Insulation-Displacement Contact (Connectors and cables).

So, most IDE cables are also IDC cables, but not necessarily vice versa ;-)

Same here; I regularly rework IDC cables to suit the particular layout using a sharp knife and a vise.
 
vwestlife said:
There are also round IDE cables, which may be more practical than trying to squeeze a flat one through limited space.
Click to expand...

NeXT said:
NEVER USE THESE.
These defeat the purpose of each signal line being separated by a ground on higher speed disks and controllers for the purpose of reducing noise and crosstalk. These things are terrible.
Click to expand...
And especially not for a floppy drive cable which is what the OP wants.
 
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