Extending a IDE cable?

[sealslayer]

I plan on having a slot loading CD rom in my CP and I'm having problems trying to find extra long IDE cables, I'm now beginning to think that they probably don't even exist 
Whats the easiest way of extending one of these cables, It needs to be at least 1.5-2m long, I don't really want to start stripping one down and using lengths of  wire to block connectors to join the other end, this will look awful and will need a huge amount of connectors.
Is it possible to buy the pins that sit in CD drives so I could maybe join 3 together to get the correct length?

[davieboynj]

part of the spec for ide cables includes that they can only be 18" long.  If you go longer, make sure you use an 80 wire cable.  with that, you really shouldn't have any problems with a cd-rom on a 36" cable.  don't even think about doing that with a hard drive though. 

If you're stuck on needing 6-8 feet, you should look up a cheap usb to parallel ide adapter on ebay.  it will likely be cheaper in the end, and you can easily go 10 feet with that.  don't forget that you have to run power as well. 

edit: accidentally wrote parallel instead of ide...

[MonMotha]

All the connectors (both for the data and the 4 pin power as well) are relatively standard - you can buy them in single quantity from Mouser in the USA.  The IDE connector is just a 2x20 0.1" IDC ribbon connector.  You'd have to get the necessary length of ribbon cable, as well, and I don't know of any places online that sell that by the foot (I'm sure someone else does).  You can crimp the IDCs on with a bench vise or even a pair of pliers if you're careful, no need for a "real" crimper here.  Making a cable of the correct length is almost certainly a better idea than trying to extend "normal" length ones.

However, be aware that IDE isn't designed to go that far.  That's why they don't make IDE cables this long.  It'll probably work just fine, but it may not, especially if the inside of your cab is electrically noisy (which it often is).  If it's flakey, keep bumping the speed/mode down (PIO mode 2 or slower is almost guaranteed to work even on crappy cabling, while UDMA is probably going to be questionable).  Also, if you can find the connectors for it (I think Mouser has these, too) use some of the 80 conductor half-pitch cable.  That helps a lot with signal integrity.

[Pik4chu]

All the connectors (both for the data and the 4 pin power as well) are relatively standard - you can buy them in single quantity from Mouser in the USA.  The IDE connector is just a 2x20 0.1" IDC ribbon connector.  You'd have to get the necessary length of ribbon cable, as well, and I don't know of any places online that sell that by the foot (I'm sure someone else does).  You can crimp the IDCs on with a bench vise or even a pair of pliers if you're careful, no need for a "real" crimper here.  Making a cable of the correct length is almost certainly a better idea than trying to extend "normal" length ones.

However, be aware that IDE isn't designed to go that far.  That's why they don't make IDE cables this long.  It'll probably work just fine, but it may not, especially if the inside of your cab is electrically noisy (which it often is).  If it's flakey, keep bumping the speed/mode down (PIO mode 2 or slower is almost guaranteed to work even on crappy cabling, while UDMA is probably going to be questionable).  Also, if you can find the connectors for it (I think Mouser has these, too) use some of the 80 conductor half-pitch cable.  That helps a lot with signal integrity.

Just wanted to add that a 6 foot IDE cable wont work "just fine"  Id be surprised if it worked at all.  Since its for a CD-ROM drive Id be less concerned but I doubt it will work either way.  Best option is get a USB enclosure and stick/mod the CDROM(you can hack off the enclosure and jsut use the connector easy) and that into your cab.  To be honest even the 36" are a stretch( yes I know, commercially available but IDE specs are rated to 18" for a reason

[sealslayer]

Thanks guys, It didn't even enter my mind that there may be a problem having a lead that long, guess I'll have to go down the USB route.
 

[MYX]

Yeah, do the USB2 route. Not only a solution that actually will work, it will be much less work and headaches.

[kelemvor]

Looks like i found this topic too late but I'd also recommend either getting an external USB CD Drive or just picking up an enclosure for a 5.25" drive and just using that via USB.  Can get those enclosures for pretty cheap these days.

[sealslayer]

I bought this, should do the job nicely