Where to buy a short ATA-100 cable for a 2.5 inch drive?

[Taed Wynnell]

I want to buy a bunch of short (around 2 inches) ATA-100 cables (namely,
40-pin with 80 conductors) for a 2.5 inch drive for a project. (If the
cable also had the power built-in, that would be fine.) Note that the
40-pin connector on a 2.5 inch drive is NOT the same as on the normal 3.5
inch drives, and is about 20% smaller.

We've been told that they don't exist (and a web search seems to agree), but
I find that hard to believe since it seems that laptop manufacturers must
use something similar to this. Or do they not have a cable and the drive
plugs directly into a header on the motherboard?

Does anyone know of a source for these cable/connectors?

 

[Arno Wagner]

I want to buy a bunch of short (around 2 inches) ATA-100 cables (namely,
40-pin with 80 conductors) for a 2.5 inch drive for a project. (If the
cable also had the power built-in, that would be fine.) Note that the
40-pin connector on a 2.5 inch drive is NOT the same as on the normal 3.5
inch drives, and is about 20% smaller.

We've been told that they don't exist (and a web search seems to agree), but
I find that hard to believe since it seems that laptop manufacturers must
use something similar to this. Or do they not have a cable and the drive
plugs directly into a header on the motherboard?

Most Laptop manufacturers use their own, special cables.
You can use a 2.5"->3.5" converter and modify an existing
normal 80-pin cable. For this carefully remove one connector
(can be done, however they have a tendency to break) and
reattack (bench vice works well) it were you want it. Cut
off the rest of the cable. I don't think there is a lower
limit on cable length.

Does anyone know of a source for these cable/connectors?

Alternatively, there are some 2.5"->3.5" converters, that are
actually a cable that you want. Just look around.


Arno

 

[Guest]

I want to buy a bunch of short (around 2 inches) ATA-100 cables (namely,
40-pin with 80 conductors) for a 2.5 inch drive for a project. (If the
cable also had the power built-in, that would be fine.) Note that the
40-pin connector on a 2.5 inch drive is NOT the same as on the normal 3.5
inch drives, and is about 20% smaller.

We've been told that they don't exist (and a web search seems to agree), but
I find that hard to believe since it seems that laptop manufacturers must
use something similar to this. Or do they not have a cable and the drive
plugs directly into a header on the motherboard?

Does anyone know of a source for these cable/connectors?

I used to make some ribbon cables for a continuity tester. All you
really need is the connectors, ribbon, an adequate ribbon cutter, and
a hand press with a rectangular block sized adequate to press the two
piece connector together over the ribbon. A dead drill press from the
warehouse might do the job if you don't have a simple hand press.

People have been known to use paper cutters for the ribbon, but it
better be sharp or it gets ugly

I think all the big wire manufacturers make ribbon cable. The usual
plastic connector mfgs do the appropriate connectors. You should be
able to find everything on the web.

If you're going to make a lot of these, you might want to rig a jig to
test the finished cables for shorts/opens etc. i.e. some sockets, an
ohm meter or a buzzer etc.

Expect to toss a few before you get the hang of it

 

[Guest]

I think all the big wire manufacturers make ribbon cable. The usual
plastic connector mfgs do the appropriate connectors. You should be
able to find everything on the web.

I think Belden cable and Amp connectors were what I used.

Similar manufacturers would have the stuff you need.

 

[Taed Wynnell]

I think Belden cable and Amp connectors were what I used.
Similar manufacturers would have the stuff you need.

Are you sure you used the small versions (for 2.5 inch drives) of those
connectors and ribbon cable? Both are smaller than the ones for the 3.5
inch drives, and are not compatible. The ones for 3.5 inch drives are easy
to find, but that's not what I'm looking for.

We have been unable to find the smaller version of the 80-conductor ribbon
cable, nor the smaller version of a 40-pin connector that crimps onto a
80-conductor cable.

Can you confirm that you actually found those? If so, a manufacturer and a
part number would be so useful!

Thanks!

 

[Arno Wagner]

Are you sure you used the small versions (for 2.5 inch drives) of those
connectors and ribbon cable? Both are smaller than the ones for the 3.5
inch drives, and are not compatible. The ones for 3.5 inch drives are easy
to find, but that's not what I'm looking for.

We have been unable to find the smaller version of the 80-conductor ribbon
cable, nor the smaller version of a 40-pin connector that crimps onto a
80-conductor cable.

Can you confirm that you actually found those? If so, a manufacturer and a
part number would be so useful!

Question is, do you actually need 80 pin at 5cm length? The 80 pin
help with crosstalk. On 5cm there is bound to be about 10% of the
crosstalk of an 48cm cable, which might not be a problem at all.

Arno

 

[Guest]

Are you sure you used the small versions (for 2.5 inch drives) of those
connectors and ribbon cable? Both are smaller than the ones for the 3.5
inch drives, and are not compatible. The ones for 3.5 inch drives are easy
to find, but that's not what I'm looking for.

Actually, I was using rather large 64pin connectors for something
other than a hard drive.

I suppose you need to concentrate on the connector, finding a cable
for it should be easy once you identify it properly.

I'd shop the 2.5 drive around to your local electronics components
wholesalers (not talking radio shack here) and start there.

 

[Guest]

Are you sure you used the small versions (for 2.5 inch drives) of those
connectors and ribbon cable? Both are smaller than the ones for the 3.5
inch drives, and are not compatible. The ones for 3.5 inch drives are easy
to find, but that's not what I'm looking for.

We have been unable to find the smaller version of the 80-conductor ribbon
cable, nor the smaller version of a 40-pin connector that crimps onto a
80-conductor cable.

Can you confirm that you actually found those? If so, a manufacturer and a
part number would be so useful!

Thanks!

You might find this interesting. May or may not be helpful.

http://www.centralcomputer.com/emerchant/itemdetail.asp?item=MISADAHDNO1S


This store sells 2.5 drives and converters, so you might give them a
call and ask what they know.

 

[Dorothy Bradbury]

Must it be a cable-based solution?
o You can buy ATA-100 2.5" to 3.5" convertor PCBs
---- which will take a standard desktop ATA-100 cable
---- you can make up a shorter cable then as required
---- the PCBs may not be low-profile however
o For IDC-ing your own connector on a cable
---- use a good quality doorway, preferably not your own
---- hinge-side, parallel-closure, high-leverage, watch fingers

Go knock-up some people I know in San Jose, SUN guys,
just ask to borrow their front door jam area for a few minutes.
4am should just about do it, usually compliant at that time.

Quality connectors cost, 3M for example vs cheap generics.