Is Split loom dangerous?

[Jman13]

Particularly, is it safe to use on the soft wires inside the case, or is there a chance of damaging them. Specifically, I think I'm going to roll my IDE cables (not cut them, just fold them over) and place 1/2" split loop around them, but I'm worried that it'll possibly strip the insulation or sever a wire, since the opening in the split loom is very tight, and has a lot of pressure on it. Also is there a trick to inserting it so it doesn't get crushed? I usually (on ouside wires like mouse, keyboard, power cables, etc) just start it in and then press each part into the seam, but it seems like that really pinches the wires, and I don't want to ruin an 80 wire IDE cable doing this. Will this be a problem?

 

[WA261]

wont hurt a thing =)

 

[Crucial]

You should be fine. The cables are actually more resilient than you may think. I split all of my cables and didn't have any troubles at all.

The 80 wire cables were split into strips of 4 wires and the 40 wire ones were split into strips of 2.

Take a look at www.tommytape.com. Works excellent for wrapping cables. Its like electrical tape that only sticks to itself. Comes in all sorts of colors too. I used the 1 inch wide 30mil triangular tape. Works great.

 

[SnowPunk98]

you will be fine I use it all the time, in fact OCModShop

 

[jkersenbr]

It'll work fine -- but there are different "textures" of split loom. Some is harder and less flexible than others.

I always get mine from auto parts stores because it's a heckuva lot cheaper than the case mod shops. I've found the Federated Auto Parts split loom to be the softest (and my favorite for PC's). The hardest I've found is Carquest.

 

[OldPro]

I believe Radio Shack carries a spiral cut wire cover.

 

[AMD4ME2]

I believe it is dangerous.. I had a dream once that my split loom tubing I had on my desk came to life and was taking on the characteristics of a snake..... I dreamed I woke up and it was all coiled up like a cobra ready to strike. of course I quickly got my camera man and said "blimey Mate.. look at the detail of the loom viper's ridges.. and they way it moves it head back and forth at me"

 

[Buk]

I recently put together a system with a new ATA100 drive. It was up and running when I decided to clean up the cables with split loom. I just folded the cables into a 'W' shape and slipped the loom over it. However, when I booted the system up, the hard disc detected as a different size and couldn't be read. It was a new IBM 60GXP and I figured it was bad (lot of bad press on IBM drives these days). After trying a lot of stuff that didn't work, I replaced the cable with a new, flat one and it straightened right up. I'm leery of trying to fold it again. Maybe it was just bad luck................

 

[J3anyus]

<< I recently put together a system with a new ATA100 drive. It was up and running when I decided to clean up the cables with split loom. I just folded the cables into a 'W' shape and slipped the loom over it. However, when I booted the system up, the hard disc detected as a different size and couldn't be read. It was a new IBM 60GXP and I figured it was bad (lot of bad press on IBM drives these days). After trying a lot of stuff that didn't work, I replaced the cable with a new, flat one and it straightened right up. I'm leery of trying to fold it again. Maybe it was just bad luck................ >>



Did you crease the cables? If so, that's probably why. When you fold ATA cables, do NOT crease them, as creasing them will often damage them.

 

[FlowerMan]

creasing IDE/SCSI cables is dangerous? I think not. Unless you clamp them with lots of pressure, nothing will be damaged. I fold cables all the time and nothing is damaged. If you crease them so hard that the little copper wire inside is severed, that is too much, and i dont think its humanly possible to do that without tools or a really sharp fingernail.

Some SCSI cables folded pretty sharply:
pic 1

 

[bbarnes]

I used it in my case, no problems at all.

 

[spamsk8r]

Split loom works just fine, but I would recommend spiral loom for the job, because its a lot more flexible and easy to manage than split loom...I think it costs a little more, but i think its worth it