make shift wires from ide cable

[EcchiPr0n]

i heard that you could use the wires from an IDE ribbon for a substitute for 30 gauge wires, is this true?

(I can't find 30 gauge wire for the life of me in Maui)

[sk8er_4_life_ez]

i dunno but ive use alot of diffrent wires i use kynar now but wha exsacly are you trying to solder? mainly any wire workds fine as long as its nice and thin enough.. never really had any wire problem..

[JspOt]

I wouldnt recommend using ide cables for wires. I used to mod xboxes and had some wires from the xecuter chips which I used on my own wii. Suffice to say it was a harder job than it should have been. I then bought some 30 gauge wire from Radio Shack online and the job was sooo much easier. I also used flux which helped alot. You can look at my install Here (http://www.jspot.net/wii)

[EcchiPr0n]

is this the kind i should be using?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062642&cp=&sr=1&origkw=30+wire&kw=30+wire&parentPage=search

also what tape did you use to mount your chip?

[JspOt]

Yes that is what I ordered but in White. I used double sided foam tape to mount the modchip. Also it is recommended to use electrical tape over the points to avoid shorts.

[EcchiPr0n]

so (surface-doublesided foam tape-electrical tape-modchip)

also i never quite understood what flux is good for O_o

[ShawnC]

ya, I cut up some wires from an old ide cable. A bit too thick for my liking, plus it gets frayed easily. Not the wire to use if you want to make your installation easier.

[SadSack]

so (surface-doublesided foam tape-electrical tape-modchip)

also i never quite understood what flux is good for O_o

flux helps the solder flow and cleans the parts so you do't end up with i dry joint.

[EcchiPr0n]

so i just put a drop on the work location and solder away . . . do i have to clean it up if its rosin flux?

[SadSack]

personaly don't use flux. i clean everything to be soldered, tin wire without touching wire. keep fingers off everything. don't quote me but never needed it myself. guessing most people who use it a lot are working on reworked joints or older stuff.

My dad for a long i can remember never used or had flux. cleared his house out didn't see any, lots of bad boy stuff for this kinda work. only ever borrowed his soldering station and thin solder. never once siad" make sure you use flux!.." did how ever say "stop touching tinned parts.."most solder has flux in it(sure i right in sayin that)

[gtoooooh]

I used 5 pieces of wire spliced off an old IDE cable, worked great, Wii plays ALL backed up titles I've thrown at it regardless of the media and the burn speed. My Wii w/Cyclowiz is rock solid.

[handles26]

Its pretty much all I've ever used.

[dipswitch]

My first attempt I used IDE cable. Couldn't get the solder to stick well and wires got frayed. My second attempt I used an SCSI cable. Worked much much better.

[AceMilo]

Don't use an ide cable, a scsi cable, an ethernet cable, etc, it just isn't a good idea. You should always be using fresh wires for installs. A 30 foot spool of 30 awg from radio shack is like 4 bucks and will last you through like 50 wii's easily, probably more. You can even order if from the site if yours doesnt have stock (which was my case when I first needed it a few years ago). I only opened one spool a few years ago and it lasted me through dozens and dozens of installs on every system.

[handles26]

My first attempt I used IDE cable. Couldn't get the solder to stick well and wires got frayed. My second attempt I used an SCSI cable. Worked much much better.


If you tin the wires they wont fray and it sticks. Also if you need the wire to be thinner you can just snip a few strands off before tinning.

I dunno perhaps its just me but I love to work with it.

[dipswitch]

Photo of my SCSI cable install.
http://i15.tinypic.com/2ebguhs.jpg

The SCSI cable I used is single core copper and was easy to work with. Plus it fits my application nicely
http://i18.tinypic.com/4hluxwg.jpg

I've got 30guage wire but didn't want to use it for this install. I will when I decide on a final interior mount.

[handles26]

The point where the wires are on the Wii look exactly like IDE cable. There are a few different kinds, but the stuff I use is exactly what that SCSI cable is made out of.