Ribbon Cable - Heater Control Panel

[EzyGriff]

Over the winter a resident rodent finished off my mints in the glovebox then moved on to the cables behind the dash. Following a lovely time removing both dash panels I have discovered that the little scrote has chewed through part of the ribbon cable which connects the heater panel to a black box. I can probably make with the soldering iron and insulating tape in order to patch this up, but I'd rather replace the cable.

Does anyone know where I can buy one? The young chaps at Maplin were unable to help. It looks like an IDE or floppy-drive cable, but has only 20 wires with rectangular 2x10 female connectors at each end. The cable has the brand name "Spectra-Strip", but I've no idea where to start looking on their website without knowing what the original use was for the cable before Mr Wheeler got hold of it.

Cheers
Chris

[Pasco]

Give them a call with your description above I'm sure that will be enough info for them

http://www.spectra-strip.com/default.CFM


HTH

Edited by Pasco on Friday 20th March 18:53

[EzyGriff]

Fair point, but at 7pm on a Friday I'm stuffed until Monday. I was hoping to get the interior nailed back together over the weekend, so the post is in case anyone happens to know a retailer.

[blitzracing]

My friend had the same rodent infestation and I thought maplin did the individual bits, so you just clamp the IDC connectors on to make you own. Use the maplin search for IDC.

[EzyGriff]

Mark
"IDC" turned up all sorts of stuff. Just the tip I needed - thank you.
That still leaves the question: why the hell do they make them cheese flavour?!
Chris

[HRG]

Get a section of standard PC ribbon cable and strip away the unneeded cores. You should be able to reuse the existing black connectors to make up a fresh cable if you carefully open them with a small screwdriver. SCSI cables are generally longer.

ETA:

IDE ribbon *may* be a little thick.

Edited by HRG on Sunday 22 March 11:26

[EzyGriff]

Thanks Rob.
Recycling, eh? It could just catch on.

[blitzracing]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1449

I think these are the babys.

[EzyGriff]

Thanks Mark.