@thread update
Good news, I havfe received a package from China, and I can now help everyone whom needs a ROM for their IDE adapters.
@avick
Sorry I missed your post earlier, I will send you a PM
@seaside
Hello my friend,
By far the simplist is the Spectrum +3 or black +2A/B models
Spectrum 128 +3 and Spectrum 128 +2A/B (Black model)
The +3 or the +2A/B (Black Model Spectrum) you need a ROM set, which is two programmable chips. in this case there are two 27C256 (2* 32K) for a 64K +3e or +2e ROM.
Pending on your choice of ROM's its as simple as plug and play. the standard +3e ROM's allow for two 16bit IDE (non atapi) device to run in 8bit IDE. However Pera's CF ROM allows for only one Compact Flash Card to be used however in full capacity mode.
The latter at the moment is better supported in getting data to the CF card, however it limits the number of attached devices and the device type.
At the moment I am working getting the Pera's CF ROM working with the IDE adapter - one needs to modify the CF-to-IDE adapter - once thats done I will upload some work done by Nuggetreggae on WoS that will blow-ones mind!
the spectrum +3 / 2AB (black model) has a solder point for bother +12v and +5v, so there easy to string up a hardisk to, on my +3e here I have a 3.3GB Microdrive Harddrive running in it!... its nice to see 1.67GB FREE space.... (as its in 8bit mode I only get to use half its capacity, but the Microdrives were so cheap that it really doesn't matter lol)
Other Spectrum models
Sinclair Sepectrum 48k / Spectrum + / Spectrum 128 and Spectrum 128 +2 (Grey model)
Now, if you wanted either the 48k, 128k (toast rack) or the 128k +2 (Grey model) then its only one 32K 27c256 programable chip.
while its possible to install one of these in a Spectrum + and the 128k toast rack - you will most likely have to desolder the ROM and the CPU (install sockets) to then install the adapter.
For Hard disk devices you will need to source power, on the 48k / 128k / 128k +2 (Grey) you will be limited on the voltage to only 5 volts from the regulator - which I would humbly suggest one upgrades to a 78s05 as this can provide more amps for devices.
CF cards would be better in these models as they are physically smaller as well as use less power than a hard drive - although one could power this externally.
IDE Cable Lengths
Maximum IDE cable length I have found depends on both quality - shielding and more importantly the CPU production date and manufacture.
for all the tests 12cms has worked flawlessly here, I have some that are comfortable with 20cm's but thats on newer production Z80 CPU's