Tips for Fiber Splicing and Termination

Fiber cable for premises applications comes in many varieties of construction. When terminating or splicing these cables, the cable ends must be prepared to provide access to the fiber. Needless to say, fiber cable termination and splicing is a rather vital part of the whole cable installation process. This article will offer you a reference guide to delivery smooth and efficient fiber splicing and termination.

Fiber Cable Termination

Let’s start with illustrating various methodologies for optical fiber termination. Each has benefits and drawbacks, including the skill level required. Most methods are available for all connector styles. As with other connectivity components, procedures are rather component specific. Installers should refer to the applicable procedures.

NOTE: Bear in mind that there is a difference in the tolerance between single-mode fibers (SMF) and multimode fibers (MMF) mechanical connectors. You may use SMF connectors on MMF, but you may not use MMF connectors on SMF.

Pigtail Splicing: This method involves splicing a factory-made assembly onto the end of the cable. The assembly consists of a short piece of cable, pre-terminated on one end with the connector of choice. The advantage is that the connectors are pre-installed. The non-terminated end is spliced (typically fusion) to the cable.

No Polish Connectors: It is similar to pigtail splicing, minus the short piece of cable and using a mechanical splice rather than fusion. The connector actually contains a mechanical splice designed to mate with the fiber of the installed cable. The advantage is that the connector end face does not require field polishing.

Heat-Cured Termination: This method utilizes a heat-cured epoxy to secure the connector to the cable end. The installed fiber terminates at the connector end face and must be field polished.

Crimp Termination: This one utilizes a mechanical crimp or compression to secure the connector to the cable end. The installed fiber terminates at the connector end face and must be field polished.

Guide for Fiber Cable Termination

Following are the steps for terminating fiber cables:

Step One: Verify that the correct termination components have been selected, compatible with both the fiber and the connecting hardware.

Step Two: Arrange the wiring scheme and organize cable by destination (rack, panel, etc.). If desired, optical fiber cable may be dressed or combed for a neat appearance

Step Three: Trim the cable length to reach the termination point without putting the cable under stress or violating the bend radius. Be sure to maintain cable identification.

Step Four: Follow the connectivity hardware manufacturer’s instructions for installing the termination hardware/connectors.

• Beware of anything crushing or excessively bending fibers or tubes.
• Properly bond and ground any cables with metallic components.
• If using a pigtail, protect all splices with a splice sleeve and suitable splice enclosure.

Step Five: Loosely bundle all exposed cable, preferably with hook-and-loop style straps.

Step Six: Clear out the work area.

Fiber Cable Splicing

In general, splices are best avoided. And it often can be avoided due to the relatively short distances typical of premises networks. If splices are required, fusion splices (see details here) are recommended due to lower attenuation. However, mechanical splices are allowed. All fusion splices should be protected by a splice sleeve. All splices should be housed in a splice tray. All outdoor splices should be stored in an environmentally suitable splice closure.

Although there are common standards to ensure interoperability between cable and hardware, many hardware features are manufacturer specific. Therefore, the following steps should be used in conjunction with the instructions/guidelines relevant to the fiber splicing solution being employed.

Steps of Fiber Splicing

Step One: Verify that the correct fiber splicing method has been chosen, making sure that the tools and hardware facilitate the method to be used. There are some factors to consider when calculating splice and closure size.

• Cable construction
• Cable fiber count
• Splice type
• Splice location

Step Two: The space needs of the splice closure, the working space, and the cable pathway leading to the splice are important factors that need to be considered. The cable should not be bent so that it twists or violates the minimum bend radius.

Step Three: Use safety precautions to set up the splicing area using ladders or scaffolding, where required.

Step Four: Install a support structure for the splice if necessary. Sustain the proper bending radius of the cable, and keep room for the appropriate splice closure.

Step Five: Install the closure as the closure manufacturer’s instructions, and perform the splice with the splice/splicer manufacturer’s instructions, including but not limited to the following:

• Cable preparation – often the cable manufacturer’s guidelines and closure manufacturer’s guidelines must both be referenced to achieve the proper procedures and measurements.
• Secure all cables to prevent movement relative to the closure.
• Properly bond and ground any cables with metallic components.
• Provide sufficient fiber length inside the closure. Consider both current access and possible future changes. Balance fiber length on both sides of the splice to aid in neat fiber storage.
• Protect all splices with a splice sleeve and store all splices and slack fiber in a splice tray.
• Label the splice per the customer specification and update as-built drawings as necessary.

Step Six: Clear out the work area.

Conclusion

The process of fiber splicing and termination can be more complex in real-case practice. The guide for fiber splicing and termination offered in the article is considered feasible and convenient. I hope you could benefit from this.

Originally published: http://www.fiber-optic-solutions.com/tips-fiber-splicing-termination.html

Ease Fiber Termination With Pigtails

We know the way that cables are attached to the system is quite essential to the performance of the telecommunication network, be it a wiring closet, a building entrance or at points between the transmitter and the receiver. As the cable is connected properly, it enables optical signals to pass with little return loss and low attenuation. Joining optical fibers with a fiber pigtail is proven and considered to be an effective way to ease fiber termination—which is we are going to talk about in this article.

Fiber Pigtail Overview

Also known as bare fiber, fiber pigtail is a kind of optical cable terminated with an optical connector on one end and unterminated fiber on the other. Therefore the end with a connector can be linked to the equipment while the other side is melted together with another optical fiber. In fact, fiber pigtail can be considered as fiber optic patch cable since they are similar in structure, and a fiber patch cable can be divided into two pigtails. Fiber pigtail has various different interfaces and couplers. Common fiber pigtails are usually with 0.9mm fiber cable diameter, and installed inside ODF unit.

Common Classifications of Fiber Pigtail

Fiber pigtails are available with various kinds based on fiber type, connector type and endface type. Some common classifications of fiber pigtail are listed below.

Classified by Fiber Type

According to fiber type, fiber optic pigtails can be divided into single-mode (colored yellow) and multimode (colored orange) fiber. Multimode fiber optic pigtails use 62.5/125 mm or 50/125 mm bulk multimode fiber cable and terminated with multimode fiber optic connector at one end. Besides, 10G multimode fiber cable (OM3 or OM4) is also available in fiber pigtails. The jacket color of 10G OM3 and OM4 fiber pigtail is usually aqua.

Classified by Connector Type

According to different types of fiber connectors that terminated on the end of a fiber pigtail, there are LC fiber pigtail, SC fiber pigtail, ST fiber pigtail, FC fiber pigtail, MT-RJ fiber pigtail, E2000 fiber pigtail and so on. With different structures and appearance, each of them has their own advantages in different applications and systems.

Classified by Endface Type

While based on the endface type, fiber optic pigtails can be divided into UPC and APC versions. Most commonly used types are SC/APC pigtail, FC/APC pigtail and MU/UPC pigtail.

Tips for Easier Fiber Termination With Pigtail

As we have explained at the beginning of the article, fiber pigtail plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and performance of the system. Meanwhile, it is a rather critical component to ease fiber termination as well. Let’s see how fiber pigtails achieve this.

Selecting Quality Pigtails

Pigtails are attached to cables by fusion or mechanical splicing, both of which provide a fast termination method and hence speed the termination process. While pigtails bridge a critical junction in the fiber-optic network, installers need to choose one made with reliable components. Basically, pigtails are cable assemblies, which means the parts contained in pigtail—a connector, a ferrule, standard fiber and jacket types, are components that every experienced fiber technician is familiar with.

Among these components, however, the quality of the connector stands out as the most crucial one. And elements like insertion loss, the type of polish used and how well the connector is terminated to the cable are extremely vital. Since you have to use fiber and connector types that meets a particular application’s needs. Selecting the proper product depends on job specifications. Ferrule material, whether zirconia ceramic, plastic or stainless steel, must also be specified when ordering a pigtail. Notice that always ordering pigtails a few feet more than you think you`ll need. The extra slack allows for splicing errors to be corrected, or you may have to start with another pigtail.

Saving More Labour Cost and Time

While the majority of single-mode applications use pigtails, they are also used in many multimode applications. One of the benefits of the pigtail is lower labor costs: Installers working with single-mode fiber typically have access to a fusion splicer, and with a fusion splicer you just splice the pigtail right onto the cable in a minute or less.

The quality of fiber pigtail is typically high because the connectorized end is attached in a controlled environment--the factory. And the factory can make single-mode pigtails more accurately than a field termination can be done. Testing a pigtail in the field is not easy, because in the field you are dealing with unknowns, but in the factory, you are dealing with credible measurements. Which on the other hand saves much time spent on field termination.

Conclusion

Fiber pigtail serves as a feasible and reliable solution for easier fiber termination, which effectively contribute to save plenty of operating time and labour cost. The performance of fiber pigtail matters a lot, so the quality of connector, ferrule material as well as cable length of pigtails should be considered to ensure easier fiber termination.

First published: http://www.fiber-optic-solutions.com/ease-fiber-termination-pigtails.html