Category Archives: fiber optic pigtail

Fiber Optic Termination Overview

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When installing a fiber optic network, appropriate fiber optic termination is considered to be an extremely important part since it can affect the performance and reliability of the whole network. It is hence natural that much attention should be necessarily attached to this area nowadays. Besides, an increasing number of products concerning fiber optic termination are appearing on the market to make the termination task easier and more accurate. The article will make an overview of fiber optic termination.

What Is Fiber Optic Termination

Generally speaking, fiber optic termination acts as the connection of fiber or wire to a device, the device can be something like a wall outlet or equipment that allows for connecting the cable to other cables or devices. Based on this, fiber optic termination enables fiber cross connection and light wave signal distribution. Proper fiber optic termination is able to meet the demand for protecting the fibers from dirt or damage while in use and preventing excessive loss of light as well, which also contribute to smooth and efficient performance of the network.

Preparing for Fiber Optic Termination

Before performing fiber optic termination, one should get well-prepared to ensure a smooth and successful process of termination. The preparation for fiber optic termination involves several steps: gathering the supplies you need, stripping the outer jacket, cutting the kevlar, and stripping the buffer or coating. For supplies, you’ll need safety glasses, a fiber disposal bin, connectors, fiber optic cable, epoxy and syringes (or anaerobic adhesive), and polishing film. Tools used in fiber optic termination usually include fiber stripper, scribe, aramid yarn scissors, adjustable cable jacket stripper, polishing puck, polishing glass plate, and a rubber pad to polish the PC connectors, especially for single mode termination. Besides, You’ll also need to test equipment such as a power meter, FO tracer, reference test cables, a LED light source and a microscope to view the connector.

Methods of Fiber Optic Termination

It is commonly believed that fiber optic termination is often time-consuming and highly specializes. However, due to the continuous advancement in termination technology, fiber termination systems currently demand less training and produce higher quality fiber connections in less time.

Basically, three widely adopted fiber termination methods are available to operators: pre-polished connectors, epoxy and polish fiber termination and pigtail connectors.

Pre-polished Connectors

Pre-polished connector has a short length of fiber already installed into the ferrule by the manufacturer of the connector. Moreover, the manufacturer also polished the ferrule end face thus there is no need to carry out this step on-site. The fiber to be terminated must be prepared using a specialist cleave tool and inserted into the rear of the connector where an index matching gel is often used to bridge the gap between the two fibers. The terminated fiber is held in place using some form of crimp or locking mechanism on the rear of the connector.

Epoxy and Polish Fiber Termination

This type of connector requires the application of some form of epoxy (glue) between the fiber and the connector ferrule that firmly bonds the two elements together once the epoxy has dried. There are a number of different types of epoxy available:

Heat Cured Epoxy — uses some form of “oven” to cure the epoxy, which can be selected for the optimum performance within pre-determined temperature ranges. The epoxy may either need to be injected in to the ferrule by the technician or the connectors may be supplied with the epoxy already injected by the connector manufacturer.

Ambient Temperature Epoxy— cures at room temperature without the need for any power, making it suitable for on-site terminations.

Fast Acting (Anaerobic) Adhesive — use an accelerant to speed the curing time. It can cause problems if the technician is unable to complete the insertion of the fiber into the ferrule before the epoxy cures.

Pigtail Connectors

Splice-on connectors are an alternative to either the pre-polished connector systems or the epoxy method of termination. A pigtail is a short length of 900 micron buffered fiber that has been factory terminated with a fiber optic connector. Thus it eliminates the need for any on-site termination or polishing of the connector. Splicing the end of the fiber of the pigtail to the end of the fiber of the cable, the pigtail is then attached to the cable. Fusion splicing is a preferred splicing method, where the two fibers are melted together using a high powered electric arc, forming one, single, continuous strand of glass.

Pigtail

Fusion splicing often requires the use of precision fiber cleaving tools and a fusion splicing machine. The fusion splice machine is used to align the two fiber end faces automatically and fuse the two together to create a very low loss joint.

Fusion splicer

Conclusion

Since fiber optic termination is an indispensable part of the optical network installation, we should always keep in mind the importance of it and get fully prepared before performing the task. Moreover, selecting a proper and efficient termination method could also help to ensure the excellent performance of the network.

About Fiber Optic Pigtail

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Fiber optic pigtails are recommended or sometimes required when there is a need to make a transition from thin buffered fibers (250-900um), typical for distribution cables and not suitable for direct optical fiber connector termination, to cross-connection or equipment connection point. Pigtails mechanically or fusion connected to the distribution cable fibers simplify cabling system installation and servicing significantly. Fiber optic pigtails are used to achieve accurate mounting for precision alignment of fiber optical components. The fiber pigtails are usually used with fiber optic management equipment like ODF, splice closures and cross cabinets.

Fiber pigtail is piece of fiber optic cable with only one fiber optic connector on one side of the cable while leave the other side no connectors, so that the connector side can link to the equipment and the other side can be melted with optical fiber cables. Commonly used fiber optic pigtail types are SC, ST, FC, LC MT-RJ, SC/APC, FC/APC, E2000 fiber optic connectors. They are single mode types and multimode types.

Fiber optic pigtails the typical use is to link the fiber optic cable with fiber optic equipment, the fiber optic pigtail with connector side is used to link the equipment, while the other side of the pigtail is melted together with the fiber cable, by melting together the fiber glasses, it can reach a minimum insertion loss. Common types of fiber optic pigtails are usually with 0.9mm fiber cable diameter, and usually installed inside ODF unit. Most commonly used types are SC fiber optic pigtail, ST fiber optic pigtail,FC fiber optic pigail, LC fiber optic pigtail ,MT-RJ fiber optic pigtail,SC/APC fiber optic pigtail, FC/APC fiber optic pigtail and E2000 fiber optic pigtail.

Key Features

. Low insertion loss and back reflection loss
. Good exchangeability
. Good durability
. High temperature stability
. Compliant to IEC, TIA/EIA, NTT and JIS specifications
. Multimode and singlemode fibers
. Suitable for fusion or mechanical splicing

Specifications

Types: single mode, multimode
Terminations: FC, SC, ST, MU, LC, D4, DIN, E2000, MT-RJ, MPO, SMA, E2000
Insertion Loss (dB): less than 0.2 (PC and UPC)
Exchangeability: less than 0.2dB
Tensile Strength: less than 0.2 dB (0 to 15 kgf)
Temperature Range: -40℃ – +85℃

FiberStore INC. offer the waterproof fiber optic pigtail, they are produced strictly according to IEC standards, the products feature low insertion loss, high return loss, good interchangeability and repeat push-pull performance, which make them easy to use. The waterproof fiber optic pigtails are with strong jacket and waterproof sealed head connectors; they can be used in harsh environment. What’s more we also offer the fiber jumpers, MPO cable and more. If you would like to purchase our products, please contact us.

SC Fiber Optic Pigtail

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We supply fiber optic pigtails, including the single mode and multimode types, These fiber pigtails are with premium grade connectors and with with typical 0.9 mm outer diameter cables. Simplex fiber pigtail and duplex fiber pigtails are available, with different cable color, cable diameter and jacket types optional.

The most common is know as the fusion splice on pigtail, and the 12 fiber or 6 fiber multi color pigtails are easy to install and provide a premium quality fiber optic connection. The fiber optic pigtail connectors are compliant to IEC, TIA/EIA, NTT and JIS specifications. It is with one piece construction and pulls proof design. Low cost but high performance, which makes it one of the most popular cables. FiberStore supply the single mode 9/125, multimode 50/125, multimode 10Gb 50/125 and multimode 62.5/125 types fiber optic pigtail cables. They are with various PC, UPC, and APC connectors respectively. Our fiber pigtails are available in simplex or duplex versions, with custom design available.

FiberStore SC pigtail, with very competitive prices. We offer 3 primary fiber versions including the 9/125um single mode, 62.5/125 multimode and 50um OM3 10Gb types, These fiber pigtails are with premium grade SC connectors and with typical 0.9mm outer diameter cables. Simplex fiber pigtail and duplex fiber pigtails are available, with different cable color, cable diameter and jacket types optional.

Features

. Superior qualified standard PC, APC, UPC, SPC polishing;
. 100% optic test: Insertion Loss: ≤0.3 (PC); ≤0.2 (APC); ≤0.2 (UPC); ≤0.3 (SPC);
. 100% optic test: Return Loss: ≥45 (PC); ≥60 (APC); ≥55 (UPC); ≥50 (SPC);
. φ0.9mm, φ2.0mm, φ3.0mm cable optional;
. Single mode (9/125) or multi mode (50/125 or 62.5/125) fiber available;
. FC, SC, LC, MU, ST, MT-RJ, etc connector options
. Simplex and duplex connector available; 8) Good exchange ability and good durability;
. Available in fiber bunch, ribbon fan-out, pigtail available;
. Meets ISO9001, ROHS and Bell core GR 326-core standards;
. Customized specifications are welcomed.

Application

. CATV, metro test equipment;
. Telecommunication networks;
. Local area networks (LAN);
. Wide area networks (WAN);
. Premise installations;
6) Data processing networks;
7) Video and military active device termination.

FiberStore also provide a range of fiber jumpers, such as single mode fiber patch cables, MTP MPO cable and more, if you want to know more about fiber patch cords types, please contact us or visit our website.

Fiber Optic Pigtail Technology Wiki

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As fiber cable network is built by drawing the long lines of physical cables, it is highly impossible to lay a continuous cable end-to-end. Then there comes the fiber pigtail, one of the cable assemblies, has a connector on one end and a length of exposed fiber on another end to melt together with fiber optic cable. By melting together the glass fiber cable, it can reach a minimum insertion loss.

Pigtails are terminated on one end with a connector, and typically the other side is spliced to OSP (Outside Plant Cable). They may be simplex: (single fiber), or multi-fiber up to 144 fibers. Pigtails do have male and female connectors in which male connectors will be used for direct plugging of an optical transceiver while the female connectors are mounted on a wall mount or patch panel. Fiber optical pigtails are usually used to realize the connection between patch panels in a Central Office or Head End and OSP cable. Often times they may also provide a connection to another splice point outside of the Head End or central office. The purpose of this is because various jacket materials may only be used a limited distance inside the building.

You may confused the purpose between fiber optic connector, fiber optic patch cord and fiber optic pigtail. Here we will figure it out.

Fiber optic connector is used for connecting fiber. Using one or two fiber optic connectors in one cable has two items with different assistance in fiber optical solutions.

Fiber optic patch cords(or called fiber jumpers) used as a connection from a patch panel to a network element. Fiber optic patch cords, thick protective layer, generally used in the connection between the optical transceiver and the terminal box.

Fiber Optic Pigtail called pigtail line, only one end of the connector, while the other end is a cable core decapitation. Welding and connecting to other fiber optic cable core, often appear in the fiber optic terminal box, used to connect fiber optic cable, etc.

Fiber optic cable can be terminated in a cross connect patch panel using both pigtail or field-installable connector fiber termination techniques. The pigtail approach requires that a splice be made and a splice tray be used in the patch panel. The pigtail approach provides the best quality connection and is usually the quickest.

Fiber pigtails are with premium grade connectors and with typical 0.9mm outer diameter cables. Simplex fiber pigtail and duplex fiber pigtails are available, with different cable color, cable diameter and jacket types optional. The most common is known as the fusion splice on pigtail, this is done easy in field with a multi-fiber trunk to break out the multi-fibers cable into its component for connection to the end equipment. And the 12 fiber or 6 fiber multi color pigtail are easy to install and provide a premium quality fiber optic connection. Fiber optic pigtails can be with various types of fiber optic terminations such as SC, FC, ST, LC, MU, MT-RJ, MTP, MPO, etc.

Pigtails offer low insertion loss and low back-reflection. They are especially designed for high count fiber optic cable splicing. Pigtails are often bought in pairs to be connected to endpoints or other fiber runs with patch cables.