Why Not Consider Splice-On Connector for Field-Termination?

There is no question that the demand for network capacity is accelerating dramatically as data traffic has proliferated. Hence, a great amount of optical fibers are deployed in the field in order to cope up with the requirements. Which inevitably exerts more work stress when polishing and terminating these massive fibers. Field-installable splice-on connectors, which can be terminated at the end of the cable in field by fusion splicing, can resolve this issue. This article will shed light on the functions and benefits of splice-on connector, and explain why we should consider it seriously.

What Is Splice-On Connector?

A splice-on connector uses a fusion splicer to permanently join a fiber stub inside the connector with a fiber cable. The splice is protected within the boot of the connector. Splice-on connector features a factory pre-polished ferrule that eliminates the need for polishing and adhesives so they can be crimped in the field. Splice-on connectors significantly enhance the effectiveness of the termination and installation, which allow for unsurpassed performance and flexibility in the field. Moreover, splice-on connectors are easily assembled that requires minimal skill or training, and it presents the same high quality as the factory terminated one.

The diagram above typically illustrates the SC type of the field-installable splice-on connector. It generally consists of 8 parts. In addition to stub, which is a ferrule with a short fiber, and heat shrinkable sleeve, all housing parts are almost the same design as the standard connector.

How to Assemble Splice-On Connector?

The process for splice-on connector assembly is fairly easy, and SC or LC version simply has the same procedures. Here we take SC splice-on connector for example, just follow these steps:

Why to Consider Splice-On Connector?

Splice-on connectors generally expand our options for field-termination, technicians nowadays incline to embrace the splice-on connector for OSP environment, data center installation and multi-dwelling unit (MDU) networks. Here are six reasons why we should consider splice-on connector to network.

Fewer Components and Material Required

With a splice-on connector, the pigtail is eliminated since the fiber stub inside the connector is permanently joined with a fiber cable. The splice is protected within the connector boot. There is no need for splice tray, slack management of fiber strands, or other accessory.

Better Insertion Loss and Return Loss

Splice-on connector has better performance on insertion loss and return loss when compared with mechanical splice. By utilizing a fusion splicer, a splice-on connector creates a continuous connection in the glass by “welding” cores together. Which results in robust performance at the splice.

Installation Flexibility

Splice-on connector gives installer much more flexibility by combining fusion splicing with a field-installable connector. It allows you to run drop cables to an end-user, cut the length you need and then attach the splice-on connector and plug it in, with no shorts or excess slack. Splice-on connector makes it possible to achieve durable, high-performance connection with the same amount of time it takes to complete a mechanical splice.

Well-Suited for Outdoor Environments

Most splice-on connector can be used in outdoor environments, providing permanent, robust connections in outdoor enclosures. They can remain stable through a wide range of temperatures and other harsh conditions.

Notification for Successful Splice

When technician successfully completes the splicing task, most fusion splicer can notify them. This decrease the chance for installer skill that is required for mechanical splicing, making it easy to use splice-on connectors regardless of you are a beginner or expert.

Significantly Decreased Price

The cost of fusion splicing tools once has stood in the way for the spread of fusion splicing. However, the industry has experienced significant decreases in splice prices in recent years. One can even choose to rent those devices if needed. Fusion splicing gains in much popularity that enables more installers to benefit from splice-on connectors for deployments.

Conclusion

Splice-on connectors simply combine the quality of fusion splicing with the ease of a field-installable connector. It enables technicians to realize greater efficiency and improve fiber management especially in tight space and high density environments. They have been extensively used in FTTx networks, cable TV backbone networks, outside plant and MDU FTTP cabling, as well as data center installation and connector restoration in the field. So why not consider splice-on connectors for your project?

Source: http://www.china-cable-suppliers.com/consider-splice-on-connector-field.html

How to Install Splice Protection Sleeve in Splice Holder?

Fusion splicing offers a simplified and convenient way to achieve fiber optic connectivity. Providing a rather consistent and low loss mating of fiber optic stands, fusion splicing is preferred by many installers as an efficient method to connect fibers together. Fragile as the fiber joint is, it is easily impacted by stress and outside force. Hence, a splice protection sleeve should be necessarily used to safeguard the fiber splice in field and factory operations. We will present several common types of splice protection sleeve here, and try to explain how to install it in splice holder.

Splice Protection Sleeve Description

Generally speaking, splice protection sleeve is typically used to protect fiber joint in the fiber optic fusion splicing work. It basically consists of three parts: a hot melt type adhesive inner tube and a strength member, enclosed in a cross-linked, polyethylene heat shrinkable outer tube. The design ensures consistent and reliable protection of spliced fiber, and secures fiber alignment from damage during shipping, handing and installation. Here we introduce the commonly used splice protection sleeve for you.

Single Fiber Splice Protection Sleeve

Single fiber splice protection sleeve is often with 40mm or 60mm length, whereas 45mm sleeve is specifically provided by some vendors. It is designed to offer simple, convenient and highly reliable ways to protect and reinforce single fiber splice. The highly transparent tube of single fiber splice sleeve allows for direct view of the inside joint part, which facilitates regular inspection and maintenance.

Ribbon Fiber Splice Protection Sleeve

Ribbon fiber splice protection sleeve is used to protect mass fusion splices of ribbons. Different from single fiber splice protection sleeve, it is capable of accommodating multiple fiber splices, ranging from 2, 4, 8, and up to 12 spliced fibers. The tubes of ribbon fiber splice protection sleeve are clear to allow viewing of the fiber during and after splicing. The entire assembly is designed to ensure that all members maintain perfect alignment during handling and shrinking.

Considerations Before Installing Splice Protection Sleeve

Before installing the splice sleeve to the splice holder, do not forget to carefully inspect the finished sleeve. Basically there may exist the following common problems.

1. Debris inside the sleeve, which can cause an attenuation increase or fiber break. The solution is to thoroughly clean the fiber before sliding on the sleeve and to store the sleeves in a plastic bag to prevent debris from entering the splice protection sleeve during storage.

2. Improper tension on the fiber. Fail to maintain tension on the fiber during the heat shrink process my cause non-parallel fibers that result in an attenuation increase or broken fibers. So it is essential to maintain tension on the fibers when placing into the tube heater, and avoid twisting the fiber when placing or removing from the heater.

3. Cable gel or grease inside sleeve. This may have a similar effect on the fibers as solid debris and may cause bending of the fibers in a relatively short span. The solution is to thoroughly clean the fiber before sliding on the sleeve, and to not touch the fibers once they have been properly cleaned.

4. Sleeve splitting when heated. This happens due to improper tube heater settings or because the sleeve suffered a cut or puncture before being heated. This can be avoided by ensuring correct tube heater settings and by keeping the splice protection sleeve in the plastic bag until ready for use.

Method to Install Splice Protection Sleeve in Splice Holder

The spliced fibers are always stored in a splice sleeve holding apparatus of splice trays. The holders can be foam or plastic depending on the construction and dimensions of the splice tray. In this part, we offer you a proper way to achieve safe and successful installation.

Correct Installation Method

The strength member inside the splice protection sleeve is designed to provide protection during installation and removal from splice holders. To this end, one could insert the spliced fiber into a holder with the strength member in the down position. Which means it is the strength member, not the fiber, that should be installed firstly into the target holder position. This minimizes contact of the fiber and facilitates remove a splice sleeve whenever necessary.

Incorrect Installation Method

Never install the fiber prior to the strength member or put the fiber and strength member parallel to the base of the fiber holder. This would exert excess stress to the fiber, splice protection sleeve and the fiber holder as well. The consequence is increased insertion loss of the fiber.

Conclusion

Small as it might be, splice protection sleeve provides robust and reliable protection to fiber splice in fusion splicing work. Appropriate installation of splice protection sleeve ensures optimum performance and accessibility when placed in splice holders and trays. And do remember to visually inspect the splice protection sleeve before seating them in holders.

Source: http://www.fiber-optic-solutions.com/install-splice-protection-sleeve-holder.html

How to Choose the Proper Cabling Pathway

Just as the old saying goes: it’s the little things that make the biggest impact. This is especially true when it comes to design a data center—there are so many factors to consider during the process, among which the proper cabling pathway construction only possesses a small part yet matters significantly. Data center designers are always aware of that multiple products must work together to ensure a successful pathway and cable management. This article will take a review of the commonly seen cabling pathway types.

What Is Cabling Pathway?

Cabling pathways allow the placement of data center trunk cables and cross-connect cables between racks and cabinets. Cabling pathway comes into two forms: overhead pathway and under floor pathway. Both of them are designed to accommodate all standards-compliant cabling and allow for necessary changes later. In other words, cabling pathway should support the weight of cables in the initial installation and also facilitate additional cables in the future. Which helps ensure robust pathways that respond well to cable work over the facility’s life cycle.

Cabling Pathway types Overview

Cabling pathway types come in a dazzle array of styles, in this section, we’ll illustrate some of them that widely used in work areas, wiring closets and for horizontal and backbone cable runs.

Conduit

Conduits are pipes that cable is placed in and pulled through, and it can be metallic or nonmetallic, rigid or flexible. They run from the telecommunications room to the work area outlets in the floor, walls, or columns of a building. To ensure that enough conduit be installed, it is recommended that the conduit would better be only 40 percent full by your current cable needs, or 60 percent full to the maximum. Which leaves you space for future growth.

Cable Trays

Cable tray serves as an alternative cabling pathway component to conduit, which can be installed as distribution system to route and support your cables. Typically, cable tray is open and equipped with sides that allow cable to be laid within the tray’s entire length. It is ideal to use cable tray to manage a large number of horizontal cable runs, due to their greater accessibility when it comes to maintenance and troubleshooting, as well as its ability to accommodate change.

Basket Tray

A basket tray serves as a cable tray that designed for light duty applications, which is lightweight and easy to install. Unlike ladder rack installation, to properly install a basket tray, certain level of experience is needed. Many of the accessories that accompany ladder racks also accompany basket trays, to ensure proper bend radius and a proper transition to the equipment rack.

Underfloor Cable Tray

An underfloor cable tray is used primarily in data centers. It resembles much as overhead support pathway types. However, when using under floor cable tray systems, the air space may be a plenum air space, so all cable and patch cables would need to be plenum to ensure proper air flow.

Ladder Racks

A ladder rack is made of tubular steel and comes in sizes from 6’’ to 36’’ wide. The installation of a ladder rack is simple and requires little trade experience. Ladder rack comes with many accessories such as 90-degree bends, waterfalls and cable retaining posts. These accessories allow the routing of cable without damage.

Raceways

Raceways are special types of conduits used for surface mounting horizontal cables. They are usually pieced together in a modular fashion with vendors providing connectors that do not exceed the minimum bend radius. Raceways are mounted on the outside of a wall in places where cable is not easily installed inside the wall. They are commonly used on walls made of brick or concrete where no telecommunications conduit has been installed.

Installation Considerations for Cabling Pathway

With the purpose of supporting the current needs as well as future growth, several essential factors should better be considered while designing and installing cable pathway.

• Overhead and underfloor cabling pathway should be installed in a matrix type method, allowing cables to be routed from point to point anywhere in the data center.
• When installing any types of cabling pathway, grounding and bonding are rather vital. Make sure that all racks, cabinets, and cabling support components are properly bonded and the system is grounded.
• Always leave room for future growth. All cable tray and ladder rack should allow room to accommodate at least 50% growth after the initial install.
• Be sure the heaviest cable in on the bottom of the tray or separated from the lighter cables, and separate the copper cables from the fiber cables if possible.

• Avoid mounting any types of cabling pathway in locations that block access to other equipment inside and outside the racks.
• Avoid routing pathways with copper cables near equipment, which may generate high levels of electrometric interference. Avoid areas around power cords, florescent lights, building electrical cables and fire prevention components.

Conclusion

The knowledge concerning different styles of cabling pathway lies the foundation of proper installation of data center pathway. Choosing proper cabling pathway type makes it easier to perform cable-related work and maintenance later. Make your decision on the basis of your unique working condition and environments, and do not forget to account for the factors mentioned below while perform cabling pathway installation.

Source: http://www.china-cable-suppliers.com/choose-cabling-pathway.html