Fiber optics are being used more and more widely due to their characteristics of being immune to electromagnetic interference, low loss, and high communication capacity. However, due to their fragility and low mechanical strength, extra caution is required when installing fiber cables. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the specific precautions to take when installing cables to avoid wasting fiber, excessive fiber loss, or link failures.
Proper installation of fiber cables ensures efficient and stable operation. The following are some precautions to consider when installing fiber cables:
In order to avoid quality issues after installation and eliminate potential disputes caused by cable damage, it is recommended to test the quality of the fiber cable before installation. The testing does not need to be complex or time-consuming, a fiber continuity tester can be used to verify that the cable is not damaged. If the fiber can transmit light signals properly, it indicates that there is no damage. If there are any signs indicating quality problems with the fiber, further testing or refusal to use it is necessary.
If any abnormalities are found during the installation process, it is advised to perform post-installation testing. The issues could be caused by excessive pulling of the cable or other reasons. Any problems may affect the quality of the fiber, and it is better to discover and resolve them as early as possible.
When installing fiber cables, it is necessary to consider the minimum bending radius and tensile strength of the fiber to avoid unnecessary loss or link failures. Before using the cable, you should accurately measure the required length to maintain the minimum loss budget. It should be noted that during the cable installation, do not exceed the maximum tensile force or minimum bending radius of the cable.
Since the fiber core is made of glass and is relatively fragile, the most common damage is the fracture of the core caused by exceeding the maximum tensile force of the fiber. Therefore, during the installation process, the maximum tensile force of the fiber must not exceed the specified range.
During cable installation, it is best not to exceed the minimum bending radius of the fiber. If the degree of bending of the fiber exceeds its minimum bending radius, it may cause fiber rupture or increase in link attenuation. If the fiber components are not damaged, when the degree of bending of the fiber is reduced, the attenuation value of the link will return to normal.
The maximum installation length in the vertical direction of the fiber cable refers to the weight-bearing capacity and tensile strength of the fiber. Each fiber cable has limitations on its vertical installation length without intermediate support points, and exceeding the defined range will cause certain damages to the cable.
