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Which cabling tools required for cabling system installation

It is advisable to use the proper tools when you start to install a data and video cabling system. If not, it will cost you many hours of frustration and diminshed quality. So, knowing what the right tools are ang where to use them is an essential part of the job.
Common cabling tools required for cabling system installation
A number of tools are common to most cabling tool kits: wire strippers, wire cutters, cable crimpers, punch-down tools, fish tape, and toning tools. Most of these tools are essential for installing even the most basic of cabling systems.>>Wire strippers

The variety of cable strippers represented in this section is a function of the many types of cable you can work with, various costs of the cable strippers, and versatility of the tools.

1. Twisted-Pair Strippers
Strippers for UTP, ScTP, and STP cablesare used to remove the outer jacket and have to accommodate the wide variation in the geometry of UTP cables. Twisted-pair cables can have irregular surfaces due to the jacket shrinking down around the pairs. Additionally, the jacket thickness can differ greatly depending on brand and flame rating. The trick is to aid removal of the jacket without nicking or otherwise damaging the insulation on the conductors underneath.

For wire (TTP/STP) or wire and multiconductor cable from 3.2mm to 9mm Ir-regulate out-shape insulation can be put into the front “V” and “U” guide, rotate the tool 1-3 times by index finger for stripping the outer insulation easily.
Note:When working with UTP, ScTP, or STP cables, you will rarely need Note to strip the insulation from the conductors. Termination of these cable types on patch panels, cross-connections, and most wall plates employs the use of insulation displacement connectors (IDCs) that make contact with the conductor by slicing through the insulation. In case you need to strip the insulation from a twisted-pair cable, keep a pair of common electrician’s strippers handy. Just make sure it can handle the finer-gauge wires such as 22, 24, and 26 AWG that are commonly used with LAN wiring.

2.Coaxial Wire Strippers

Coaxial cable strippers are designed with two or three depth settings. These settings correspond to the different layers of material in the cable. Coaxial cables are pretty standardized in terms of central-conductor diameter, thickness of the insulating and shielding layers, and thickness of

the outer jacket, making this an effective approach.

In the inexpensive (but effective for the do-it-yourself folks) model shown in Figure2, the depth settings are fixed. The wire stripper in Figure 2 can be used to strip coaxial cables (RG-58,RG-59and RG-6) to prepare them for F-type connectors.
 
Figure2:Coaxial Cable Strippers 3-blades model HT-312X

3.Fiber-Opt ic Cable Strippers

Fiber-optic cables require very specialized tools. Fortunately, the dimensions of fiber coatings,claddings, and buffers are standardized and manufactured to precise tolerances.
Figure3:FTTH Drop Cable Stripper                                                 Figure4:NO-NIK 175um Fiber Optic Stripper
                                               

The tools shown in Figure 4 that can strips loose tube (such as a 900um loose tube) and 250um, 400um or 500um coating to expose the 125um cladding without damaging the cladding.
>>Wire Cutters

If you use a regular set of lineman’s pliers to snip through coaxial and twisted-pair cables, or even use them for fiber optic cables, you will find cutting through the aramid yarns used as strength members can be difficult, and dull your pliers quickly. Aramid is used in optical fiber cable to provide additional strength.

So we need a special tool for something as mundane as cutting through the cable. Specialized cutters such as the one shown in Figure 5 are designed for multi-strand of copper or aluminum cable and brass material and preserve the geometry of the cable as they cut. This is accomplished using curved instead of flat blades


Figure5:Stanley Cable Cutting Plier 84-859-22
For fiber-optic cables, special scissors are available that cut through aramid with relative ease. Figure6 shows scissors designed for cutting and trimming the Kevlar strengthening members found in fiber-optic cables.
Figure6：Fiberstore Kevlar Cutter
>>Cable Crimpers
Modular plugs and coaxial connectors are attached to cable ends using crimpers. Crimpers are designed to apply force evenly and properly for the plug or connector being used. Some crimpers use a ratchet mechanism to ensure that a complete crimp cycle has been made. Without this special design, your crimp job will be inconsistent at best, and it may not work at all. In addition, you’ll damage connectors and cable ends, resulting in wasted time and materials.
1.Twisted-Pair Crimpers
Crimpers for twisted-pair cable must accommodate various-sized plugs. The process of crimping involves removing the cable jacket to expose the insulated conductors, inserting the conductors in the modular plug (in the proper order!), and applying pressure to this assembly using the

crimper. Modular plugs for cables with solid conductors (horizontal wiring) Note are sometimes different from plugs for cables with stranded conductors (patch cords). The crimper fits either, and some companies market a universal plug that works with either. Make sure you select the proper type when you buy plugs and make your connections.

Figure 7 shows a higher-quality crimper that has two positions: one for eight-position plugs and one for six four-position plugs.

Figure7: Twisted-Pair Crimping Tool 6p+8p HT-500R

2.Coaxial-Cable Crimpers

Coaxial-cable crimpers also are available either with changeable dies or with fixed-size crimp openings. Models aimed strictly at the residential installer will feature dies or openings suitable for applying F-type connectors to RG-58, RG-59, and RG-6 series coax. For the commercial installer, a unit that will handle dies such as RG-11 and thinnet with BNC-type connectors is also necessary.>>Punch-Down Tools

Twisted-pair cables are terminated in jacks, cross-connect blocks (66-blocks), or patch panels(110-blocks) that use insulation displacement connectors (IDCs). Essentially, IDCs are little knife blades with a V-shaped gap or slit between them. You force the conductor down into the V and
the knife blades cut through the insulation and make contact with the conductor. Although you could accomplish this using a small flat-blade screwdriver, doing so is not recommended. It would be sort of like hammering nails with a crescent wrench. The correct device for inserting a

conductor in the IDC termination slot is a punch-down tool.

A punch-down tool is really just a handle with a special “blade” that fits a particular IDC. There are two main types of IDC terminations: the 66-block and the 110-block. The 66-block terminals have a long history rooted in voice cross-connections. The 110-block is a newer design, originally associated with AT&T but now generic in usage. In general, 110-type IDCs are used for data, and 66-type IDCs are used for voice, but neither is absolutely one or the other. Different blades are used depending on whether you are going to be terminating on 110-blocks or 66-blocks. Although the blades are very different, most punch-down tools are designed to accept either. In fact, most people purchase the tool with one and buy the other as an accessory, so that one tool serves two terminals.

1.Punch-down tools are available as nonimpact in their least expensive form. Nonimpact tools generally require more effort to make a good termination, but they are well suited for people who only occasionally perform punch-down termination work.

2.The better-quality punch-down tools are spring-loaded impact tools. When you press down and reach a certain point of resistance, the spring gives way, providing positive feedback that the termination is made. Typically, the tool will adjust to high- and low-impact settings. Figure 8
shows an impact punch-down tool. Notice the dial near the center of the tool—it allows the user to adjust the impact setting. The manufacturer of the termination equipment you are using will recommend the proper impact setting.
Figure8:Pros’kit Impact Punch Down Tool PD-3141C

Fluke Networks Introduced New Versiv Familiy Cable Certification

Network test and monitoring solutions provider Fluke Network recently unveiled a new line of Versiv cable certification tester, which greatly improved the test time and accuracy as well as simplified the testing setup, planning, and reporting. This new line has an interchangeable module for copper, fiber and Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) testing with new software innovations.

The new Versiv family addresses the entire certification lifecycle and lower instances in which mistakes are made, thereby increasing the amount of installations that can be performed. The The new ProjX management system provides the overall umbrella for the Versivfamily of capabilities. It enables team leaders to set up test parameters to work across multiple jobs and media, as well as accelerates the planning and setup of projects by enabling technicians to capture consistent test parameters across an entire job. Test can be also performed across the entire job or switching between jobs by checking the different projects stored within the Versiv tester.

Versiv system’s interface is designed for ease of use in global ISO Level V test compliance applications. The tester is interfaced with an intuitive touchscreen which will give the detailed project analysit. If technicians run into a problem that can’t be addressed immediately, they can create a to-do list so it can be assessed by a more experienced technician. The new Versiv Cabling Certification family lets installer perform:

One platform for copper certification, fiber loss and OTDR testing

Certifies to Level V accuracy requirements for Cat6, Cat6A or Class FA

Test fibers with fully-compliant Encircled Flux measurement and merged Tier 1 (Basic) and Tier 2 (Extended) results

Versiv’s ProjX management system makes managing complex jobs easy.

Certify copper to Cat6A or Class FA in just 10 seconds.

Certify two fibers at two wavelengths in both directions in just three seconds

“When doing cabling installation and certification, the difference between having a job be profitable versus a loss, is often times just a few percentage points,” said Jason Wilbur, vice president and general manager of the datacom cabling installation business unit at Fluke Networks, via a press release. “In 2004, we defined the certification market with the introduction of our industry leading tester, the DTX, which was focused on certification testing speed. But today’s challenges have changed and our customers must improve their agility and reduce errors when working across multiple mediums, codes, and projects. The Versiv family is razor focused on helping our contractors profitably manage the complexities that are now part of their new normal.”

This new Versiv Cabling Certification family will shortly be available at FiberStore.

How To Test Ethernet Cable With Network Cable Tester


Whether installing new cable or troubleshooting existing cable, cable testing plays an important role in the process. But do you know the process of using cable tester to test Ethernet cable? First we should know the product of Ethernet cable and network cable tester clearly.

About Ethernet Cable
An Ethernet cable is one of the most popular forms of network cable used on wired networks. An Ethernet cable has eight wires that are arranged in four pairs. For current to flow correctly, the wire pairs must be connected in the proper order. Ethernet cables normally support one or more industry standards including Category 5 (CAT5) and Category 6 (CAT6).

Ethernet cables are physically manufactured in two basic forms called solid and stranded. Solid Ethernet cables tend to offer better performance and protection against electrical interference, while stranded cables are less prone to physical cracks and breaks making them more suitable for travelers and portable devices.

Computer networks use Ethernet cables to allow computers in the network to “talk” to each other. Ethernet cables connect network devices on local area networks such as PCs, modems, routers, switches and Fiber Optic Adapters. They transmit data using the Ethernet protocol.

About network Cable Tester

Basic network cable testers can test for simple connectivity issues but may not identify other problems that cause the cable to malfunction. Cabling may not work when it is near a source of interference or if the cable is too long. Intermittent faults may develop that do not show up when the cable is tested. Sometimes the problem is not sustained long enough to show up on the tester. Professional-level network cable testers may not only tell if an open circuit exists, but may identify where the break is located. Some also identify the gauge of wire used and can generate their own signal to test for interference.

When connected to an Ethernet cable, a network cable tester tells if the cable is capable of carrying an Ethernet signal. If the cable carries the signal, this indicates that all the circuits are closed, meaning that electric current can move unimpeded through the wires, and that there are no short circuits, or unwanted connections, in the wire. Network cable testers vary in complexity and price, but a basic tester consists of a source of electrical current, a measuring device that shows if the cable is good, and a connection between the two, usually the cable itself.

How to test Ethernet cable with Ethernet cable tester?

1.Reboot your modem/router. Unplug the power cord or hold down the reset button on your modem or router. Wait for 30 to 60 seconds then turn your modem/router back on.

2.Wait for your modem/router to re-establish a connection. Depending on your network hardware, it might take two to three minutes. If the problem persists, then try the network cable tester.

3.Turn on the network cable tester and plug one end of the cable into the “IN” Ethernet input on the network cable tester and the other end into the “OUT” input on the network cable tester.

4.Press the “Test” button on the network cable tester. The tester will send a signal across the Ethernet cable. If the signal gets from one end of the cable to the other, the tester will let you know if the test was successful, by displaying a green light, or unsuccessful, by displaying a red light.

5.Replace the Ethernet cable. If the test was unsuccessful, replace the bad Ethernet cable with a good one.

Follow the steps above, you generally know the error during installing new cables or troubleshooting existing cable. Correct it and finally have a smooth network.

PDH Optical Multiplexer Wiki

PDH Multiplexer, or Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy multiplexer, is a kind of point-to-point optical transmission equipment used to transport large quantities of data over digital transport media, such as fiber-optic and microwave radio systems. PDH Multiplexer is designed of highly integrated structure and provides 16 standard E1 interfaces together with one channel of order wire, with self-contained alarm and NM functions, as well as self-testing and E1 loop-back testing functions. The device is popularly with telecommunication operator. It is suitable in business for communication operator, government and kinds of entities.

PDH was developed in the early 1960s. It derives its names from the Greek term “plesio,” meaning near, and “chronos,” meaning time. The name refers to the fact that networks using PDH run in a state of almost, but not quite, perfect synchronization. PDH was the first standardized multiplexing hierarchy based on time-division multiplexing. It works by channeling numerous individual channels into higher-level channels.

Work Theory Of PDH Multiplexer
The PDH system is based on the theory that if you have two identical clocks, each the same brand, style and everything, there is no guarantee that they will run at the exact same speed. Chances are that one of them will be slightly out of synchronization with the other. The transmitting multiplexer combines the incoming data streams, compensates for any slower incoming information, reconstructs the original data and sends it back out at the correct rates. This system allows for that slight variation in speed and corrects it during transfer to keep the system constantly running without pausing and waiting for certain slower data to arrive before sending it on. PDH simply fills in the missing bits to allow for a smooth transfer of data.

PDH made little provision for management of the network, and the need to fully de-multiplex a high level carrier to extract a lower level signal meant that increasing the capacity of PDH networks beyond a certain point was not economically viable. The main economic factor was the cost of the equipment required at each cross-connect point within the network where either individual channels or low-level multiplexed data streams might need to be extracted or added. It also added additional latency and increased the possibility of errors occurring, thereby reducing network reliability.

Available Types Of PDH multiplexer
Traditionally, each channel in PDH was a digitized voice, but video information and data may also be sent over these channels. The basic channel is 64 Kbits per second, which is the bandwidth that is required to transmit a voice call that has been converted from analog to digital.

N*E1 PDH Fiber Optic Multiplexers use the PDH fiber transmission technologies. The 2M (E1) interfaces can connect with the exchanger, light loop device and multi-diplexer directly to form the micromini or the special network. Complete alarm function for N*E1 PDH Fiber Optic Multiplexers, it is stable, easy to maintenance and install, small in size. It can support one digital service telephone.

PDH Multiplexer can multiplex 4/8/16E1, Ethernet Media Converter (2*10/100Mbps) and V.35 signals in one fiber channel to transmit. It is suitable for low capacity, point-to-point application of remote transmission. The PDH Multiplexer can be applied to construct economical and flexible multi-service transmission networks, used for relay between switch offices, data transmission of LAN, 2M access of lease service for key clients, voice cutover for residental areas/intelligent buildings, and connection of base stations and other various digital transmission networks. Fiber Optic Multiplexer is reliable, stable, easy to install and maintain, which can be monitored from Fi-view-MST management software, which is widely used in voice and data application field.

Sumitomo and Fujikura Fiber Optic Cleavers from FiberStore

Fiber optic fusion splicing is always needed when we want to fuse two optical fibers together for the continuity of fiber optic cable plant. However, in the optical fiber fusion splicing process, fiber tips are required to have a smooth end face that is perpendicular to the fiber axis. Sufficiently perpendicular and planar fiber end face can be achieved via the fiber cleaving process.

Simply speaking, a fiber cleaver is a piece of tools of equipment to make a perfect fiber end face cut that will assure the quality of the joint of bare fibers in the optic fusion process, resulting in lower attention of the fiber connection line.

In the fiber cleaving process, the fiber is pressed against the little cut to force it to break at 90 angle and expose a mirror like fiber end face. The fiber is scratched with a very hard diamond edge scribing tool, which induces a sufficiently large surface crack, then the fiber cleaver applies a tensile stress to the fiber which caused the crack to expand rapidly across the fiber cross section. There are also types of fiber cleaves apply the tensile stress first and then scratch the fiber with the diamond edge scribing tool. A quality fiber cleaver is very essential in determining the fusion splicing loss. This is especially correct for some special fibers including dispersion-compensating fibers and erbium-doped fibers.

A fiber cleave is initiated by lightly scratching the surface of the fiber. When the fiber is thereafter pulled or bent, a crack will originate at the scratch and propagate rapidly across the width of the fiber. This produces a nearly flat cleave of an optical fiber. Under the direction of this idea, there developed a variety of commercial optical fiber cleaving tools in the market:

Some cleavers apply a tensile stress to the fiber while scratching the fiber’s surface with a diamond edge. There are also other designs scratch the fiber surface first, and then apply tensile stress. Some cleaves apply a tensile stress which is uniform across the fiber cross section while others bend the fiber trough a tight radius, producing high tensile stresses on the outside of the bend.

Fiber optic cleaving tool is usually designed for cutting different number of fibers at a time. Single fiber cleaver and ribbon fiber cleaver are typical. They work on the same principles but ribbon cleaver is for simultaneously cleaving all the fibers in a ribbon cable, which is somewhat interior to that of a single fiber cleaver. Most today’s fiber cleavers are suitable for precision cleaving of all common single silica glass fibers. There are also some special cleaver designed ones for applications such as in research, measurement technology and production of optic components.

Under on-side conditions, most high precision cleavers produce a cleave angle deviation within 0.5° with very high reliability and low scattering. Diamond bladed presents the highest cleaver quality and can last over 10,000 cleaves.

It is easy for a modern fiber cleaver to cleave a 125um diameter fiber, but difficult to cleave >200um fibers. This is especially turn when the fiber is not crystalline. Besides, torsion will produce a non perpendicular endface.

Typical brand for fiber optic cleaver are Fujiura, Sumitomo, Furukawa, etc. Typical models of these brand are also available at FiberStore.
Take Sumitomo FC-6S and Fujikura CT-30 for example. The CT-30 cleaver are available fro either single or ribbon fiber splicing applications. It is idea for FTTx applications and equally at home in a splicing van or in a bucked truck. With The 16-position blade yields 48,000 single-fiber cleaves, or 4,000 12-fiber ribbon cleaves beforerequiring replacement, and the built-in scrap collector conveniently stores fiber shardsuntil they can be safely discarded. The FC-6 cleaver is available with a single fiber adapter for 250 to 900 micron coated single fibers. This cleaver is simple for users to operate by removing or installing the single fiber adapter and alternate between mass and single fiber cleaving.

Additional information on a variety of fiber cleaving equipments, please visit FiberStore Fiber Optic Cleavers page or contact our sales team by sales@fiberstore.com.