Faster to Know Fiber Patch Cables and Choose it Correctly

Fiber optic patch cable, a quite simple but necessary fiber optic products in our optical network, all people who works in the fiber optical industry almost have some knowledge about it. It mainly includes a fiber optic cable and a connector on its end parts, and this kind of fiber optic cable is used to communicate with different optical devices or other electronic devices for transmitting the signal, since these points, we can believe that has different types, different connectors, different lengths, different applications and so on. However, these differences can help me choose what we need and today this page will explain fiber patch cables from different aspects and hope this page give you some helps.

fiber patch cable

Firstly, we must have it in mind is fiber optic connector, as you know, at its end parts we can see that many different connectors, the commonly used connectors are ST, SC, LC, MT-RJ, FC, MU, SMA, ESCON, FDDI and etc…, well, the two sides all can be different, it just means such as LC to ST fiber patch cable, FC to sc fiber patch cable and others. Fiber application for fiber optic connectors can be singlemode and multimode patch cable, we usually see it and it sometimes abbreviation as SM and MM patch cable. Of course, they can have different options, for example, singlemode LC to ST fiber patch cable or multimode FC to SC fiber patch cable… The Figure show four common types of fiber connectors.

connector

As for the the differences between singlemode and multimode fiber optic cables, singlemode is an optical fiber cable with a small core (eg 2-9 microns) that supports one mode and multimode is an optical fiber with a core (25-200 microns) that supports several mode and the core size is also different, commonly SM is 8.3/125 and multimode is 62.5/125, except this, singlemode used to high speed, long distance links and multimode used for lower speed and short distance links. Then another category is usually forgotten, the mode conditioning fiber cables, it is specific to gigabit ethernet applications, all these cables are not interchangeable. By the way,there are some types we have to mention it, it is simplex and duplex cable, simplex cable has a single fiber and duplex cable has two fibers and they usually in zipcord (side by side) style, simplex 3mm and duplex 3mm are shown as the Figure.

simplex and duplex

Secondly, the jacket types are we also nend to know, available jacket types are PVC riser, ofnp plenum, indoor and outdoor riser, indoor and outdoor plenum, aerial and direct burial, waterproof fiber optic patch cords, ribbon fiber optic cables and bunched fiber optic cables. In Fiberstore, PVC/lszh patch cables category are OM1, OM2, OM3 cables and OM4 fiber cables, and the OM3 and OM4 provide data transfer speeds of 10G in 10Gbe high bandwidth applications via OM4 fiber, it is faster than equal μm OM2 fiber, and the OM1 and OM2 fiber cables in Fiberstore all multimode fiber cables.

Finally, the pulling eye option is also important, it is the end of the cable to prevent damage during installation. During the fiber optic installation, the force is redirected to the body of the cable instead of the core or connectors, this reduces the stress and damage to the fibers, it maybe removed and reused. They are used in telecommunication network, active device termination, CATV networks and local area networks.

Well, when we know some knowledge of fiber patch cables, and the next step we need to know where to buy it, there is a quite good site for you, Fiberstore will be you good choice, it has professional solution to provide for you and high quality fiber cables to supply, include fiber optic cables and even fiber optic pigtails, more to say, Fiberstore is doing big sales for the festal arrival, if there are some needs, welcome to have a try.

How Many Types of Fiber Optic Patch Cables Available at FiberStore

FiberStore is a leading manufacturer of broad range of fiber optic and copper data communication cabling and connectivity solutions. Our products include fiber optic and copper cabling, fiber optic and copper connectors, fiber optic and copper patch cables, pre-terminated fiber optic and copper cable assemblies, etc. Fiber optic cable and fiber patch cables can be classified to thousands of types as the various in the fiber structures, fiber numbers, connector types (for patch cables only) as well as the application areas. Then, how many fiber patch cables does FiberStore provide? It is hard to give an actually number, because it is too many to calculate. To better interpret this answer, let’s start an overview on FiberStore fiber patch cable types:

It is well known that an optical fiber patch cord is composed of a fiber optic cables with two fiber connectors terminated on each end. It is typically used to in computer work station to outlet and fiber optic patch panels or optical cross connect distribution center. According to common cable structures, functions, and major applications, fiber patch cable can be divided into different types: common fiber patch cables, armored fiber patch cables, fiber optic pigtails, mpo/mtp fiber cables, fiber pigtails, multi-core fiber patch cables, and other special patch cables such as volition fiber patch cables, military grade patch cables, pre-terminated fiber cables, etc.

Common fiber patch cables
Common fiber patch cables refer to patch cables that commonly structured with fiber, out sheath and tight buffer. According the fiber fiber types, common fiber patch cables are generally divided into OM1 multimode, OM2 multimode, 10G OM3 and 10G OM4 types. All of them can terminated with a variety of connector types such as LC, SC, ST, FC, MU and MTRJ.

Armored Fiber Patch Cables
Armored fiber patch cable can be understanded as the armored fiber optic cable terminated with fiber connectors on each end. This patch cable use rugged shell with aluminum armor and kevlar inside the jacket, and it is 10 times stronger than common fiber patch cable. This will help make the armored fiber patch cord resistant of high tension and pressure. We supply armored fiber optic patch cable, including 10G OM4/ OM3, 9/125, 50/125, 62.5/125 fiber types.

Multi Core Fiber Patch Cables
Multi core fiber patch cord are individually reinforced fibers terminated with fiber optic connectors. When the optical fiber is terminated on both ends it is termed as patch cord. The multi core patch cable is widely used for CATV, LANS, Telecom, Video, active device termination, telecommunication networks and Gigabit. Varies connector types are available including SC, SC/APC, FC, FC/APC, LC, ST.

Fiber Optic Pigtails
Pigtail fiber optic cable can be get by cutting the fiber patch cables in the middle, so that the pigtail is an fiber patch cable with fiber connector at only one side to link to the equipment while the other side can be melt with optical cables fibers. FiberStore supply 10G 50/125, 62.5/125, 50/125 multimode optic pigtail with SC, ST, FC, LC MT-RJ, SC/APC, FC/APC, E2000 fiber optic connectors.

MPO MTP Fiber Cables
MPO fiber cables are designed to meet the multi-fiber technology for fiber optic network. . It uses a high-density multi-fiber connector system built around precision molded MT ferrule. FiberStore’s MPO fiber cables are available in UPC and APC and APC finishes, support both multimode and single mode applications, and optional lengths availableExcept for the mentioned types fiber patch cables, FiberStore also offers many other fiber patch cables, which will be introduced in the next article, you can also go to fiberstore.com to know the details in advance!

FiberStore Fiber Optic Pigtails

Optical fiber pigtails are recommended for sometimes required when there is a need to make a transition from thin buffered fibers (250-900 um), typical for distribution cables and not suitable for direct optical fiber connector termination, to cross-connection or equipment connection points. Pigtail fiber optic cable mechanically for fusion connected to the distribution cable fibers simplify cabling system installation and servicing significantly.

FiberStore pigtails are manufactured to meet TIA, IEC and Telcordia standard requirements. FiberStore pigtails based on 900-um buffered white cable are available in multimode 62.5 um OM1 and 50um OM2, OMC3, OM4 and singlemode, simples and multistrand, ST, SC, FC and LC versions.

Single-mode and multimode fiber optic pigtails shall be available in 3-meter lengths, made of OFNR fiber optic cable, and be compliant with TIA-568-C.3 Single-mode pigtails shall come in ST, SC, and LC connector styles, and offer UPC and APC polish types. Insertion loss shall average.3dB, but not exceed .5dB at 1310 nm and 1550 mm per mated pair. Multimode pigtails shall come in ST, SC, and LC connector styles, and offer 50 um (10G, 300 m) lazer optimized, 62.2 um core styles. Insertion loss shall average . 3dB, but not exceed .5dB at 1300 nm per mated pair.

Fiber optic patch cords include duplex LC, SC, ST, and duplex MT-RJ connectors on both ends. Fiber optic pigtails include simples LC, SC and ST on one end and open (unterminated) on the other end. Patch cords and pigtails meet requirements of TIA/EIA-568-C.3. 1. The fiber connectors are FOCIS compliant or compatible and meet the requirements of TIA/EIA-455-21A.

FiberStore fiber optic patch cords and pigtails support high speed data applications over installations that include entrance facilities, carrier equipment, telecommunications, patch field and CATV. The APC patch cords pass all TIA/EIA-5868-B.3 and ISO/IEC 11801 OS1 performance requirements and offer optimum performance compared to standard single-mode patch cords. The APC connectors provide a lower insertion loss and a higher return loss than standard UTP singlemode connectors. The pigtail fiber optic cable include LC, SC, MTRJ, ST pigtail and more in standard meter lengths.

What’s the Difference Between Optical Fiber Patch Cable and Fiber Pigtails

What’s the difference between fiber pigtail & fiber patch cord. Can we use a patch cord as fiber optic pigtail by cutting in the middle of the cable? I find such questions now and then on the Internet, it’s true that there are still some peoples that are not familiar with but still interested in such knowledge. Keep this in mind, we would like to take this topic into the discussion by collecting opinion from related answers:

What Is Fiber Optic Pigtail and Patch Cable

For some people, an optical fiber patch cable is ruggedized (providing additional fiber protection) and a pigtail is not (and therefore more brittle).

“I would expect pigtails while dealing with optical components, while when dealing with patch panels, equipment interconnections, etc. I would expect patch cables.” “I would also expect patch cables to be double-ended (i.e computerized at both ends) and pigtails to be single-ended (or not terminated).”

Patch cables have connectors on both ends. While pigtails have a connector on one end and bare fiber on the other.

In my opinion, I would agree with all of the above comments, and also give the simplest understanding of myself: the fiber optic patch cable = fiber optic connector + fiber optic cable + fiber optic connector, while the fiber optic pigtail = fiber optic connectors + fiber optic cable. We can really use a patch cord as pigtails by cutting in the middle of the cable.

Officially speaking, fiber optic patch cable, often called fiber optic patch cord or fiber jumper cable, is a fiber optic cable terminated with fiber optic connectors on both ends. I have two major application areas: computer workstation to outlet and fiber optic patch panels or optical cross connects distribution center. Fiber optic patch cables can be divided into different types based on fiber mode, cable structure, connector types, connector polishing types and cable sizes. All types of fiber optic patch cables can be found at FIBERSTORE.COM, LC patch cable is the most commonly used, other connector types include ST, SC, FC, etc. Which can be either the same types of connector on both ends or different connectors on each end (Hybrid fiber optic patch cables).

Fiber Optic Pigtail vs Patch cable

Fiber optic pigtail is a piece of cable terminated with fiber optic connectors at only one side of the cable while leaving the other side no connectors so that the connector side can link to the equipment and the other side can be melted with optical cable fibers. Pigtail fiber optic cables are usually used with fiber optic management equipment like ODF, splice closures and cross cabinets.

Commonly used fiber optic pigtail types are FC, LC, MU, E2000, MTRJ and ST pigtail. According to the fiber mode types, there are single mode types and multimode types.

fiber optic pigtail

The pigtail, when separate from a line, looks like a bundle of loose, capped wires that are bound together at one end. The bound end connects to the main cable, where the individual strands of the fiber pigtail are permanently fused, or spliced, to the multicore cable. When the process is complete, the pigtail is a non-removable piece of the system.

Conclusion

For more information on fiber patch cable and fiber optic pigtail as well as the ordering & custom availability, please send emails to sales@fs.com.

Related Articles:
Why Choose Pre-terminated Fiber Pigtail
Fiber Optic Pigtails: What Is It and How to Splice It?

How To Classify Fiber Optic Pigtails

Fiber optic pigtail can be considered as fiber optics patch cords. It comprises a fiber patch connector as well as an optical fiber cable. A fiber patch cable can be divided into two pigtails. Typical applications of fiber pigtail would be to link the fiber optic cable with fiber optic equipment. The connector side is used to link the gear, while the other part is melted together with the other fiber optic cable. By melting together the fiber glasses, it can reach the absolute minimum insertion loss.

Fiber optic pigtail has a number of different interfaces as well as different coupler. Common kinds of fiber optic pigtails are often with 0.9mm fiber cable diameter, and usually installed inside ODF unit. Based on the transfer mode, the fiber connector and the end face type, it can be classified to various kinds.

1) According to the transfer mode, fiber optic pigtails can be divied into Single-mode (sheath color is generally yellow) and Multi-mode (jacket color is usually orange). Single-mode fiber pigtail includes single mode fiber optic cable and terminated with single mode fiber optic connectors at the ends. Multimode fiber pigtail consists of multimode fiber optic cable and terminated with multimode fiber optic connectors at the ends. Obviously, there will be other colors, but many are of both of these colors.

2) According to the fiber connector, there are SC, LC, FC, ST, MTRJ, MU and so on.
The SC pigtail is compliant to IEC, TIA/EIA, NTT and JIS specifications. It is with one piece construction and pulls proof design. SC is inexpensive but high performance, which makes it one of the most popular cables.
The LC pigtail features the RJ-45 style interface with low insertion loss and occasional back reflection; it’s with high precision alignment and is widely used all over the world. It is with zirconia ceramic ferrule. The same time frame, the LC pigtail switch could be connected directly, without a coupler, When pigtail Connect one end from the cable, if you want to protect ought to be used in terminal box, and also the terminal box the best selection out pigtails box directly.
The FC fiber optic pigtail is compliant to IEC, TIA/EIA, NTT and JIS specifications. The FC connector is by using PC, UPC, APC versions. Both single mode and multimode versions have a zirconia ceramic ferrule.
The ST fiber optic pigtail is with metal outer body and with a long spring loaded ferrule contain the optical fiber. ST Cable could be 9/125 single mode or 50/125 multimode or 62.5/125 multimode. ST fiber pigtails connector ferrule interface could be PC, UPC or APC.
The MU fiber optic pigtail is NTT and JIS compliant. It is with tunable zirconia connector ferrule and features the little size, optical and mechanism performance is comparable because the SC. This pigtail has zirconia ceramic ferrule.
The MTRJ pigtail cable end is made of a duplex precision molded MT feruled connector. The MTRJ is by using duplex plastic ferrule and compliant to TIA/EIA 568-A. MTRJ is really a plastic ferrule connector pigtail.

3) Based on the end face 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.

As the key of fiber optic products manufacturer, FIBERSTORE supplies just about all types of fiber optic pigtail and MPO fiber, not only the most popular versions, but the waterproof fiber pigtails and armored fiber pigtails. They are produced strictly based on IEC standards, and have low insertion loss, high return loss, good interchangeability and repeat push-pull performance, which will make them easy to use.