Bulk Fiber Optic Cabling System

Fiber optic cables are designed for long distance and high bandwidth (Gigabit speed) network communications. Bulk fiber optic cables carry communication signals using pulses of light. While relative expensive, these cables are increasingly being used instead of traditional copper cables, because fiber offers more capacity and is less susceptible to electrical interference. So-called Fiber to the Home (FTTH) installations are becoming more common as a way to bring ultra high speed Internet service (100 Mbps and higher) to residences.

Copper cabling uses electricity to transmit signals from one end to another, bulk fiber optic cable uses light pulses to accomplish the same purpose. The fiber optic cable is made of a transparent glass core surrounded by a mirror like covering called cladding. Light passes through the fiber optic cable, bouncing off the cladding until it reaches the other end of the fiber channel – this is called total internal reflection. As fiber-optics are based entirely on beams of light, they are less susceptible to noise and interference than than other data-transfer mediums such as copper wires or telephone lines. In today’s high speed networks, Graded Index Multimode fiber or Step Index Single mode fiber cable is used to improve light transmission over long distances. Multimode fiber optic cable has a larger core like large core fiber and is typically used in short runs within buildings. Single mode fiber optic cable has a smaller core and is used in long distance runs typically outside between buildings.

While fiber optic cables have so many advantages and widely used in today’s communication. You should take in mind that fiber optic cables are fragile. Fiber cable can be pulled with much greater force than copper wire if you pull it correctly. Just remember following rules:

Do not pull on the fibers. The fiber optic cable manufacturers give you the perfect solution to pulling the cables, they install special strength members, usually Kevlar cutter or a fiberglass rod to pull on. Use it! Any other method may put stress on the fibers and harm them. Most cables cannot be pulled by the jacket. Do not pull on the jacket unless it is specifically approved by the cable manufacturers and you use an approved cable grip.

Do not exceed the maximum pulling load rating. On long runs, use proper lubricants and make sure they are compatible with the cable jacket. On really long runs, pull from the middle out to both ends. If possible, use an automated puller with tension control or at least a breakaway pulling eye.

Do not exceed the cable bend radius. Fiber is stronger than steel when you pull it straight, but it breaks easily when bent too tightly. These will harm the fibers, maybe immediately, maybe not for a few years, but you will harm them and the cable must be removed and thrown away!

Do not twist the cable. Putting a twist in the cable can stress the fibers too. Always roll the cable off the spool instead of spinning it off the spool end. This will put a twist in the cable for every turn on the spool! And always use a swivel pulling eye because pulling tension will cause twisting forces on the cable.

Check the length. Make sure the cable is long enough for the run. It’s not easly or cheap to splice fiber and it needs special protection. Try to make it in one pull, possible up to about 2-3 miles.

Buy High Quality Optical Cables From FiberStore

Fiber optic lines, which can be as thin as a piece of human hair, are used to transmit light signals and carry these signals over long distances, are widely used in networks.

There are many different types of fiber optic cables. All of the cables are defined by the number of fibers in the cable, the type of fibers (MM or SM), the size of the fiber (50, 62.5 or 125um) and the type of material used to enclose the fibers. The material used to enclose the fibers have many names. Some of the names are generic and others are names used by the cable manufacturer.

Regardless of which type of cable is used, information is transmitted in the same manner. Because the inside of fiber optic cable is coated with a reflective service, total internal reflection is present within the fiber optic cable. In order to transmit information through the interior of the fiber optic cables, analog information must first be converted into digital signals. Once this information is converted, lasers are able to transmit the digital signals in the form of pulses of light.

Because there is total internal reflection within the fiber optic cables, the information that is being transmitted in the form of light is able to continuously bounce off the reflective surfaces of the fiber optic cable. This is important, because even when the fiber optic cable is laid through an area that requires it to bend or twist, the total internal reflection allows the light to continue traveling through the cable to its final destination.

After you figure out these things, you may start to consider where to buy fiber optic cable with high quality and reasonable price?

Buying optical fiber cables for any engineering project is something that requires cautious approach. One cannot settle on poor quality cables in order to avoid expenses which eventually can lead to fire accidents resulting in even more expenditure.

Well, over the Internet, there are more chances of fiber optic cable manufacturers and suppliers. Accordingly, buyers increase their chances of buying high quality cables when they make purchase online. Also, since the competition is quite tough, the entrepreneurs sell the cables at amazingly competitive prices and what best platform can be there to find such prices if not the online medium?

Apart from quality and less prices, buying cables from FiberStore provides you with a range of options to choose from. Over the Internet, you can find fiber optics in a number of variants such as bare optical fiber, tight buffer fiber, large core fiber, simplex fiber cable, duplex fiber, OM3 OM4 fiber optic cable, waterproof cables, indoor outdoor fiber optic cable, ribbon fiber, loose tube cable, lszh cable, armored cables, FTTH fiber, figure 8 fiber optic cable, plastic fiber, pof cable, adss cable, hybrid fiber cable, etc.

Indeed, buying cables online is sensible. However, buyers can ensure that the FiberStore cables must be purchased from famous brands such as Corning – one of the leading industrial cable manufacturers in American.

Large Core Fiber Technology

A large core fiber is common fiber optic cable with a relatively large fiber core. Large core multimode fibers have a core diameter of 100 μm or even 400 μm which is really larger than the typical cables of 50 μm or 62.5 μm. A single-mode large core fiber also has a large effective mode area.

Here, the term large mode area fiber is more common and more appropriate, since the large mode area is a particularly important property: it results in reduced nonlinear effects combined with a high beam quality. You’ve probably seen this product type in high-end applications such as pools, fountains, or as accent lighting on the outside of buildings, strung on trees, lighted pathways for emergency routes, steps, refrigerated display cases, and a multitude of other applications.

Comparison of bare (uncoated) fibers with a standard large core size (e.g. 8 μm diameter) and a large core (50 μm diameter)

Pros and Cons Of Large Core Fiber

Large core fibers are flexible, but not as flexible as the same diameter made from small diameter fibers. When bent at sharp angles, large diameter fibers are less efficient, as they lose more light than small diameter fiber counterparts.

Large core fibers do a better job coupling light from large focal spot devices with the use of a single large core. There are physical limitations associated with traditional plastic and glass fibers, both must be made in small diameters to maintain flexibility. Therefore, these fibers are gathered in “bunches ” to make larger working diameters.

Large core end lit fiber works in same manner as traditional bulk fiber optic cable and offers some advantages over some traditional cables design.

In general, large core fiber advantages over traditional bulk fiber optic cable
1. Can be field applied and installed by almost anyone. (no grinding or polishing is required; but the “cleave” should be uniform and perpendicular to the body of the fiber)
2. More light is transmitted (within equivalent areas).
3. Better color rendering – more light stays in the fiber for longer distances, making the light output look “whiter” or “brighter”.
4. Approximate the look of neon without the cost.
5. Higher temperature resistance than PMMA (Plastic acrylic) fiber (100C vs 70C).
6. Available in side emitting type.
7. Reduced transmission of IR energy – less heat is transferred (No filters required).

Disadvantages
More prone to deterioration from UV sources.
Exposure to water/moisture will corrode the core, special jacketing is required for outdoor use.
Prone to chemical metamorphosis within the core, the material becomes less flexible over time.

End face preparation of large core optical fiber is essential to obtain best transmission performance, particularly when high optical power is injected into the fiber. The best transparency is obtained by cleaving the fiber as opposed to polishing where small scratches always remain.

Recommend you to buy fiber optic cable from FiberStore who markets an extensive line of large core fibers. The product is easily adapted to outdoor applications.