Proper Management of Fiber Patch Cord

srijeda , 01.06.2016.

Past several years has witnessed a rapid deployment of fiber optic patch cables in optical communication networks. Compared with electrical cables, fiber patch cords (or called fiber optic jumper) are designed with enormous bandwidth capabilities, which make them preferred in digital and analog data transmission. These jumpers are fiber optic cables that are terminated at each end with connectors that plug into various pieces of equipment, available in single-mode and multi-mode patch cord versions (with OM3 patch cable widely used for short-reach transmission).

As fiber optic technology develops, the installation of fiber patch cords becomes increasingly easy nowadays. But to guarantee smooth networking performance, the proper patch cable management is essential. With proper management, it’s simple to go on cable operation and maintenance, saving time and cost. This article mainly discusses five factors that need to be considered during patch cord management.

Kinks, snags, pinches and poor contacts can dramatically reduce the performance of a fiber patch cord. The following factors are important in avoiding these problems.

Bend Radius
Since fiber optic cable made of glass has a fragile core, it requires great care and attention to avoid breaking this core during cable termination and operation. And in no case is fiber’s bend radius allowed. The minimum bend radius for patch cords varies with cord diameter. For 1.6mm and 3.0mm cords, the minimum un-loaded bend radius is 1.4 in (3.5cm), and for InstaPATCH Plus MPO patch cords, the minimum bend radius is ten times the cord diameter. If a fiber cable is bent excessively, the optical signal within the cable may refract and escape through the fiber cladding which will cause a loss of signal strength and is known as bend loss.

In addition, bending, especially during the installation and pulling of fiber patch cable might also cause micro cracks, and damage the fiber permanently. Generally, there are two basic types of bends in fiber, which are microbends and macrobends, with the latter larger than the former (as is shown below).


Patch Cord Path
This factor is closely related to the bend radius. The patch cable path should be clearly defined and easy to follow. Improper cable routing can lead to increased congestion in the termination panel, increasing the possibility of bend radius violations and possible failure in long-term. However, the well managed patch cable path ensures that bend radius requirements are maintained at all points, making accessing individual patch cable easier, quicker and safer. If the existing cord is the right length, it may be possible to re-use it. If this is the case, remove the cord completely and re-run it in through the cable pathways. This is the only sure way to ensure there are no tangles, kinks or strains in the cord.

Patch Cord Pulling & Stress
It’s not advised to use excessive force during the patching process, since too much force can stress cords and connectors, degrading their performance. If you need to use force in pulling a cord and there is something wrong, then stop and find the problem, and fix it before proceeding.

Patch Cord Accessibility
If the installed patch cable is easy to be accessed, the maintenance and operation would be quick without inducing a macrobend on an adjacent fiber. Accessibility is critical during network reconfiguration operations and directly impacts operation costs and network reliability.

Physical Protection
Patch cords that are routed between pieces of equipment can largely affect network reliability. Without proper protection, they would be easy to be damaged by technicians and equipment accidentally. Thus, physical protection of the installed patch cords is very important.

After discussing patch cord management, hers is another notice. Patching patch cord is critical in the first time, since its mistakes may cause disruption. Thus, after managing patch cord, taking time to make a final visual check on connections is a good investment. When patch panels are mounted in enclosures, ensure these are securely closed and, where necessary, locked, making sure that cord slack is not snagged or pinched by the doors.

Conclusion
Proper management of fiber patch cord can help to decrease operating costs and the time required to turn-up or restore service, making the operation reliable and flexible. As a professional fiber patch cord manufacturer, Fiberstore Cable Management provides ideal solutions for the distribution of cables and access to power, data and communication services on the wall and under the floor and for pole. Keep in mind those above-mentioned five factors, then the proper cable management is halt-succeeded.

Oznake: fiber optic patch cables, fiber optic jumper, OM3 patch cable, fiber patch cord manufacturer, cable management