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What Are the Most Popular Fiber Optic Cable Types?

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Recently, as the fiber optic cable is used more and more widely than earlier years, people also know more about the fiber optic cables than before. Usually, we learn that the fiber optic cables are divided into two basic types: single mode fiber and multimode fiber. However, according to the fiber optic cable is used for indoor or outdoor, there are many other fiber types too. These fiber optic cable types are all the popular ones which are available in the current market. Then I will introduce these various fiber types to you in this article.

Fiber Optic Cable Types: Indoor Fiber Optic Cables

In terms of indoor fiber optic cables, distribution cable, breakout cable, ribbon cable and LSZH cable are some popular types. Distribution cable and breakout cable all contain several jacketed simplex optical fibers packaged together inside an outer jacket, but in distribution fiber optic cable, tight buffered fibers are bundled together, with only the outer cable jacket of the cable protecting them. Besides, buffered fiber in distribution cable is 900 µm, which is smaller in size and costs less than breakout cable. Distribution cable is usually installed in intra-building backbone and inter-building campus locations. And breakout fiber optic cable is suitable for short riser and plenum applications. Ribbon cable includes up to 12 fibers contained side by side within a single jacket and is often used for network applications and data centers. LSZH cables are offered as an alternative for halogen-free applications. They are less toxic and slower to ignite which makes them a good choice for many internal installations.

breakout fiber optic cable types

Fiber Optic Cable Types: Outdoor Fiber Optic Cables

In terms of indoor fiber optic cables, however, tight buffered cables, loose tube cables, armored cables and submarine cables are some common popular fiber cable types. Among them, submarine fiber optic cables become more and more popular in recent years. These cables are used in fresh or salt water. To protect them from damage by fishing trawlers and boat anchors they have elaborately designed structures and armors. Other cable has armors is armored cable. Armored fiber optic cable includes an outer armor layer for mechanical protection and to prevent damage. They can be installed in ducts or aerially, or directly buried underground. Armor is surrounded by a polyethylene jacket. Tight buffered cable and loose tube cable are two early common outdoor fiber cables. Tight buffered cables have riser and plenum rated versions. These cables are flexible, easy to handle and simple to install. In loose tube cables, tube encloses multiple coated fibers that are surrounded by a gel compound that protects the cable from moisture in outside environments. This cable is restricted from indoor use, typically allowing entry not to exceed 50 feet.

Armored Fiber Optic Cable Types

All these indoor and outdoor fiber optic cables play an important role in optical network. As they have different characteristics, they have different applications too. For this reason, when you choose fiber optic cables, you must take their usability into consideration. For more information, you can visit Fiberstore, which designs and manufactures all these popular fiber optic cables.

Related Article: Fiber Optic Cable vs Twisted Pair Cable vs Coaxial Cable

The Application and Types of Armored Fiber Cable

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What Is Armored Fiber Cable?
Armored fiber optic cable consists of a cable surrounded by a steel or aluminum jacket which is then covered with a polyethylence jacket to protect it from moisture and abrasion. It may be run aerially, installed in ducts, or placed in underground enclosures with special protection from dirt and clay intrusion.

armored fiber optic cable

Armored fiber optic cable is often installed in a network for added mechanical protection. Two armored fiber cable types exist: interlocking and corrugated. Interlocking armor is an aluminum armor that is helically wrapped around the cable and found in indoor and indoor/outdoor cables. It offers ruggedness and superior crush resistance. Corrugated armor is a coated steel tape folded around the cable longitudinally. It is found in outdoor cables and offers extra mechanical and rodent protection.

Types Of Armored Fiber Cable

indoor armored cable

Armored fiber cable can be divided into indoor armored fiber cable and outdoor armored fiber cable. With the fast development of fiber optic communication technology and the trend of FTTX, indoor fiber optic cables are more and more required to be installed between and inside buildings. Typical indoor armored fiber cable types include GJFJV, GJFJZY, GJFJBV, GJFJBZY, GJFDBV and GJFDBZY. Compared with outdoor use fiber cable, indoor fiber cable experiences less temperature and mechanical stress, but they have to be fire retardant, emit a low level of smoke in case of burning. And indoor armored fiber optic cable allows a small bend radius to make them be amendable to vertical installation and handle easily.

Features of Indoor Armored Fiber Cable

* Good mechanical property and environment property.
* Soft, agility, convenience for connect.
* Flexible and Easy to Handle
* Cables with Improved Attenuation Available
* Adapt to harsh environments and man-made damage.

outdoor armored fiber cable

Outdoor armored fiber cable is made to protect the optical fiber to operate safely in complicated outdoor environment. Most Outdoor Armored fiber cables are loose buffer design, with the strengthen member in the middle of the whole cable, the loose tubes surround the central strength member. Inside the loose tube there is waterproof gel filled, whole cable materials used and gels inside cable between the different components (not only inside loose tube) will help make the whole cable resist of water.

Features

* Excellent attenuation performance
* Dry water blocking for moisture protection
* Polyethylene jacket for weather and UV protection
* Breakout kits available
* Corrugated Steel Tape
* Rodent Resistant
* Waterblock gel available

Application of Armored Fiber Cable

Armored fiber cable is used in direct buried outside plant applications where a rugged cable is needed and/or for rodent resistance. Armored fiber optic cable withstands crush loads well, for example in rocky soil, often necessary for direct burial applications. Cable installed by direct burial in areas where rodents are a problem usually have metal armoring between two jackets to prevent rodent penetration. Another application for armored fiber cable is in data centers, where cables are installed under the floor and one worries about the fiber cable being crushed. Indoor armored fiber optic cables may have nonmetallic armor. Metallic armored fiber cable is conductive, so it must be grounded properly. As with other fiber optic components, there are different names or meanings used. “Armor” in some companies’ jargon denotes a twisted heavy wire rope type cable surrounding the entire poly cable sheath/jacket. Single or double armor (two opposite ply layers of the steel wire) is typically used underwater near shore and shoals. Inner metallic sheath members of aluminum and/or copper are used for strength and for buried cable locating with a tone set.

Related Article:  https://community.fs.com/blog/what-is-armored-fiber-optic-cable.html