Although Fiber Optic Cables are widely used in communication engineering, many people lack in-depth understanding of their selection. We frequently receive inquiries from customers online or by phone about how to choose the right Fiber Optic Cable. Today, we'll explain how to select Fiber Optic Cable products from the perspectives of structure, materials, and manufacturing processes.
I. Selecting Fiber Optic Cables Based on Materials: The materials used and manufacturing processes of Fiber Optic Cables are crucial to their lifespan. The manufacturing process is a vital factor affecting cable quality. Products with stable processes and excellent quality generally have minimal fiber loss throughout the entire production process; ≤0.01dB/km is a basic indicator of a manufacturer's Fiber Optic Cable manufacturing level. The main materials used in optical fiber cables include: fiber cores, fiber optic grease, sheathing materials, and PBT (polybutylene terephthalate). Each has different quality requirements. Fiber cores require high power handling capacity, a high signal-to-noise ratio, a low bit error rate, a long amplifier spacing, and high information carrying capacity. Fiber optic grease refers to the grease filling the fiber optic tube; its function is twofold: first, to prevent moisture in the air from corroding the fiber; and second, to act as a cushion, buffering the fiber from vibration or impact.
II. Selecting Optical Fiber Cables Based on Core Count: Optical cables of different models can be categorized by core count into several types, including central loose tube, stranded, skeleton, and ribbon. Different applications require different structures, and users can specify their requirements based on line conditions. Generally, cables with 12 cores or less use the central loose tube type. The central loose tube type is simple to manufacture and low in cost, making it competitive in overhead installations or trunk networks with good duct protection. Stranded optical cables use centrally placed steel strands or single steel wires for reinforcement, employing SZ splicing to form the cable, and can have up to 144 cores. Its advantages include waterproofing, resistance to strong tensile forces, and strong lateral pressure. It can be directly buried underground. It is also easy to branch; that is, when individual fibers in the cable need to be used separately, it is not necessary to cut the entire cable, but only the fibers to be branched can be cut. This is beneficial for data communication networks and for adding optical nodes along the route of cable television networks. Ribbon cables can have thousands of cores. They are made by arranging 4-12 optical fibers in rows to form Ribbon Fiber units, and then arranging multiple ribbon units in a certain way to form a cable. For network-level optical cables, we generally choose either bundled tube type or layered type.
III. Selecting Fiber Optic Cables According to Application: Optical cables can be classified according to their application, such as aerial cables, direct-buried cables, duct cables, submarine cables, and non-metallic cables. Aerial optical cables require high strength and a low temperature coefficient; buried optical cables require good resistance to burial, pressure, moisture, and humidity, as well as resistance to chemical corrosion; duct and submarine optical cables need good resistance to water pressure, tensile strength, and waterproofing; non-metallic optical cables can be laid alongside high-voltage lines, requiring good insulation and, although lacking a metal reinforcing core, still needing a certain tensile strength. Therefore, when purchasing optical cables, users should choose according to the intended use and make demands on the manufacturer to ensure stable and reliable operation.
In conclusion, the selection of optical cables cannot be simply based on the price per core. Instead, it should be based on a comprehensive consideration of the cable's structure, raw materials, manufacturing process, and technical specifications. We should not simply choose the cheapest product. Many factors need to be considered, not only its service life but also the overall performance standards of the project—to put it more seriously, the stability and security of the national communication network.
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