We know the way that cables are attached to the system is quite essential to the performance of the telecommunication network. Joining optical fibers with a fiber optic pigtail is proven and considered to be an effective way to ease fiber termination. As the cable is connected properly, it enables optical signals to pass with little return loss and low attenuation.
Fiber optic pigtail is a kind of optical cable terminated with an optical connector on one end and unterminated fiber on the other. Therefore the end with a connector can be linked to the equipment while the other side is melted together with another optical fiber. In fact, fiber optic pigtail can be considered as fiber optic patch cable since they are similar in structure, and a fiber patch cable can be divided into two pigtails. Fiber pigtail assembly has various different interfaces and couplers. Common fiber pigtails are usually with 0.9mm fiber cable diameter, and installed inside ODF unit.
Fiber optic pigtails are available with various kinds based on fiber type, pigtail cable connector type and endface type. Some common classifications of pigtail cable assembly are listed below.
According to fiber type, fiber optic pigtail can be divided into single-mode (colored yellow) and multimode (colored orange) fiber. Multimode fiber optic pigtails use 62.5/125 mm or 50/125 mm bulk multimode fiber cable and terminated with multimode fiber optic connector at one end. Besides, 10G multimode fiber cable (OM3 or OM4) is also available in fiber pigtails. The jacket color of 10G OM3 and OM4 fiber pigtail is usually aqua.
According to different types of fiber optic pigtail connectors that terminated on the end, there are LC fiber pigtail, SC fiber pigtail, ST fiber pigtail, FC fiber pigtail, MT-RJ fiber pigtail, E2000 fiber pigtail and so on. With different structures and appearance, each of them has their own advantages in different applications and systems.
While based on the endface type, fiber optic pigtail can be divided into UPC and APC versions. Most commonly used types are SC/APC pigtail, FC/APC pigtail and MU/UPC pigtail.
Fiber pigtail cable plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and performance of the system. Meanwhile, it is a rather critical component to ease fiber termination as well. Let’s see how fiber pigtails achieve this.
Fiber optic pigtails are attached to cables by fusion or mechanical splicing, both of which provide a fast termination method. Basically, fiber pigtail assemblies are cable assemblies, which means the parts contained in fiber pigtail—a connector, a ferrule, standard fiber and jacket types, are components that every experienced fiber technician is familiar with. Notice that always ordering fiber pigtails a few feet more than you think you`ll need. The extra slack allows for splicing errors to be corrected, or you may have to start with another fiber pigtail.
One of the benefits of fiber optic pigtail is lower labor costs: given the access to a fusion splicer, you just splice the fiber pigtail cable right onto the cable in a minute or less.
The quality of fiber optic pigtail is typically high because the connectorized end is attached in a controlled environment–the factory. And the factory can make single-mode pigtail assembly more accurately than a field termination can be done. Testing a fiber pigtail in the field is not easy, but in the factory, you are dealing with credible measurements. Which on the other hand saves much time spent on field termination.
Fiber optic pigtail serves as a feasible and reliable solution for easier fiber termination, which effectively contribute to save plenty of operating time and labour cost. The performance of fiber pigtail matters a lot, so the quality of connector, ferrule material as well as cable length of pigtails should be considered to ensure easier fiber termination.
