The difference between fiber patch cord and fiber pigtail

There are many types of jumpers and pigtails. The main difference between jumpers and pigtails is that only one end of the pigtail has a connector, while both ends of the jumper have connectors. In layman's terms, the jumper is cut from the middle and there are two tails. fiber.

Fiber Patch Cords and Fiber Pigtails

1. What are jumpers and pigtails?

A jumper is a cable directly connected to a desktop computer or device to facilitate the connection and management of the device. The jumper has a thicker protective layer and is often used between terminal boxes and optical transceivers. Only one end of the pigtail has a connector, and the other end is an optical fiber connector.

2. Specifications and types of jumpers and pigtails

Jumpers are generally distinguished by single-mode and multi-mode in data transmission equipment. The color of single-mode jumpers is usually yellow, and there are two wavelengths, 1310nm and 1550nm, respectively, and the transmission distances are 10km and 40km respectively; color of multi-mode jumpers Usually orange, the wavelength is 850nm, and the transmission distance is 500m. According to the type of connector, it can also be divided into the following types:

FC type jumper: circular optical fiber connector, additional metal sleeve reinforcement, fixed by turnbuckle.

SC-type jumper: rectangular connector, fixed by plug-and-pull type, without rotation.

ST-type jumper: round connector, using snap-on connection, the fixing method is turnbuckle.

LC type jumper: square connector, the fixing method is made of modular jack (RJ) latch principle which is easy to operate.

The types of pigtails mainly include single-core pigtails, double-core pigtails, 4-core pigtails, 12-core bundle pigtails, 12-color bundle pigtails, SC bundle pigtails, FC bundle pigtails, and LC bundle pigtails. Pigtails and ST bundled pigtails. In addition to these, it can be divided into the following types:

Bundle pigtail: This type of pigtail, also known as pigtail bundle, consists of Corning tight-buffer fiber, aramid fiber reinforcement, and a flame-retardant PVC protective jacket, compared to other types of pigtails. More popular and widely used.

Ribbon pigtail: The ribbon pigtail is the same as the bundle pigtail, both of which are multi-core pigtails. The ribbon pigtail contains 12 core fibers, one end is used for fusion splicing, and the other end is equipped with a connector.

Armored pigtail: The outermost layer of this type of pigtail has an extra layer of metal protective sheath than conventional pigtails, so it will be more durable than ordinary pigtails.

Fiber pigtail: low insertion loss, high return loss, good interchangeability and repeatability, very convenient to use.

Waterproof Pigtail: With a dense protective cover and waterproof sealing connector, it is suitable for harsh environments.

3. Application of jumpers and pigtails

The jumper is mainly used for the connection between the optical fiber distribution frame or the optical fiber information socket to the switch, the connection between the switch and the switch, the connection between the switch and the desktop computer, and the connection between the optical fiber information socket and the desktop computer. For management, equipment room and workspace subsystems. Pigtails are mainly used in optical communication systems, optical access networks, optical data transmission, optical CATV, local area networks (LAN), test equipment, optical sensors, serial servers, FTTH/FTTX, telecommunication networks and pre-terminated installations.

Fourth, the precautions for jumpers and pigtails

1. The transceiver wavelength of the optical module connected by the jumper must be the same. Generally, the short-wave optical module is matched with a multi-mode jumper, and the long-wave optical module is matched with a single-mode jumper to ensure the accuracy of data transmission.

2. The jumper should reduce the winding as much as possible during the wiring process, which can reduce the attenuation of the optical signal during the transmission process.

3. The connector of the jumper should be kept clean. After use, the connector should be sealed with a protective cover to prevent oil stains and dust from entering. If it gets stained, it should be cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

4. The pigtail is relatively slender, and the cross section of the pigtail is at an angle of 8 degrees. It is not resistant to high temperature and will be damaged when it exceeds 100 °C. Therefore, avoid using it in a high temperature environment.

V. Conclusion

In the optical fiber transmission system, pigtails and jumpers are the main tools, and neither one is missing. There are also extremely high requirements for data transmission. The quality of the ferrule, the technology and method of production all determine the stability of data transmission.