Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The network cabling industry's fiber optic manufacturers over the last few
decades have been on a constant mission to develop the better fiber connector.
This means lower cost, lower dB losses, easier to terminate out in the field.
There have been over 100 connectors developed over the years but a select few
have stood the test of time and beat out their competition. Below we will talk
about the most common.
A fiber optic connector terminates at the end of a fiber optic cable and is
used when you need a means to connect and disconnect the fiber cable quickly. A
fiber splice would be used in a more permanent application. The connectors
provide a mechanical connection for the two fiber cables and align both cores
precisely so the light can pass through with little loss. There are many
different types of connectors but many share similar characteristics. Many
connectors are spring loaded. This will push the fiber ends very close to each
other so as to eliminate airspace between them, which would result in higher dB
losses.
There are generally five main components to a fiber connector: the ferrule,
the body, the coupling structure, the boot and the dust cap.
Ferrule-the ferrule is the small round cylinder that actually makes contact
with the glass and holds it in place. These are commonly made of ceramic today
but also are made of metal and plastic.
Body-This sub assembly holds the ferrule in place. It then fits into the
connector housing.
Connector Housing-This holds all sub assembly parts in place and has the
coupling that will connect to the customer's equipment. The securing mechanism
is usually bayonet, snap-in or a screw on type.
Boot-This will cover the transition from the connector to the fiber optic
cable. Provides stress relief.
Dust Cap-Just as it implies will protect the connector from accumulating
dust.
There are many types of connectors on the market. The major differences are
the dimensions and the method of connection to equipment. Most companies will
settle on one type of connector and keep that as a standard across the board.
It makes sense because all equipment has to be ordered with that specific
connector type and to have 2 or 3 different connector types can get messy. For
typical network cabling projects today LC is fast becoming the shining star of
fiber connectors. LC is a small form factor connector which means it requires a
much smaller footprint in your IT closet. Thus you can fit many more LC
connectors into you fiber panels then say ST or SC connectors.
ST Connector
The ST connector (or Straight Tip) was the first popular connector type to
be used as a standard for many organizations in their fiber network
applications. It was first developed by AT&T. Often called the "round
connector" it has a spring loaded twist bayonet mount with a 2.5mm round
ferrule and a round body. The ST connector is fast being replaced with the
smaller, denser SFF connectors.
SC Connector
The SC connector is a push-in/pull-out type connector that also has a 2.5
mm ferrule. It is very popular for its excellent performance record. The SC
connector was standardized in TIA-568-A, and has been very popular for the last
15 years or so. It took a while to surpass the ST because of price and the fact
that users were comfortable with the ST. Now it's much more competitive with
pricing and it is a very easy install, only requiring a push in and pull out
connection. This is very helpful in tight spaces. Simplex and duplex SC
connectors are available. The SC was developed by the Japanese and some say
stands for Standard Connector.
FDDI/ ESCON Connectors
You may see FDDI and ESCON(IBM) duplex fiber connectors in older
installations. These connectors will mate to their own networks and usually
will be seen at the wall outlet locations. These connectors use a squeeze tab
coupling mechanism. The closet side of the fiber will usually have a standard
ST or SC connector. The FDDI/ESCON connectors can be mated to SC or ST
connectors since they both have a 2.5mm ferrule. An adaptor would be required
in this case. The FDDI stands for Fiber Distributed Data Interface.
LC Connector
The LC connector was developed by Lucent Technologies, hence the LC. It is
a Single Form Factor Connector that has a 1.25mm ferrule. The attaching
mechanism is similar to an RJ-45 connector with the retaining clip. It is a
smaller square connector, similar to the SC. LC connectors are often held
together with a duplex plastic retainer. They are also very common in single
mode fiber applications.
MT-RJ Connector
MTRJ stands for Mechanical-Transfer Registered Jack and was developed by
Amp/Tyco and Corning. MTRJ is very similar to an RJ type modular plug. The
connector is always found in duplex form. The body assembly of the connector is
usually made from plastic and clips and locks into place. There are small pins
present that guide the fiber for correct alignment. MTRJ's also are available
in male or female orientation. They are only used for multi-mode applications.
They can also be difficult to test because many testers on the market do not
accept a direct connection. You usually need to rig up a patch cord adaptor kit
to make testing possible.
FC Connector
The FC connector you may find in older single mode installations. It was a
popular choice that has been replaced by mostly ST or SC type connectors. It
also has a 2.5mm ferrule. They have a screw on retaining mechanism but you need
to be sure the key and slot on the connector are aligned correctly. FC
connectors can also be mated to ST & SC's through the use of an adaptor.
Panduit Opti-Jack Connector
The Panduit Opti-Jack is a clean, tough duplex connector cleverly designed
around two ST-type ferrules in a package the size of a RJ-45. It has male and
female (plug and jack) versions.
Volition Connector
3M's Volition is a slick, inexpensive duplex connector that uses no ferrule
at all. It aligns fibers in a V-groove like a splice. Plug and jack versions,
but field terminate jacks only.
LX-5 Connector
LX-5 is like a LC but with a shutter over the end of the fiber.
MU Connector
MU looks a miniature SC with a 1.25 mm ferrule. It's more popular in Japan.
MT Connector
MT is a 12 fiber connector for ribbon cable. It's main use is for
preterminated cable assemblies and cabling systems. Here is a 12 fiber MT
broken out into 12 STs.
This connector is sometimes called a MTP or MPO which are commercial names.
Hopefully this guide may help you get an idea of what options are out there
for your fiber optic connector needs.
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