Category Archives: Fiber Optic Pigtail

Difference between Fiber Pigtail & patch cords

Optical fiber patch cords are made from either single or multi-fiber cables (usually rated for indoor use) and connected at each end with an optical connector (either single fiber or multiple-fiber connector). Sometimes patch cords are called jumpers, especially if they are simplex or dulex. The connectors are selected to mate with the interfacing equipment or cable connectors. The important idea is that the cable has a connector at each end. The fiber can be either tight or loose buffered and the cable can be made of various diameters (1.2 mm to 3.0 mm are common). The patch cord may have one type of connector (ST FC, SC, LC, etc) on one end and a different connector on the other as long as all the fibers are connectorized on each cable end – this is a transition jumper. Patch cords are commonly used to connect ports on fiber distribution frames (FDFs).

12fibers SCUPC SM pigtail

fiber pigtail of Fiberstore

mtpmpo3

Fiberstore optical fiber patch cords with mtp connector

 

A fiber pigtails is a cable (like a pach cord or jumper) with only one end terminated with an optical connector. Patch cords are often cut into shorter lengths to make two pigtails. Pigtails are found anywhere, but more commonly in optical assemblages or optical components (in a box)

Experience of Cut the fiber jumpers

I also have used fiber optic jumpers in place of pigtails for customer directed repairs. I prefer proper equipment use per application, however I have noticed that with a fusion splicer the only complication is either the fan out assembly or the splice tray fit and the lack of color coding possibilities if using only jumpers .I do like the ability of testing a connector prior to splicing it on, but following the pigtail termination I always OTDR the fiber to ensure quality installation. That is followed at the completion of a installation with a light loss meter.

Yes, cutting a jumper gives you 2 connectors. but 2 fiber pigtails are purposed for the task of providing connectors for a permanent link installation. while the jumper is purposed with the task interconnecting two such connectors.
Standard designs that customers receive are clearer to understand as the specific function of each item is known. If the bill of materials reflects : 144 pigtails for 12 individual 6 strand fiber cables and 72 jumpers to connect to equipment to ports provided. but the list of extra jumpers and nonstandard use of jumper cables in a proposed design might be enough to scare a customer away.if i was a contracting officer and I read: 72 jumpers to be used as pigtails for 12 individual 6 strand fiber cables and 72 jumpers to connect to equipment to ports provided.

Fiber Optic Pigtail Technology Wiki

As fiber cable network is built by drawing the long lines of physical cables, it is highly impossible to lay a continuous cable end-to-end. Then there comes the optical fiber pigtail, one of the cable assemblies, has a connector on one end and a length of exposed fiber on another end to melt together with fiber optic cable. By melting together the glass fiber cable, it can reach a minimum insertion loss.

Pigtails are terminated on one end with a connector, and typically the other side is spliced to OSP (Outside Plant Cable). They may be simplex: (single fiber), or multi-fiber up to 144 fibers. Pigtails do have male and female connectors in which male connectors will be used for direct plugging of an optical transceiver while the female connectors are mounted on a wall mount or patch panel. Fiber optical pigtails are usually used to realize the connection between patch panels in a Central Office or Head End and OSP cable. Often times they may also provide a connection to another splice point outside of the Head End or central office. The purpose of this is because various jacket materials may only be used a limited distance inside the building.

You may confused the purpose between fiber optic connector, fiber optic patch cord and fiber optic pigtail. Here we will figure it out.

Fiber optic connector is used for connecting fiber. Using one or two fiber optic connectors in one cable has two items with different assistance in fiber optical solutions.

Fiber optic patch cords(or called fiber jumpers) used as a connection from a patch panel to a network element. Fiber optic patch cords, thick protective layer, generally used in the connection between the optical transceiver and the terminal box.

Fiber Optic Pigtail called pigtail line, only one end of the connector, while the other end is a cable core decapitation. Welding and connecting to other fiber optic cable core, often appear in the fiber optic terminal box, used to connect fiber optic cable, etc.

Fiber optic cable can be terminated in a cross connect patch panel using both pigtail or field-installable connector fiber termination techniques. The pigtail approach requires that a splice be made and a splice tray be used in the patch panel. The pigtail approach provides the best quality connection and is usually the quickest.

Fiber pigtails are with premium grade connectors and with typical 0.9mm outer diameter cables. Simplex fiber pigtail and duplex fiber pigtails are available, with different cable color, cable diameter and jacket types optional. The most common is known as the fusion splice on pigtail, this is done easy in field with a multi-fiber trunk to break out the multi-fibers cable into its component for connection to the end equipment. And the 12 fiber or 6 fiber multi color pigtail are easy to install and provide a premium quality fiber optic connection. Fiber optic pigtails can be with various types of fiber optic terminations such as SC, FC, ST, LC, MU, MT-RJ, MTP, MPO, etc.

Pigtails offer low insertion loss and low back-reflection. They are especially designed for high count fiber fusion splicing. Pigtails are often bought in pairs to be connected to endpoints or other fiber runs with patch cables.