What's is the difference between indoor/ outdoor, loose tube/ tight buffered fibre optic cable?
Choosing the best fibre optic cable for your network design is a difficult task. Here are some hands-on presentations of different types of fibre optic cable:
- Part 1: Loose Tube Indoor/Outdoor
- Part 2: Armored Outdoor Loose Tube
- Part 3: Interlocking Armored Tight Buffered
- Part 4: Indoor Outdoor Rated Tight Buffered
- Part 5: Zip Cord
- Part 6: Circular Premise
Zip cord cables are available to provide links to the future for such protocols as FDDI, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, ATM, and Fiber Channel. Connections are easy to terminate with this flexible, two-fiber design. Duplex cordage available in Plenum, Riser and LSZH in all diameters. One design for global companies that don't want to maintain multiple cable types for varying global standards. Compliant with Directive 2002/95/EC (RoHS).
Loose-tube fiber generally consists of 12 strands of fiber, but can range anywhere as low as 6, all the way up to 244 strands. Loose tube cables can be either dielectric or optionally armored. The modular buffer-tube design permits easy drop-off of groups of fibers at intermediate points, without interfering with other protected buffer tubes being routed to other locations. The loose-tube design also helps in the identification and administration of fibers in the system.
In a loose-tube cable design, color-coded plastic buffer tubes house and protect optical fibers. An optional gel filling compound impedes water penetration. Excess fiber length (relative to buffer tube length) insulates fibers from stresses of installation and environmental loading. Buffer tubes are stranded around a dielectric or steel central member, which serves as an anti-buckling element.
The cable core, typically uses aramid yarn, as the primary tensile strength member. The outer polyethylene jacket is extruded over the core. If armoring is required, a corrugated steel tape is formed around a single jacketed cable with an additional jacket extruded over the armor.
Source: M. Salinas, What is Fiber Optic Cable Part 1: Loose Tube Indoor/Outdoor, Youtube, 22 April 2013, 3:53
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv7rUJFteGc
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Loose-tube fiber generally consists of 12 strands of fiber, but can range anywhere as low as 6, all the way up to 244 strands. Loose tube cables can be either dielectric or optionally armored. The modular buffer-tube design permits easy drop-off of groups of fibers at intermediate points, without interfering with other protected buffer tubes being routed to other locations. The loose-tube design also helps in the identification and administration of fibers in the system.
The manufacture of this cable calls the armor a steel tape armor and is the fiber cable of choice for direct burial applications. If you are directly burying this cable check out our blog post on your frost dept line. You'll want to be under that frost line to avoid damaging your strands.
Source: M. Salinas, What is Fiber Optic Cable Part 2: Armored Outdoor Loose Tube, Youtube, 22 April 2013, 7:15
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq1jBPMxg3Y
Interlock armored fiber cable is a great alternative to installing innerduct. Interlocking Armored Riser Cables are standard cables placed inside a spirally-wrapped aluminum interlocking armor for ruggedness and superior crush resistance. Designed for use in riser and general purpose environments for intrabuilding backbone and horizontal installations, these multifiber cables use individually jacketed TBII Buffered Fibers enabling easy, consistent stripping and facilitating termination. This core is protected by a flexible, spiral-wrapped, aluminum interlocking armor that offers over seven times the crush protection compared to unarmored cables and easy one-step installation. With a flame-retardant outer jacket, this cable is particularly useful for heavy traffic or more challenging mechanical exposure conditions and applications requiring extra rugged cables.
Source: M. Salinas, What is Fiber Optic Cable Part 3: Interlocking Armored Tight Buffered, Youtube, 22 april 2013, 7:15 URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBTLc58G0Yk
Multi-fiber tight-buffered cables also are available and are used primarily for alternative routing and handling flexibility and ease within buildings. With tight-buffered cable designs, the buffering material is in direct contact with the fiber. This design is suited for "jumper cables" which connect outside plant cables to terminal equipment, and also for linking various devices in a premises network.
The tight-buffered design provides a rugged cable structure to protect individual fibers during handling, routing and connectorization. Yarn strength members keep the tensile load away from the fiber.
The "Indoor-Outdoor" rating also allows from installation from outside to anywhere inside without violating and National Electric Codes.
Source: M. Salinas, What is Fiber Optic Cable Part 4: Indoor Outdoor Rated Tight Buffered, Youtube, 22 April 2013, 3:18
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZljMjljn-I
Zip cord cables are available to provide links to the future for such protocols as 10 Gigabit Ethernet, ATM, and Fiber Channel. Connections are easy to terminate with this flexible, two-fiber design. Duplex cordage available in Plenum, Riser and LSZH in all diameters. One design for global companies that don't want to maintain multiple cable types for varying global standards. Compliant with Directive 2002/95/EC (RoHS).
Source: M. Salinas, What is Fiber Optic Cable Part 5: Zip Cord, Youtube, 22 April 2013, 2:15
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtyA9jD1Bf4
Bundled fiber cables are available up to a 144 strand count. Perfect choice for intrabuilding backbones and multi-floor deployment where selected fiber fibers are used at each floor.
Long story short, its a large indoor fiber jacketed cable construction.
Source: M. Salinas,
What is Fiber Optic Cable Part 6: Circular Premise
Youtube, 22 April 2013, 3:11
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGIvfywK4tc
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