There may be many questions and answers you are seeking within the topic of fiber optic connectors, which may be hard to find searching online as many articles today show irrelevant answers that have nothing to do with the topic.
Other than the basics of knowing how they are more reliable, durable and obviously more effective to be using.
Fiber Optic Connectors
Now here comes the part where we go back to the definition of “Fiber Optic Connectors” what they are used for and their overall idea behind them; known as both fiber optic connectors and optical fiber connectors, they are used to connect to a fiber optic cable by making it easier in the process of a quick connection and disconnection.This process makes it capable of obtaining a stable connection between both cable and connector, through ensuring the positions are aligned correctly together having both ends of the cables meeting, which will result in a continuous light path being made.
A fiber optic connector contains many small components within itself, from a ferrule (is defined as a small and fairly thin structure which is used to hold the glass fibers, the ferrule is a hardened material made from either metal or ceramics) which is used to keep the fibers held tightly together and have the connectors in alignment.
They also contain a sub-assembled body, stress relief boot and the overall housing of the connector and cable.
Types Of Connectors
Within the cabling market, you can find many types of fiber optic connectors that would be available and also many cabling contractors like the nbn cabling contractors. You need to know about them before buying the fiber optic connector online or even offline.These are all very commonly used from the LC, SC, ST… and so on (it’s a fairly long list of connectors), they each have their own advantages and disadvantages that they offer and applies once connected, the main factor to point out is what its specified applications should be.
- ST (Straight Tip Connectors)
Developed by the American telecommunication company AT&T, the ST connectors also known as Straight Tip is a bayonet type connector which has a long ferrule that is around 2.5mm.They are usually made of plastic, metal or ceramic body that has the features of a twist-on and twist-off that keeps the connector in place.
It is mostly a connector is which is for multimode networking, such as working buildings, corporate networks, and even military applications.
- SC (Subscriber Connector or Standard Connector)
SC connectors are believed to stand for either Subscriber Connector or Standard Connector; they were developed by a Japanese telecommunications company known as NTT.It is a snap-in connector which also has a 2.5mm ferrule- it being the first connector released in the market due arrival of ceramic ferrules.
It holds a single fiber using the simple push-pull mechanism.
They are used widely and known to be very popular due to their perfect performance and being manufactured at a fairly low price.
It is suitable to be used for telecoms and datacoms- due to its size this could be considered a major disadvantage.
- LC (Lucent Connector)
Lucent Connector or LC uses a 1.25 ferrule, it being half the size of the SC, ST and FC connectors.Developed by Lucent Technologies it has kept the tab feature which is known to be similar to a phone.
It has been considered by people that it will eventually replace the SC connector as it is more stable and simpler to use, the LC also has a body that can resemble the square body shape of the SC.
It can be used in various modes being, multi-mode (beige), single-mode (blue) and non-reflective (green).
As it has many types of features it is needed in many types of communication markets, like SFP and XFP transceivers.
- FC (Ferrule Connector)
Ferrule Connectors (FU) were the first fiber optic connectors that had used a ceramic 2.5mm ferrule, it was very popular for many years since it started as a single-mode connector.As it is usually used for single-mode fiber optic cables, datacom and telecom companies have noticed its value and have begun employing the FC connectors.
It has started replacing LC and SC connectors.
- MU (Miniature Unit)
Miniature Unit or abbreviated as MU is a connector that has the same outlook but reduced in size for it to be a miniaturized version of the SC connector, and all the same features as the SC such as it being a push-pull connector.The only small difference that would be on the connector is the fact that the ferrule has also been miniaturized as well from it being 2.5mm to 1.25mm.
They are often being used for high-speed data communications, telecommunications, voice networking and Wavelength Division Multiplexing.
There are many more types of connectors available, but the one noted above are more commonly used.
It is very important to keep in mind what kind of application you are doing before you been purchasing cables and connectors, as each cable and connector are used for different types of applications.
Another option is to search for a company that distributes and has installation solutions for fiber optic cabling.
Editor's Review:
This is a guest post from one of our readers, Atif Hussain. He is Pakistan blogger. You too can submit yours.
We give you the best daily information on news, technology, lifestyle, career, health tips, agriculture, business and entertainment. If you can write very well and want to make a living writing online, click HERE!