Fibre Optic Pigtail Cables: Designs, Connectors, And Use Cases

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A fibre optic pigtail like 12 Fiber Pigtail is a type of fibre optic cable that has a pre-installed connector on one end but no termination on the other. This configuration allows the connector end to be easily connected to equipment, while the other end can be fused or mechanically spliced with other optical fibre cables. Fibre optic pigtails are essential for terminating fibre optic cables utilising fusion or mechanical splicing techniques. When high-quality pigtail cables are paired with suitable fusion splicing techniques, they provide the best performance for fibre optic cable terminations.


How Are Different Types of Fibre Pigtails Classified?


By Fibre Type


Fibre optic pigtails are classified into two types: single-mode and multimode fibres. Multimode fibre optic pigtails are made of bulk multimode fibre cables with 62.5/125 micron or 50/125 micron standards, which are terminated with multimode fibre optic connectors on one end. Additionally, 10G multimode fibre cables are available in ...
... fibre optic pigtails, which are typically characterised by an aqua jacket colour. Single-mode fibre pigtail cables, on the other hand, are made of 9/125 micron single-mode fibre cables and have single-mode fibre connectors on one end.


By Connector Type


A number of 12 Fiber Cable is available, each with a different connector. Pigtail cable connectors are commonly used and include alternatives such as LC fibre pigtail, SC fibre pigtail, ST fibre pigtail, FC fibre pigtail, MT-RJ fibre pigtail, E2000 fibre pigtail, and others. Each connector offers benefits and is appropriate for a variety of applications and systems. Let's take a deeper look at some of the often used ones:


SC Fibre Optic Pigtail: The SC pigtail cable connector has a non-optical disconnect design and a 2.5mm pre-radiuses zirconia or stainless alloy ferrule. SC fibre pigtails are well-known for their low cost and wide use in CATV, LAN, WAN, test, and measurement applications.


FC Fibre Optic Pigtail: The FC fibre pigtail uses the metallic body of FC optical connectors and features a screw-type structure with high-precision ceramic ferrules. FC fibre optic pigtails and similar devices are widely used in ordinary fibre optic communications.


ST Fibre Optic Pigtail: The ST pigtail connector is especially popular in multimode fibre optic LAN applications. It features an extended 2.5mm ferrule composed of ceramic (zirconia), stainless steel, or plastic. ST fibre pigtails are widely used in telecommunications, manufacturing, medical, and sensor applications.


By Application Environment


Specialised pigtail cables, such as armoured fibre pigtails and waterproof fibre pigtails, are designed to survive tough and extreme conditions.


Armoured fibre optic bunches are made using a stainless steel tube or another strong steel material inside the outer jacket. This architecture protects the fibre and improves overall network reliability. It also protects against damage caused by rodents, construction, or the weight of other wires.


Waterproof Pigtail: The waterproof fibre pigtail features a stainless steel reinforced waterproof unit and an armoured outdoor PE (Poly Ethylene) jacket. This pigtail type is ideal for severe situations like communication towers, CATV installations, and military applications. The waterproof pigtail cable like 12 Fiber Pigtail has outstanding toughness, tensile strength, and dependable performance, making it perfect for outdoor connections.

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