Fiber optic connectors such as plugs and couplings are used to extend fiber optic cables or establish a device connection. The application range for fiber optic cables is virtually unlimited. Make the most of the benefits of your fiber optic connectors by making them detachable again. Choose from numerous fiber optic connectors for fiber optic cables made of plastic, plastic and glass, or pure glass fibers (POF, PCF and GOF).
- Fiber optic connector
- Fiber optic coupling
What are fiber optic connectors?
Fiber optic connectors denote all connectors that are exclusively suitable for fiber optic cables and therefore used for optical data transmission. Here, fiber optic signals are transmitted by light.
Fiber optic connectors are also used wherever fiber optic cables are installed, i.e. in data centers or in industry. One thing is certain: connectors create detachable connections and provide a productive speed advantage in the event of repair or maintenance, compared to permanent connections for which the fibers have to be laboriously spliced from two fiber optic cables.
As a result, the connector ensures a reliable fiber optic connection to another fiber optic cable or device. This is crucial for the transmission quality of a fiber optic cable, as it ensures that the light passing through the cable is interrupted as little as possible.
Unlike with connectors for copper-based data cables or power cables, there is no classic distinction made between fiber optic connectors in terms of the connector design (male or female).
Fiber optic connectors have connectors or couplings consisting of two jacks.
Couplings are used to connect two fiber optic cables with a connector. This allows fiber optic cables to be extended or installed in a distribution or control cabinet.
Which fiber optic connectors are available and what are the differences between them?
There are many connectors for optical data transmission via fiber optic cables. LAPP offers fiber optic connectors for the fiber optic cable types of glass optic fiber (GOF), plastic optic fiber (POF) and plastic coated fiber (PCF). They are not interchangeable, as the fiber geometries and parameters of the fiber optic cables are not compatible.
The common fiber optic connectors differ in terms of:
- suitability for a particular type of fiber optic cable,
- suitability for a particular fiber optic category,
- their design as a simplex or duplex connector (with a duplex version, two simplex connectors are connected to one another using a clip.)
- The simultaneous installation of two fiber optic cables reduces the cabling costs and the level of difficulty in assembly.
Use the following overview to better understand fiber optic connectors:
Fiber optic connectors for POF fiber optic cables
Level of difficulty in assembly: easy
Note: Single-mode fibers are only available for GOF fiber optic cables. These are not compatible with POF connectors.
| Simplex | Duplex | Multi-mode | |
|---|---|---|---|
| F05 | x | x | |
| ST(BFOC) | x | x | |
| F-SMA | x | x | |
| HFBR | x | x | x |
| SC-RJ | x | x |
Fiber optic connectors for PCF cables
Level of difficulty in assembly: medium
Note: Single-mode fibers are only available for GOF fiber optic cables. These are not compatible with PCF connectors.
| Simplex | Duplex | Multi-mode | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST(BFOC) | x | x | |
| F-SMA | x | x | |
| HFBR | x | x | |
| SC-RJ | x | x |
Fiber optical connectors for GOF fiber optic cables
Level of difficulty in assembly: hard
| Simplex | Duplex | Single mode | Multi-mode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST(BFOC) | x | x | x | |
| LC | x | x | x | x |
| FC | x | x | x | |
| SC | x | x | x | x |
| ST-SC | x | x | x |
How are fiber optic connectors assembled with fiber optic cables?
Most fiber optic cables are assembled manually on site. After all, as an end user, you love to have full flexibility for installing and connecting fiber optic cables. But be careful:
The quality of the fiber optic plug connection is crucial for the transmission quality of your fiber optic network!
If the connector has become contaminated or the fibers are incorrectly inserted into the ferrule, which means that the two ferrules cannot connect perfectly, your entire transmission system suffers as a result. So maximum precision is required during assembly.
Wouldn't you like to assemble fiber optic cables yourself?
You have two options to choose from:
- You purchase assembled fiber optic cables.
- Speak with a LAPP advisor. You can find further information about LAPP's individual fiber optic cable assemblies at the end of the page.
Regardless of whether 1 or 2: unpack, plug in, done!
Connectors for the POF fiber type are generally very easy to handle and can be assembled by means of crimp or clamp connection. Connectors for the PCF fiber type can also be easy to assemble using clamping and breakage technology.
However, pre-assembling GOF glass fiber connectors requires prior knowledge. The glass fibers inherently have a significantly smaller fiber diameter, which is why the connectors also have significantly smaller inner diameter, and the connectors are designed to be compatible with the smaller dimensions. When assembling using a bonding and polishing process, absolute precision and glass fiber know-how are required.
With plastic fiber optic cables as well as glass fiber connections, it is essential that the fiber surfaces fit together permanently, thus enabling a strong signal and low insertion attenuation. For this reason, most fiber optic connectors have a spring connection to guarantee a maximum plastic-to-plastic or glass-to-glass connection.
What do the loss values of fiber optic cable assemblies mean?
Insertion attenuation describes the ratio of the input to output signals. This means: How much signal power can still be measured at the end of a fiber compared to the signal power that was input at the start of a fiber? If the insertion attenuation measured in decibels (dB) is too high, the transmission literally results in “light loss.”
Insertion attenuation should therefore be as low as possible. Initially, it depends on the type of fiber optic cable and the connector used. It is also determined by the cleanliness of the connector and the quality of the fiber surfaces at the time of assembly, as well as the number of plug cycles.
The return loss, on the other hand, should be as high as possible. In decibels, it describes the ratio of an input signal to the reflected signal. How much of the incident light is reflected at the connector or splice and returns to the light source?
The better the return loss, the better the quality of the fiber optic cable assembly. The attenuation value depends on the wavelength, the fiber optic cables themselves and the precision of the assembly.
Which standards regulate the requirements for a fiber optic plug connector?
The DIN EN 50173 and DIN EN 50174 or the 6-part ISO/IEC 11801 standard series provides insights into a standard-compliant fiber optic connection, i.e. transmission requirements in regard to insertion and return attenuation, permissible connectors for industrial environments and the color coding of fiber optic cables and couplings.
Where are fiber optic connectors used?
For a long time now, it has been clear that fiber optic cables are not only used for expanding the broadband network. On the way to the Smart Factory, fiber optic cables are making data transmission far easier for companies. Single-mode fibers enable transmission distances of up to 80 kilometers from one system to another – distances that copper-based data cables will never ever attain. Because fiber optic cables triumph in terms of possible transmission rates and EMC is not an issue for fiber optic fibers, signal transmission using fiber optic cables has so far been unrivaled.
If extremely high plant availability is required in addition to the "distance" factor, the decision is usually in favor of the more expensive fiber optic cables.
Thanks to the benefits mentioned, fiber optic cables are used in many networks and are compatible with industrial Ethernet protocol standards such as Modbus TCP, EtherNET/IP, CC-Link IE, POWERLINK and, of course, PROFINET.
Assembled fiber optic cables according to customer specifications
Do you have special requirements for the assembly of fiber optic cables? Are the standard lengths not the right length for you? You don't want to assemble glass fibers yourself because you don't have the necessary in-house expertise?
Don't worry. This is exactly why you have a partner like LAPP!
We can produce your assemblies according to your specifications.
With ÖLFLEX® CONNECT DATA, LAPP also offers you customized fiber optic cable assemblies known as trunk systems. Here you can choose from the comprehensive range of HITRONIC® fiber optic cables to be fitted with connectors according to your specifications and requirements. By using factory-assembled fiber optic cables, installation in industrial or telecommunications and office applications will be much easier.
Your benefits at a glance:
- The ready-to-connect trunk system can be installed directly.
- No expensive equipment or time-consuming connector assembly, saving you time and money.
- Our high connection quality increases the reliability of your application.
- High-quality factory assembly results in lower loss values.