Electical Contractor

The optical loss of a fiber optic cable plant is the most common measurement installers make. Also called insertion loss, it is measured by using a test source, a power meter, reference test cables and connector-mating adapters.

For electricians, voltage is the primary thing measured. In fact every electrical measurement is based on voltage, based on the relationship V = IR. In fiber optics, the most basic measurement is the optical power of the light at the end of a fiber.

Many of the problems encountered in troubleshooting fiber optic networks are related to making proper connections. Since the light used in fiber optic systems is infrared (IR) light, which is beyond the range of the human eye, one cannot see it.

Most contractors assume it is necessary to field-terminate fiber optic cabling systems as part of every installation, but they are all looking for alternatives. The first alternative most people consider is to use prepolished/splice connectors, which use a mechanical splice to terminate the fiber.

Proper tools and test equipment are essential for the fiber optic installer. In my recent series on fiber optic installation, I discussed which tools and test equipment you need, so let’s see what you learned. Correct answers and explanations are in red.

We’re nearing the end of our fiber optic cable plant installation; cable has been placed and spliced, so we’re ready to terminate the fibers for connections into patch panels or equipment.

Each year, before I write about events of the previous year and possibilities for the year just begun, I review my old columns to see what has changed. As I read last year’s column, I found myself nodding, yep, that’s about the same this year and that and that, too.

Installed cables often need to be joined together to complete a cable plant route; the route may be too long to pull or to place a continuous length of cable, since cable can only be manufactured in lengths of around 5 kilometers (km).

Converting sunlight to electricity might no longer mean large panels of photovoltaic (PV) cells atop flat surfaces like roofs.