Splicing fiber optic cables is the main means of connecting fibers in outside plant installations and is even used in some premises applications, but it is not as familiar to many installers as the termination process. How well do you know splicing? Answers and explanations are in red.
1. Splicing is a(n) __________ joint between fibers while connectors __________.
A. Welded, are glued together
B. Glued, are crimped
C. Outside plant, are only used in premises applications
D. Permanent, can be disconnected

Splicing is used when two fibers are to be joined permanently, while connectors are used for joints that need to be reopened or connected to equipment.

2. Fusion splicing welds the fibers together with __________.
A. Electric arc
B. Gas flame
C. Electric heating element
D. Ultrasonic welding

Although other methods have been tried, an electric arc has been the most successful method of fusion splicing fibers.

3. Mechanical splicing aligns the fiber in a fixture with __________ between the fibers.
A. An air gap
B. The smallest possible gap
C. A lens
D. Index matching gel or adhesive

In mechanical splices, index matching gel reduces reflectance and loss.

4. When making a fiber joint, the lowest loss and least reflectance will usually be obtained by __________.
A. Mechanical splicing
B. Fusion splicing
C. Connectors
D. All of them; they are about equal

Fusion splicing welds two fibers together into a joint that has the lowest loss and least reflectance.

5. For all splices, the most important part of the process is getting the best possible cleave on both fibers.
True
False

In order to get good splices, mechanical or fusion, it is necessary to get good cleaves.

6. A fusion splicer will “prefuse” the fibers to __________.
A. Remove any dust from the fiber ends
B. Preheat the fibers before fusing
C. Round the fiber ends
D. Only A and B

Prefusing removes dust and preheats the fibers to prepare them for final fusion.

7. Automated fusion splicers must be __________ to match the characteristics of individual fiber types.
A. Manually adjusted
B. Adapted by the proper mechanical fixtures
C. Properly programmed
D. Equipped with the appropriate fusion electrodes

Each automated fusion splicer has programs optimized for most types of fibers, but the use can create their own programs if necessary.

8. While all fusion splicers estimate the splice loss after fusing, only a(n) __________ can give the actual splice loss.
A. OLTS insertion loss test
B. OTDR trace
C. Bidirectional OTDR test
D. Visual fault locator

Only an OTDR can see the splice after splicing, but OTDRs require bidirectional testing and averaging to get the actual splice loss.

9. The most practical method of optimizing mechanical splices is to use a(n) __________.
A. Visual fault locator
B. Light source and power meter
C. OTDR
D. Mechanical fixture

Visual fault locators allow seeing the light lost in the splice to optimize the alignment manually.

10. Fibers must be spliced individually, even when splicing ribbon fibers.
True
False

Mass fusion splicers can splice 12 fiber ribbons at one time.

HAYES is a VDV writer and educator and the president of The Fiber Optic Association. Find him at www.jimhayes.com.