Loose Tube Fiber Termination

Construction of loose tube fiber optic cable.

Loose tube fiber termination.

Multiple 250µm bare fibers in loose tube 2. But each is designed for very different environments. The gel within the loose tube construction stops the penetration of water and keeps it away from the fiber. Loose tube fiber and tight buffered fiber.

Fiber loose tube cable belden s loose tube cables are ideal for both outdoor indoor outdoor applications including use in conduit direct burial lashed aerial trunking. There are two styles of fiber optic cable construction. Tight buffered and loose tube fiber are the two styles of constructions fiber optic cables offered. Between them there are several common denominators like the fact that both have in their interior a strengthening member of sorts that can be made of stainless steel in the form of wire strands aramid yarn or gel filled sleeves.

Loose tube and tight buffered. The 250 micron buffered fibers in loose tube cables cannot be easily terminated unless they have a reinforcement called a breakout kit or furcation kit installed where each fiber is covered by a larger plastic tube. Loose tubes strand around the central strength member. Fiber optic cables are constructed in two ways.

Loose tube cables whether flooded under the jacket or water blocked with dry swellable materials protect the fibers from moisture and the long term degradation moisture can cause. Their designs utilize 250µm fibers in both central multi loose tube constructions ranging in fiber counts from 2 to 288. But there are two basic styles of fiber optic cable construction. From the picture below we can see that loose tube fiber holds more than one optical fiber each individually.

One or more loose tubes holding 250µm bare fibers. Loose tube and tight buffered. Both contain some type of strengthening member such as aramid yarn stainless steel wire strands or even gel filled sleeves. Moisture blocking gel in each loose tube for water blocking and protection of 250µm fibers.

When terminating loose tube fiber with our infinium fiber connectors additional steps must be taken to ensure a proper fiber termination. For more information on our infinium fiber product family. Breakout kits are designed to provide protection and support when terminating loose tube fiber cables because they allow putting 250 um delicate fibers into. Each however is designed for very different environments.