Fiber Optic cables offer a business many benefits for safe, fast installations with higher bandwidth frequencies. Fiber optic cables provide extreme pull tensions up to 600 lbs and a bend radius equal to coax cables.
If loss of fiber does occur it can result in disrupted communications and negative effects to local businesses. Review the steps below in order to repair any tainted connections quickly and effectively.
Making a plan of how to respond to any cable failure is a great idea. Have questions answered ahead of time such as: Do we have the proper equipment if a loss occurs? Who will have proper training and materials to fix the issue? How will we know if the issue occurs? How quickly do we want to be able to resolve any issues?
Important Factors to Restoring a proper connection effectively
1) Documentation- Producing accurate documentation during the installation process and making updates is critical. Start with manufacturer data/tech sheets, review every component and contact for quick restoration.
Example: Having a record of how the fibers were installed as well as photos/drawings to quickly locate where the problem lies.
2) Proper Testing Equipment- To troubleshoot any connection start at the receiver and measure the optical power of the cable. If power levels are showing correctly the transmitter is properly working and the fiber within the cable has not be tainted. However, if the power is bad then there could be an error within the transmitter.
If all fibers are at total failure then the cable has either been broken, split or cut in some way. To determine this use a laser light beam to show visibly where the cable has been damaged. Once the issue is located remove at least 10 m from either side of the cable break and test the remaining length for damage. Prep the cable and splice the fibers together to restore critical service as a short-term fix and have the system shut down at a later date to permanently fix the damaged cables.
3) Repair- Fixing the damaged cable requires proper tools and trained technicians. Tooling will include splicing and termination. Generally, cut cables can be spliced or reinstalled if there is an excessive cable that was kept from the initial install.
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