1.What does fiber optic pigtail mean？
Fiber optic pigtail is an unbuffered optical fiber that has one end terminated with a fiber optic connector and the other end prepared for splicing.
We commonly splice Fiber pigtails onto individual strands of a multi-fiber trunk cable.
Fiber optic pigtails are available in various types of fiber optic connectors such as LC, SC, ST, and FC connectors. They also have different fiber types such as single-mode or multi-mode, and with various fiber optic core diameters and jacket materials.
2.Differences between patch cord and pigtail
Patch cords and pigtails are both types of cables used in telecommunications and networking, but they have different purposes and characteristics. Here are some key differences between patch cords and pigtails:
Purpose
We use patch cord to connect two devices, such as a computer and a switch, while a pigtail is to connect a device to a patch panel or other termination point.
Length
Patch cords are usually shorter than pigtails, typically between 1 and 5 meters long. Pigtails are longer, usually around 10 meters or more.
Connectors
Patch cords usually have connectors on both ends, such as RJ45 connectors for Ethernet cables.
Pigtails have a connector on one end and exposed wires on the other end for termination.
Termination
Fiber Optic Pigtails have a connector on one end and exposed wires on the other end.
Patch cords are pre-terminated with connectors on both ends and are ready to use out of the box.
Usage
We usually use Patch cords for connecting devices in a local area network (LAN),
while pigtails are terminating fiber optic cables in a data center or other high-capacity network environment.
Overall, patch cords and fibre pigtails are both essential components of a network infrastructure, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics that make them suitable for specific applications.
3.Types of Fibre Pigtail
There are many types of fiber pigtails, such as single-fiber pigtails, multi-fiber pigtails, single-core pigtails, multi-core pigtails, etc.
According to the fiber mode, there are multi-mode (OM1, OM2, OM3), single-mode (OS2);
According to the number of fibers, there are single fiber, double fiber and multiple fibers; according to the type of connector polishing, there are PC, UPC and APC .
In addition to the aforementioned typical varieties of fibre optic pigtails, other options include bundled, ribbon, armored, and submersible pigtails. The latter two are unique fiber pigtails, while the first two are branchable fiber pigtails. You can also separte the fiber optic pigtails into pigtails with jackets, pigtails without jackets, pigtails with splitters, and bespoke pigtails based on jackets and splitters.
Pigtail bundle
This type of fiber pigtail, also known as a pigtail bundle, is made of flame-retardant PVC exterior sheath, aramid fiber strengthening element, and Corning tight-buffered fiber. Fiber is more popular and has more uses than other pigtail types.
Bundle fiber pigtail
This type of fiber pigtail, also known as a pigtail bundle, is made of flame-retardant PVC exterior sheath, aramid fiber strengthening element, and Corning tight-buffered fiber. Fiber is more popular and has more uses than other pigtail types.
Armored fiber optic pigtail
This fiber optic pigtail has an additional layer of metal protection on the outside compared to regular pigtails, making it more durable.
Waterproof fiber optic pigtail: easy to use, excellent interchangeability, high return loss, low insertion loss, and repeatable push-pull performance.
For use in harsh environments, waterproof pigtails with durable boots and watertight sealed header connections are available.
4.How to Choose Pigtails？
The main types of fibers in fibre optic pigtails are multimode (OM1/OM2/OM3/OM4/OM5) and singlemode (G652D/G657A).
The normal connector types of fibre optic pigtails also include SC, ST, FC, LC and E2000.
There is no fixed choice of these for practical applications and you will need to choose according to your actual usage. How do we choose the right pigtail for our network? Simply follow these 5 steps.
Step 1:Choose correct connector type（LC/SC/ST/FC/E2000）
Different connectors are used to plug different devices. You can choose for your own situation
Step 2:Choose fiber type，singlemode or multimode
Single-mode fiber pigtail uses 9/125um fiber, multi-mode fiber pigtail uses 50/125um or 62.5 /125um optical fiber.
We mainly use single-mode pigtails for long-distance data transmission. Multimode pigtails are mainly used for short-distance transmission.
Generally, the jacket of single-mode pigtails is yellow, and the jacket of multi-mode pigtails is orange.
Step 3:Choose the right length of pigtail
The pigtail length of the optical fiber varies, but the length is usually less than 2 meters.
You should select the appropriate cable length based on the distance between the devices.
Step 4:Choosing the right type of connector polish (UPC / APC)
The optical performance of APC connectors is generally better than that of UPC connectors due to the lower loss.
In the current market, People widely use APC connector in more return loss sensitive applications such as FTTx, PON and WDM.
However, APC connectors are usually more expensive than UPC connectors, so you should consider whether you need an APC connector based on your situation.
APC should be a consideration for those applications where a high precision fibre optic signal is required, but other less sensitive systems will perform equally well with UPCs.
Typically, fibre optic patch cables with APC connectors are green colour , while those with UPC connectors are blue.
Step 5:Choosing the right jacket material (PVC / LSZH )
The conventional pigtail sheaths are LSZH and PVC, the PVC patch cord sheaths are the common ones with average fire resistance and low price; the LSZH patch cord sheaths means low smoke and halogen free materials, which are more environmentally friendly and flame retardant, but more expensive. You can choose according to your own situation.
5.Fibconet Packing Service of Pigtail
① Unit product packing
② Master carton packing
③ Packing data (For reference only)
