Choices of connectors
Over the years, a large variety of fiber optic connectors have been designed for most fiber optic installations.
Ferrule
The ferrule is the center part of the connector. The cap can be screw on, twist lock or snap-on for connector mating.
ST Connector
ST connector was once the most popular fiber connector.
Strain-relief Boot
Strain-relief boot is the part connecting the connector body and the fiber cable.
FDDI connector
Besides the SC Duplex, you may occasionally see the FDDI duplex connectors which mate to their specific networks. The average insertion loss for a ST connector is about 0.
D4 Connector
The NEC D4 was probably the first connector to use ceramic or hybrid ceramic/stainless steel ferrules.
:: The components of a fiber connector
For most fiber optic connectors, the major components are ferrule, connector body, connector cap and strain-relief boot. You should maintain a connector standard throughout a fiber optic project.
FC Connector
FC connector is popular for single mode applications. It was well-liked for both single mode and multimode fiber connections.
SMA connector
SMA connector is a pretty old connector type which is mostly used for multimode applications. Since they both use 2.
Connector Body
Fiber optic connector body can be steel or plastic. It uses a smaller ferrule than SCs or FCs. The connector body provides the mechanism to hold the ferrule and other parts together.
ST connector has a twist-on locking mechanism which is not susceptible to loosening in vibrating environment. Lightwave equipment manufacturers have never standardized on any one connector type, they actually provide a selection of connectors for their equipment interface. Today it is still being using on medical equipment. It was widely used in telco networks in the 80s to early 90s and some may still be in use. It also provides the locking mechanism for connector mating. Biconic connector was developed by a team led by Jack Cook at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, NJ. Ceramic ferrule is used for both single mode and multimode connectors. It has a thread-on locking mechanism. The only difference between them is that SMA 906 has a straight ferrule while SMA 905 has a step-down ferrule. The body design differs from connector to connector.5 mm ferrules, they can be mated to SC or ST connectors with adapters.
It is very important to choose the fiber connector type for your applications.
There are two China Printed socks Manufacturers types of SMA connectors on the market: SMA 905 and SMA 906.
Connector Cap
Connector cap often has the same material as the body: either steel or plastic.
Ceramic ferrule is the most popular material since it has stable temperature characteristics.
Biconic Connector
Biconic connector’s yellow body indicating a SM version – mutlimode versions were usually black. It has the lowest insertion loss and the best repeatability.. The most common ceramic is Zirconia which is a white hard ceramic material. It offers the lowest insertion loss and the best repeatability. It contains the optical fiber in a center hole.5dB. Ferrule can be made from ceramic (Zirconia), stainless steel or composite material. Although it looks minimal, it is actually one of the most critical parts in a connector. It is often made from rubber. The most common locking mechanisms are push-pull, snap-in, thread on and twist-on.
:: Legacy Fiber Connector Types
The following list shows the legacy connector types that have been deployed in numerous fiber optic networks for many years. They are generally used to connect to the equipment from a wall outlet, but the rest of the network will have ST or SC connectors. It is most often used in LAN networks. It provides strain relief on the optical fiber to prevent micro-bending, breakage and provides mechanical support for fiber and connector handling.
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