FAQ
How many types of optical fiber exist?
What applications has plastic fiber been used until now ? Can plastic fiber cable being cabled via existing conduits? Is such a thin cable also strong? What does make difference with conventional optical fiber? How much does plastic fiber cost? (Application exemple on CCTV) - How many types of optical fiber exist? Common POF is usually made of PMMA (short for Polymethil Metacrilate), a general purpose resin, the very same resin used to make Plexiglass® sheets. There are many other types of optical fibre, depending on what material the core is made of. Each type is used for its peculiar characteristics and is suited to specific applications. Glass optical fiber - Suited for medium- and long-distance transmissions
- What applications has plastic fiber been used until now in? Plastic fiber has been mainly used in automotive, field, because of the total immunity to electromagnetic noises and for the reduced weight: every years, in more then 1 million new cars is used fiber plastic. It is being used also in the lighting, field, because while a copper cable gets old and oxidizes plastic fiber keeps his transparence for more then one hundred years and it is guaranteed for 20 years. ^ up ^ - Can plastic fiber cable be cabled via existing conduits? Yes, plastic fiber is an electric insulator and so can be laid near power supply cables without suffering noises and respecting international normatives (EIA/TIA 569, CENELEC EN 50174-2). Moreover the cable has a diameter of 2.2mm and a bending radius of 20mm, so it can fit even in crowded and winding conduits. ^ up ^ - Is such a thin cable also strong? Plastic fiber has been used for years inside cars to solve noises and false contacts just like copper cables subjected to continual vibrations. IEC 60794-1 normative forsees that a plastic fiber cable did more then millions of bending cycles, thousands of 360° torsions, hundreds of 1 kg weight's impacts and thousands of lateral compressions higher then 1500N without damage. ^ up ^ - What does make difference with conventional optical fiber? Conventional optical fiber is made of a glass wire, thin like hair and very delicate; who used it knows well its fragility and the high costs of termination's equipment. Plastic fiber instead is easier to use: it neither asks for particular instruments, nor people needs specific skills, and the termination on field requires less then 30 seconds. But pay attention: while optical fiber works also over distances of some kms, plastic fiber is used for section inferior to 500m, instead of coaxial cable. ^ up ^ - How much does plastic fiber cost? To use plastic fiber it needs converters, whose cost has to be added to that of the cable. To know the total cost we show the case of an application in a system for video surveillance. For example we see what happens with a system of 10 cameras with average sections of 150m:
Only for the material, the coaxial cable cost the 24% less than plastic fiber. But in the installation cost we should also consider: - the time for laying cables (60m/hour for the coaxial against 120m/hour for plastic fiber); - non-electric material, like for instance conduits. In a new installation, 25% of sections require on average new conduits: with a big diameter if there are sections in common, or with separators between electric cables and signal cables if both are present; - time for installation test (easier with plastic fiber, because it isn't an electrical conductor); - maintenance time and costs (plastic fiber is guaranteed for 20 years);
The example that we set up can naturally be applied to any other solution for which plastic fiber is ideal. ^ up ^ |
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