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Designing and Expanding the Network 2 - 9
In such cases, some attenuation is required to prevent this problem. This
attenuation is usually covered by:
❑ A moderate link length
❑ The fiber optic connectors
Splicing
Many fiber optic installations employ the use of patch panels to manage
expansion and topological changes. A typical patch panel consists of a set
of female-to-female bulkhead barrel connectors used to connect male fiber
connectors on both sides. The optical power loss through a patch panel
includes two connectors and a bulkhead.
If a fiber optic cable breaks, the break is usually fixed by splicing the broken
ends together. Use one of the following types of splicing:
❑ Fusion - A fusion splice usually offers lower power loss, but the
fusion equipment is often bulky and costly.
❑ Mechanical - A mechanical splice can be conveniently used in the
field when a fusion splice is not available. If a repair is made, make
sure that the fiber cable still meets the power loss guidelines.