OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES

                                     

Optical Fibres
Overhead FO Cables
Under Ground FO Cables
 TYPES OF FIBERS

• Multimode
• Single Mode
• Dual Window Single Mode
• Dispersion Shifted Single Mode
• Non Zero Dispersions Fibre

Fibre & Fibre Tubes are colored separately for identification

Standards fibre colors; Blue, Orange, Green, Brown, Slate, White.
 Optical Fibre (multi mode)
125 µm
Glas Optical Cladding

Plastic 50 µm Core 250 µm

Primary Coating

50 µm Core

Guided Light Propagation

 OPTICAL FIBER

n~1.48

n~1.46
Core

Cladding
Both core and cladding made of pure fused silica.
Dopant is added to core to raise index of refraction.
 FIBER OPTIC CABLES
Cable construction Types :-
Loose Tube type
Tight Tube type
Underground Cables :-
Direct Buried (Armored cables)
Duct Cables (Unarmored cables)
Overhead Cables :-
OPGW
ADSS
Wrap Around
No. of Fibres :-
12F/ 24F/ 48Fibres
 CABLE CONSTRUCTION TYPES

Tight Buffered cable is used for cable routing within buildings.

Typically containing around 16 fibres (12 cores, 4 cores and 8 cores
are also common) this type of cable offers ease of installation and
fibre protection suitable for internal use. each of the fibres within
the cable is individually protected by a plastic coating with kevlar
strengthening and sheathing giving overall protection. Low Smoke
Zero Halogen Sheaths are common in this type of cable

LooseTubeCable
To withstand harsher external conditions Loose Tube cables are
used for outside installations in duct work or trenches. As the name
suggests groups of fibres are suspended in a gel filled tube within a
heavily protected cable. As the fibre has no physical contact with
the tube it is less prone to damage during the stresses associated
with installation and temperature contraction and expansion. The
gel used within the tubes protects against the ingress water. Many
different fibre counts are available as few as four or as many as 96
cores are common.
TIGHT / LOOSE TUBE TYPE CONSTRUCTION

Tight Coated Loose Tube

 TYPICAL LOOSE TUBE CONSTRUCTION

Fibre & Fibre Tubes are colored separately for identification

Standards fibre colors; Blue, Orange, Green, Brown, Slate, White.
BASIC DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

All cables utilised on overhead transmission lines are exposed to

various external influences that are found elsewhere. These
include –

Large temperature variations.

High loads due to wind and ice.
High electrical stresses and fault currents.
Exposure to UV radiation.
Vibration.

To deal with the above the cables have special features to ensure
that high optical integrity is maintained.
OVERHEAD FO CABLE TYPES
OVERHEAD /AERIAL FO CABLES

FIBRE OPTIC CABLE INSTALLATION

OPGW

WRAP AROUND

ADSS
DESCRIPTION OF OPGW CABLE

OPGW is designed to be installed on transmission

and distribution lines to carry voice, data and
video communications. Because of the outstanding
properties of optical fiber, optical communication
systems are used in many areas of application,
especially in electric power supply, public
communications, road and railway traffic where
the distinctive features of the fibers are utilized
effectively. Therefore, optical fibers are
increasingly in use for overhead transmission
lines.
 OPGW CABLE
DESIGN REQUIREMENT
• Optical Ground Wire(OPGW)

* Conductive materials – Must be able to

with stand lighting strikes and fault.
* Buit in tensile strength.
* High resilience to the external environment
(weather-UV,temp fluctuations,ice,wind etc.,)
* Sufficient fibre strain margin to deal with cable
elongation and contraction due to
environmental loading.
* Lightweight(no heavier than the existing
earthwire)
 OPGW CABLE
SPECIAL MATERIALS
• Central Core – This is a similar to the optical
core of the ADSS cables with additional
specialised wrapping tapes to offer thermal
protection of the inner elements.
• Extruded Aluminium Tube – The Central Core
and thermal tapes are completely encapsulated
within an aluminium tube.
• Aluminium Clad Steel Wire – These high tensile
wires give the cable its tensile strength and
protect the central core.
 Designing OPGW

 Maximum Allowable Tension (MAT)

 Maximum Working Tension
 Maximum Strain
 Cable Strain Margin
 Sag
 Creep & Cable strain at MAT
 Everyday tension
 Short Circuit current
 Wind Speed & Snow loading
 ADVANTAGES OF OPGW

 More reliable & proven technology

 Minimum additional load on transmission towers as it replaces the existing
ground wire
 Standard fittings
 Faster installation
 Off-line restoration is possible with no specific installation equipment
 Clamping on electric poles is possible with suitable fittings
 Most of the Overhead Fibre Optic Cables installed and proposed to be installed
by POWERGRID are OPGW cables.
OPGW Cables.
Advantages.

Very Tough Construction.

Replaces existing cable and therefore tower loading is not

affected and the aesthetics of the line remain unchanged.

“Cost Effective” when replacing an old earthwire.

“Cost Effective” for new line construction.

 ADSS Cables
Design Requirements
• All Di-Electric Self Supporting (ADSS).

> No conductive materials.

> Built in tensile strength.
> “Anti tracking” Sheathing materials for
high voltage applications.
> High resilience to the external
environment(Weather- UV,temperature
fluctuations,wind etc.,)
>Sufficient fibre strain margin to deal with cable
elongation and contraction due to environmental
loading.
>Lightweight.
 ADSS Cable
Special Materials
• Central strength member – This ia a GRP(Glass
Reinforced Plastic) rod , around which the fibre
tubes are wrapped. This rod gives the cable
additional bend resistance.
• Fibre tubes – The PBT (poly-butylene
teraphathalate) encase the optical fibres and are
hellically wrapped around the GRP rod.
• Aramid Yarns-These provide the main tensile
strength of the cable.
 FO CABLE INSTALLATIONS

ADSS

Ground Level

1.65 m
HDPE PIPE

Un-Armoured Fibre Optic Cable

UNDER GROUND FIBRE OPTIC CABLE

ADSS Cables.
Advantages

Independent of electrical system – The cable is installed separately

to the electrical system and either can be maintained without
interruption to the other.

Live line installation – The cables can be installed under live line
conditions without highly specialised procedures.

High Fibre Capacity – The cable can carry up to 72 optical fibres.

High resilience to attack- The cable construction offers high

resilience to rodent and shotgun damage.
 WRAP CABLE
DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
• WRAPPED ALL Di – ELECTRIC (WRAP)
* No conductive materials.
* No need for built in tensile strength.
* High resilience to the external environment
(weather-uv, temp fluctuation,ice,wind etc.,)
* Sufficient fibre strain margin to deal with cable
elongation and contraction due to.
environmental loading.
* Lightweight.
* Small diameter
 WRAP CABLE
SPECIAL MATERIALS
• Central Strength members – These are FRP(Fibre
Reinforced Plastic) rods, around which the fibre tubes
are wrapped. These rod gives the cable additional bend
and crush resistance.

• Fibre tubes – The PBT (poly-butylene teraphthalate)

encase the optical fibres and are hellically wrapped
around the FPR rod.

• Sheath-The sheath is made of special polymers that

offer good impact and cut resistance.
WRAP cable
Advantages.

Live line installation – The cables can be installed under live line
conditions without highly specialised procedures.

Rapid installation.

Lightweight design – Minimises the additional EW/Tower loads.

SELECTION OF
CABLE TYPES
The selection of the most applicable cable type requires
careful analysis of several individual factors,
or combinations of these factors –

Line Voltage.
Phase Sequence.
Tower Geometry.
Conductor and earthwire characteristics.
Earthwire Condition.
Outage availability.
Fibre Capacity required.
Completion date.
Available budget.
Availability of skilled installers.
 CONDUCTOR & EARTHWIRE
CHARACTERISTICS
• The conductor and earthwire characteristics can
significantly affect the selection of cables. Prior
to installation the condition and sags of the
cables must be checked to ensure that the cable
selection is both compatible and safe to
install.The presene of broken strands,fatigue or
mid-span joints may limit the choice of cables.
Safe working clerances must be checked to
ensure that installation can be carried out safely.
 OUTAGE AVAILABILITY
• Although all three cable designs can
theoretically be installed live line, there are often
situations that make live installations unsafe or
uneconomical.This results in having to either
choose another cable design, or the provision of
line outages. There are frequently restrictions on
the time that lines can be de-energised and
often there are financial implications. This must
be taken into account during the cable selection
process.
 FIBRE CAPACITY
• The various cables offer different fibre
capacities. This is normally restricted by
the number and size of the loose tubes
within the cables. With advances in
photonics and transmission equipment this
is becoming less critical, as very high data
capacities can now be obtained over a
single fibre.
 COMPLETION DATE & BUDGET
• These factors are obviously paramount
during the cable selection process. Certain
cables and installation techniques can be
expensive and slow, for e.g live line
OPGW installation.
 AVAILABILITY OF SKILLED
INSTALLERS.
• Certain installation techniques require
specialised and skilled linesmen. ADSS
and WRAP cables can be installed live line
without highly specialised personnel , but
some live line OPGW techniques require
special technique and skills. If these are
not locally available then they must be
imported, which can be expensive.
 INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES
SAFETY – RISK ASSESSMENTS.
• Risk Assessments are used to
> Identify
> Measurand
> Control Risks.
 INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES
SAFETY-RISK ASSESSMENTS
• Activity – The task to be undertaken.
• Hazard – what can possibly go wrong.
• Consequence – The outcome if it goes wrong.
• Severity – How onerous the consequence is.
• Likelihood – The probability of the harzard occurring.
• Risk Factor – Severity x Likelihood.
• Control Measure – How to prevent things going wrong.
• Residual Risk – Can the Harzard be controlled.
 INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES
SAFETY - RISK ASSESSMENTS
• EXAMPLE
> Activity – Cabling.
> Hazard – Cable or Rope Failure.
> Consequence – Injury
> Severity – 6/10.
> Likelihood – 2/10.
> Risk Factor - 2x6 = 12
> Control Measures –
* All ropes / swivels / cable to have
suitable SWL.
* No damaged equipment must be used.
* Safe working clearances must be maintained.
> Residual Risk – Acceptable.
 INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES
SAFETY - RESPONSIBILITIES
• Key personnel must be
* identified
* skilled.
* informed.
* contactable.
• They must also have the authority to act.
 INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES
SAFETY - PROCEDURES
• All tasks must be documented.
• The documents must clear and concise.
• The documents must be
* “Understandable”
* “ Practical”
* Available.
• Any tasks not in the general procedures must be
covered with a “ method statement”
ENGINEERING TOOLS
SURVEY DATABASE
 INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES
OPGW CABLES
• OPGW cables are installed in a similar
manner to an ordinary earth wire using
tension stringing techniques. During
installation the cable bend radius must be
carefully controlled to prevent damage to
the optical core. With single layer wire
stranding counter balance weights must
be fitted to the lead end the cable to
prevent twisting.
Fibre Optic Systems
 INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES
ADSS CABLE
• The ADSS cables are installed using “ tension stringing” techniques,
as commonly used with conductor and earthwire installations. There
are however key differences that facilities safe live line installation.

• Ropes – The pulling ropes used to install the cable must be of an all
electric and non-twisting design, and coated to prevent water
ingress( water and contamination can reduce the di-electric
strength).

• Running Blocks (Sheaves) – The blocks use to string the ADSS

cable must be of sufficient diameter with the correct groove profile
and unlined. Due to the lightweight nature of ADSS cables the
blocks require careful monitoring and trimming during installation.
 INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES
ADSS CABLES
• Winch & Backtensioner – These items
must be carefully selected. Equipment
used for conductor or earthwire installation
may be suitable, providing that it can work
at the relatively low tensions associated
with ADSS cables(nominal stringing
tensions of 3kN). The equipment must
have a device that can limit the tensions
applied.
ELECTRICAL STRESSES
CABLE SELECTION
TOWER GEOMETRY
APSEB 220KV ‘C’ TYPE TOWER S/C &
D/C ELECTRICAL STRESSES
CLAMPING ARRANGEMENT OF
ADSS CABLE
CLAMPING ARRANGEMENTS OF
ADSS CABLE
STRIPPING OF FIBER OPTIC CABLE
STRINGING OF FIBER OPTIC CABLE
STRINGING OF FIBER OPTIC CABLE
INSTALLATION
TECHNIQUES
WRAP CABLE
• The WRAP cable is helically
wrapped around the existing
earth wire.
• Special equipment is required.
• The increase in sag during
wrapping must be calculated to
ensure electrical clearances
are maintained.
• The cable is applied with a
controlled residual tension.
• Span end clamps are used to
prevent “unwrapping”.
• Two installation machines are
used to maximise cable
lengths.
 OPTICAL FIBRE LINK (UNDERGROUND)

Patch Cord
FODP

Splicing Panel
Optic Link side A Optic Link side B
Termination of
Fibre with
Pigtail
Pigtails
Connectors

Patch cord
Joint To
box Equipments
Spliced fibre kept inside the tray

Equipment Equipment
premises premises
Out Side Plant
 Fibre Optic Distributional panel (FODP)

Types of FODP, Indoor & outdoor

FODP is used for fibre termination
Contains the following
Pigtail, Patch cord, Adaptors, Splicing self etc.
Cable Fibre is terminated to the fibre of Pigtail
Pigtail terminated to Patch cord with help of Adaptors
Patch cord goes to the Equipments for further
connection
Pass through Splicing
 FODP parts
FODP Module

 
                   

Fibre Trays Connectors

FODP Rack
Fiber Optic Connectors

SCPC

FCPC
F
C
P
C

SCPC STPC
Fiber Optic Connectors

Through
ST type
Adaptor

SC type

Connector
SC
 Optical Connectors
FC/PC
CENTER PART CONNECTOR
Fibre

Ferrule Optical Cable

e.g. 2.5mm

• FC/PC with physical contact world wide

• SMA mainly for multi mode fibre USA (old)
• ST USA
• BNC coax principle rare
• DIN Deutsche Industrie Norm Germany
• others (SC, EC, E 2000)
 Joint Box
Joint box is used for storing the Cable joints having features of
Straight through, Branch & Pass through splicing.

Usually contains

Cable holding arrangement

Fibre Dome
Fibre/Splice trays
Heat shrink sleeves
Silica Jell
Sealing tools and Material
SPLICE ENCLOSURE LAYOUT
JOINT ENCLOSURE
 Joint Box parts
Fibre trays Joint box Cover

                    

Fibre trays

Cable entry
SPLICING BOX
 OPTICAL FIBRE SPLICING

Fibre splicing carried out at the Cable joint

•Color Identification
•Cable preparation
•Fibre stripping
•Fibre cleaving
•Fibre placing in the splicing machine
•Fibre splicing & testing
•Fibre routing in fibre tray
STRIPPING OF FIBER OPTIC CABLE
 WHAT IS FUSION SPLICING?

The controlled aligning, melting and pushing together of hair-thin strands of glass
resulting in a transparent, non-reflective joint.
 WHAT DOES A FUSION SPLICER ACTUALLY DO?

•ALIGNS THE FIBER

•CHECKS FOR PROBLEMS
•FUSES THE FIBERS
•ESTIMATES THE LOSS OF THE SPLICE
•FUSION SPLICERS DO EACH OF THESE STEPS WITH VARYING DEGREES OF
ACCURACY. OVERALL, THE MORE ACCURATELY THE MACHINE DOES THESE STEPS,
THE LOWER YOUR ACTUAL SPLICE LOSS WILL BE.
 HOW DOES THE SPLICER ALIGN THE FIBERS?

•Active Alignment: The splicer uses various methods to see the fibers. It uses that input to have precisely
controlled motors move the fibers along their X (horizontal), Y (vertical) and Z (in and out) axes until they
are aligned. Active alignment is the most precise alignment available.

•Passive Alignment: The fibers rest in a fixed V-groove that relies on the concentricity of the outside of
the glass to align them in along the X and Y axes. Z alignment is done by the splicer or the user (in
manual machines). Typically, this is referred to as a fixed V-groove.
Fixed V-Groove (passive)
•Precise groove in materials used to align fibers
•Alignment of fiber based on shape of outside bare glass
 HOW DOES A FUSION SPLICER "SEE" TO ALIGN THE FIBERS?
•PAS - Profile Alignment System (Core Detect): Cameras Analyze Image of Fiber to Determine Location of Core.
•L-PAS (Video) - Lens Profile Alignment System: Cameras Analyze Image of Fiber and Align Profile (Cladding) of
Fiber As Well As Bright Center Line (Lens Effect).
•Warm Image Processing: Cameras see the glow of the core when it is heated.
•LID-System® - Local Injection and Detection: Local Transmitter Injects Light Into Core And Splicer Positions Cores
To Maximize Light Received During Alignment .
                                                                                                                                              

Example of LID-System

Auto Fusion Time

The LID-System unit allows to splice using a feature called Auto Fusion Time.
• Splices fiber for optimal time by monitoring LID level while fusing until
maximum level detected.
• Like baking cookies till edges are golden brown, not burnt, not doughy. .
 OPTICAL FIBRE SPLICER

Heat shrink Top Cover

Heater

Fibre to be spliced
Manual
Operation Control buttons
control
AC/Dc socket
& on/off buttons

Visual Screen
 Here's a graph showing how the LID-System unit is
used for Auto Fusion Time.
 
 Profile Alignment System - Core Detect (PAS)

                                           

                                                                                                         
The PAS System "sees" the core by detecting the refraction of light caused at the core-cladding.
Lens - Profile Alignment System (L-PAS)
Video Program

                                                                                   

The L-PAS System aligns the cladding and

Lens Effect lines of the
fibers.                                                                       
   
 WHAT INSPECTION
DOES THE FUSION SPLICER DO FOR ME?

• 
•Alignment Check - Verifies that fibers are correctly aligned.

•End-face Check - Verifies that both fibers are cleaved to the tolerance required by that

• splicer.

•Electrode Check - Automatic reminder to clean electrodes after a certain number of

splices; may tell condition of electrodes.

•Arc Test - Tests the current conditions (hardware and environmental) to warn if arc

current needs to be adjusted.

•Altitude Compensation - Automatically adjusts the arc current for the altitude entered.

•Battery Warning - Warns of impending low battery to give user time to change

batteries.
 THE FUSION SPLICER FOUND NO PROBLEMS.
IS IT READY TO FUSE THE FIBER NOW?

Yes. The Fusion Splicer aligned the fibers, then checked for any problems.
Now it is ready to actually perform the fusion splice.
The machine creates an arc between two electrodes. As the arc is generated,
the splicer begins to push the fibers towards each other .

                                                                           

                                                                         

Due to the heat generated by the arc, the fibers start to melt away from each
other, but the splicer is pushing the fibers forward faster than they are
melting back. The fibers meet in the middle and basically melt together. That's
all there is to it.
 THE FUSION SPLICER JUST COMPLETED FUSING THE
TWO FIBERS TOGETHER. NOW WHAT HAPPENS?
Splice Loss Estimation & Splice mechanical strength estimation
•Most fusion splicers estimate splice loss within a certain degree of
accuracy and measure mechanical strength of joint.
•
•Splice loss is of Primarily of concern on single-mode fiber.
•Multimode fiber "Looks Good, Is Good" - easily aligned due to the large
core.
•Optical (LID-SYSTEM Unit) or video analysis is most common.
•Remember! Most splicers are estimating loss, not measuring it.
•Why is loss estimation important?
•Long Haul (single-mode) customers require as low loss as possible and
want to know their results onsite without performing extra testing.
•Smaller core size is more difficult to splice (harder to align); requires an
indication if splice is good or bad.
 How is splice loss estimation achieved?

Video System (PAS and L-PAS)

Uses before and after "pictures" of the splice area to determine if splicing process went
well. Estimates loss based on the pictures.
Optical Analysis (LID-System Unit)
Uses before and after "power through" measurements to actually measure the light lost
at the splice point. Actually measures loss!
 Splicing & Testing tools
List of required tools and equipments generally required
during fault tracing and rectification.
 
1 > SPLICING MACHINE WITH BATTERY
2 > O.T.D.R. WITH BATTERY & FLOPPY.
3 > HIGH PRECISION CLEAVER
4 > FIBRE STRIPPER
5 > PIGTAIL STRIPPER
6 > PATCH CORD
7 > PIG TAIL
8 > BARE FIBRE ADOPTOR
9 > CLEANING LIQUID
10 > CLEANING SPRAY ( AUDIO HEAD CLEANER )
11 > COTTON BUDS
12 > JOINTING KIT
13 > TUBE CUTTER
14 > CABLE CUTTER
15 > WIRE CUTTER
16 > HACKSAW
17 > DOUBLE SIDED ADHESIVE TAPE
 Splicing & testing tools ..
FIBRE TERMINATION TESTING ACCESSORIES
18 > SCISSORS
19 > KEROSINE OIL CHECK LIST
20 > CLEANING BRUSH 1) SPLICING MACHINE
21 > CHAIR & TABLE SETUP 2) O.T.D.R.
22 > DIGGING SET UP 3) FAULT LOCATOR
23 > NYLONE ROPE 4) FIBRE STRIPPER
24 > TANT 5) PIGTAIL STRIPPER
25 > Spare optic fibre cable of length >100mtrs. 6) PATCH CORD
26 > GENERATOR (Kerosene & petrol) 7) TERMINATION BOX
27 > EXTENSION CORD 8) CLEANING LIQUID
28 > BULB 9) CLEANING SPRAY
29 > EXTRA WIRE 10)  SCREW DRIVER
30 > HOT GUN OR GAS CYLINDER WITH NOZZEL 11)  PLIER
31 > EARTHING ROD 12)  GENERATOR WITH EXTENSION WIRE
32 > CRIPMPING TOOL 13)  OPTICAL TALK SET
33 > STABLIZER 14)   POWER METER
34 > SCREW DRIVER 15)  POWER SOURCE
36 > PLIER 16)   PRINTER
37 > VACCUM CLEANER 17)   FLOPPY
38 > MEASURING TAPE 18)   TABLE FOR SPLICING
  19)    CABLE PREPARATION TOOLS
20)    CRIMPING TOOL & EARTHING WIRE
 Splicer Operation
It is awkward at first to hold, strip, cleave, and place the fiber in the clamps. Practice makes
perfect. Here are five general steps to complete a fusion splice:

1. STRIP, CLEAN, & CLEAVE

  
a. Strip
Strip fiber to appropriate
length per your splicer's
instruction manual                      

                                                                  
b. Cleaning
                                                                     

  
                    Clean the fiber with Fiber-
Clean® towelettes or a lint-
free wipe and isopropyl
alcohol so that the fiber
               
squeaks
                           
c. Cleaving
                                                 
                                                 
•Place fiber (after stripping and cleaning it) in
                                  
cleaver using the fiber guide to position it
•Align the fiber in the cleave area to cleave at
the proper length
•Depress the cleaver arm gently
•Remove and safely discard the fiber scrap
 Splicer Operation
2. LOAD SPLICER

  
•Position tip of fiber near
electrodes
•Do not bump tips into
                     
anything
•Ease placement by                      

bowing fibers in groove

                                             
3. SPLICE FIBERS
                                                                       
                

•READ The Manual!

•PRACTICE! Don't expect to be a pro after one splice
•Place first cleaved fiber in v-groove with fiber tip near the
electrodes
•Close the fiber clamps
•Repeat on opposite side for second fiber
•Select program on fusion splicer
•Initiate fuse cycle (can be manual or automatic)

                                                                                                                                     
                                           
 Splicer Operation
4. DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT IF ERRORS OCCUR
Cleaver - wipe blade and clamps periodically - operate slowly; it's not a stapler!
•Alignment - clean V-grooves, guides, clamps when offsets occur
•Electrodes - clean at the start of each day;
•Video System - clean LEDs, prisms/mirrors, cameras, and protective disk
•High Loss - fibers not aligned, poor geometry, dirty electrodes, or wrong parameters
•Multimode fiber - bubbles and neck downs are frequent occurrences: expect about
80% yield on most splicers

•A "Good Splice" is determined by:

•User Skill: cleanliness, operation of equipment, ability to recognize and correct
poor preconditions
•Splicer: V-groove, cladding alignment vs. core alignment, proper settings
•Fiber: good geometry quality
                                                                                                                                                                               

5. REMOVE AND PROTECT SPLICE

•Remove completed splice from splice area

•Use Heat-Shrink oven (or mechanical protection) to protect the splice
•Place splice tray in adjustable tray holder and insert protected splice into splice tray   
SPLICING BOX
 CONFIGURATION of SHELTERS
at REPEATER LOCATION
• Shelters shall be installed at suitable
place near the Transmission Tower
for overhead F. O. Link.
OPGW
• OPGW from the joint box shall be
extended upto the shelter by
connecting it with underground F.O.
link.

Joint Box • The rural power supply shall be

made available at shelters.

Under Ground
F.O. Cable Shelter
 CABLE TESTING (POWER METER & OTDR)

OTDR is known as Optical Time Domain Reflecto meter

Used for measurement of;

Fibre/Cable length
Attenuation in the fibre
Total Loss
Return loss
Splice loss
Fault analysis

Power Meter is used for measurement of

Total loss (end to end in a link or cable). Both ends accessibility
required. OTDR needs one end.
 OTDR and Link Testing

The OTDR is used for most measurements and is more or less

The “universal” optical measuring instrument. The OTDR used
For the following.

 Fibre testing, Quality test of fibre during cable processing.

 Fibre testing of cabled drum.
 Splice loss, Verification of a link installation.
 Fault tracing
 Fibre and Cable length
 Attenuation, Total loss, Section loss, Return loss.
 Link loss budget analysis.
 OTDR Trace/Graph Study

Mechanical splice

End Reflection
Fusion splice

Splice Gain
Dead Zone
Signal Strength (dB)

Event 1
Distance E2 E3
& Loss Connector Splice Gain En
Loss distance Distance Fibre end
Distance

Distance calculation from return time

 CABLE TESTING ( POWER METER)

Laser Source OP fibre OP fibre Power meter P1

Temporary Joint Joints

Cut position
1-2 Mtrs.

Laser Source Power meter

1-2 meters
P2
P1 (dBm) : Measure output light Power
P2 (dBm) : After cutting at cut position, measure out put light Power

Transmission Loss = P2-P1

 TESTING OF OPTICAL FIBRE LINKS

To test a link, the correct mating connectors must be fitted to the test leads. There are many types
of fibre connectors as each fibre type (multimode, single mode and POF) has its own family of
connectors. The most common types are ST, SC and SMA.

Before testing the link, you must know how much loss to expect at the wavelength of interest. If
you want accurate results, the testing should be performed at the wavelength at which the fibre is
to be used.

Link loss can be readily calculated from the manufacturer’s data (loss per unit length in dBs), the
actual link length, and the number of connectors and joints (if any) in the link. Without this data,
you cannot determine whether or not the link’s performance is satisfactory.

Do not assume there are no problems because a link works when connected to the terminaL
equipment. Some faults degrade link performance with time (e.g. bad terminations).
 Fibre Optic Link Fault

Cable Joints
Optic Link side B

Optic Link side A

Cable Fault at C
 Equipment or Cable Fault

NMS or Digital display unit in the Equipment (SDH/PDH) shows

the transmitted and received power in the link. Incase any fault
Appears in the link NMS as well as this unit shows “Link Failure”
And no power displayed.

The same may be also confirmed by use OTDR . which can be

easily connected to Patch cord in the FODP. If OTDR trace shows
cable fault then rectification of the faulty portion shall be carried out
Incase link is not Faulty then equipment portion shall be checked
and rectified.
Fibre Optic Link Faults

A) In house Link Faults = Equipment premises

B) Out Side Plant Fault

 In house Link Faults Causes due to

 Transmission Equipment
 Splicing in FODP
 Connectors
 Pigtails
 Patch Cord
 Fibre optic cable inside the plant
 Possible Link faults

 Faulty termination/splicing
 Faulty Pigtail (Break or Twist)
 Faulty Patch cord
 Faulty Connector
 Loose connection
 Kink or cut in the Link/cable
 Water penetration/contact with fibre
 Jointing problem

Poor splicing, bad storage of fibre, cross splicing, bending.

 Rectification of Faults
Restoring link

Incase fault appeared inside the equipment premises

do the following;

• Connect the Laser torch with Patch cord/Pigtail in the FODP and launch Power.
•Observe carefully if any visible light emitting from any part of the fibre.
•The portion from light emitting outside is the faulty one, replace it.
•Incase all is OK, check the connectors, clean them by Lab grade cleaner only.
•Tight the connectors and check Patch cord and fibre termination portion.
•Redo splicing of faulty termination splices if any, change the faulty patch cords.
•Incase fault is in Out Side Plant, Use of OTDR can give better result.
•Use OTDR to test individual fibres and record fibre information.
 Optical test equipments supplied under
underground OFC link contracts & their uses

1. Splicing Machine Fibre splicing, Splicing loss estimation.

2. OTDR Fibre length, Total/splice loss, Fault tracing, return loss
3. High Precision Cleaver Fibre cleaving for splicing
4. Fibre Stripper Fibre stripping
5. Pigtail Stripper Pigtail stripping
6. Tube Cutter To cut the loose tube safely without damaging fibres.
7. Cleaning Brush Cleaning of Equipment, dust removal etc.
8. Chair & Table Set up For making working platform incase splicing under tent
9. Portable Generator For feeding AC input to the equipment.
10. Sealing equipment set For sealing the Joint box after splicing
11. Vacuum Cleaner For cleaning the splicing/working area
12. Optical Talk Set To communicate during fibre splicing and testing work
13. Optical Loss test set To check the optical loss in a link
14. Visible Light source In house Fault tracing (Pigtail, Patch cord, fibre splicing)
15. Cable Locater To locate the Underground cable path
16. Splicing Tool kit Tools for splicing
17. Earthing rod To provide Earthing to the equipments during working