attn: data center geeks - fiber cable question

[bigred875]

Does anyone have information on the minimum bend radius of multimode(orange) fiber cables and what that means in paymans terms. And any "best practices" on running/insdtalling them? I am seeing an unusually number of bads going bad and I suspect it is how the lab team is running them....

[babo]

Bend radius is important, and could be causing issues (although Ive never seen a problem even in the most cable bound racks).

Ive seen way more issues due to fiber/cable not being segregated from power.

Check this for specs:
White Paper: The Case for a 2-inch Cable Bend Radius

[mycirus]

Macrobends can cause the light to escape and lose data. They are not good. More fiber info here

http://www.ofsoptics.com/resources/U...ttenuation.pdf

[bigred875]

when they run more then 1 at a time they tie them in a knott lol been doing it for years and we lose atleast 1 a week... and they still dont see the connection when i talk to them about it...just looking for documented specs or something ..thanks guys

[ssg]

Just fiberglass a piece of garden hose then bring it in and ask them to tie it up.

Just make sure they're relieving the dead weight of anything hanging the proper way. I see alot of fiber plants that they think using ziptie guns is sano, eek. Pepper the place with velcro straps or supported radius fiber trough's be the way to go. Give them enough alternatives and it removes the practicality of knotting it.

Unfortunately it sounds like their IT geeks so they don't care about anything you will show them if it isn't a cisco cert - so your easiest route is just provide them a lazier alternative.

[rebelpacket]

Tying a fibre cable in a knot will usually crack it/break it. Don't do that. Instead, use a tie or something to secure them all when pulling through conduit. Also check to make sure the polarity isnt reversed. Lots of times I find "bad" cables simply came from the supplier swapped.

[SSearchVT]

It's OK to tie them in a knot to run them if you don't have a pulling eye - but - you should pull an extra 5 feet or so and cut it off (provided they aren't preterminated). Typically the min bend radius for fiber is layed out in the trays at about 2 inches (regardless of the fiber size).

[keeena]

when they run more then 1 at a time they tie them in a knott lol been doing it for years and we lose atleast 1 a week

Knowing the company you work for, they should know better than that.

Used to happen in some of our labs...birds nests everywhere, coiled and knotted like rope. Someone was eventually reprimanded for it.

[Degsy]

Does anyone have information on the minimum bend radius of multimode(orange) fiber cables and what that means in paymans terms. And any "best practices" on running/insdtalling them? I am seeing an unusually number of bads going bad and I suspect it is how the lab team is running them....

2" radius is max. We used to wrap them around a broom handle a dozen times to attenuate them if the signal was too strong.

derek