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Fiber Optics

FIBER OPTIC PATCH PANELS

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Fiber Optics

Just like our copper cable plant the fiber cable plant incorporates many of the same hardware components and patch panels.

The copper and fiber cable plants live together in the same TR (telecom room) and share the same pathways and relay racks.

When the technician sets up a TR he is also making accommodations for the fiber optic cables too.

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Fiber Optics

The fiber patch panel will be installed in the relay racks just like the copper patch panels and follow the same rack unit designations, 2U/4U etc.

Fiber patch panels are sometimes referred to as a light integration unit (LIU).

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Fiber Optics

LIUs can be surface mounted on a backboard too.

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Fiber Optics

The fiber patch panel always gets mounted at the top of the relay rack and when mounting it on a wall it should be mounted at 7 feet AFF (above finished floor).

According to NEC code article 110.26(2) the work space shall permit at least a 90 degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels.

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Fiber Optics

Fiber optic patch panels are also called fiber distribution panels.

Its main function is to terminate the fiber optic cable and provide connection access to the cable’s individual fibers.

Fiber patch panels are termination units, which are designed to provide a secure, organized chamber for housing connectors and splice units

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Fiber Optics

Fiber patch panels can accommodate fiber adapter panels also called connector panels or six packs, associated trunk cables, connectors, patch cords, and usually include integral cable management.

Using fiber patch cables, individual cable fibers can be cross-connected, connected to light wave equipment, or tested at the patch panel.

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Fiber Optics

It also allows for labeling of the cable’s individual fibers and a link to the demarcation point.

The typical termination unit consists of the following components:• Enclosed chamber – This can be a mountable wall

or equipment rack• Coupler panels (empty 6 packs) – These hold the

connector couplers• The connector couplers (the connector adapters)

(LC, SC or ST)• Splice tray – Organizes and secures splice modules

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Fiber Optics

What type of connectors are used in this panel?

This panel has a splice tray.

ST

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Fiber Optics

Todays TR designs will require the patch panel to be rack mounted for ease of interconnecting links to network switches.

SMALL SWITCH WITH SC INTERFACE

ETHERNET SWITCH WITH SFP (SMALL FORM FACTOR PLUGGABLE) INTERFACE FOR FIBER

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Fiber Optics

Network switches follow a new standard that allows the swapping out of network interface connections called SFP.

These are small transceivers for either copper or fiber.

LC TRANSCEIVER

RJ-45 TRANSCEIVER

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Fiber Optics

Unlike copper patch panels fiber patch panels come in many different variations and access to the internal components varies between different manufactures.

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Fiber Optics

Fiber patch panels are shipped completely gutted, the technician will have to install the internal cable management rings, grommets, connector interfaces and strain reliefs….

some assembly required.

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Fiber Optics

You will need to load the connector panels (6 packs) with the desired connectors, these come in 6 or 12 port.

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Fiber Optics

These adapter panels have plunger fasteners that match up with the holes in the patch panels, the plug is first pulled out then lined up with the panel holes and pushed into the holes to secure it.

PLUNGER FASTENER

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Fiber Optics

Fiber optic cable enters from the rear and are secured by the strain relief in the back of the tray.

STRAIN RELIEFS

CABLE MANAGEMENT SPOOLS TO MAINTAIN THE

BEND RADIUS

BECAUSE THIS TRAY SLIDES OUT A SMALL LOOP HAS TO FORMED ON THE CABLE TO ALLOW IT TO EXTEND FORWARD WITH THE TRAY.

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Fiber Optics

Here is drawing of a typical patch panel, everything labeled here is what needs to be assembled.

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Fiber Optics

Some panels will only come with cable management rings that are strategically placed to maintain the static bend radius.

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Fiber Optics

The next space below the patch panel will be used for what?

FIBER PANEL

SWITCHES

UPS

WHAT GOES HERE?

WIRE MANGER

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Fiber Optics

Wall mounted units are stackable and come with knock outs on the top and bottom of the enclosure and have split rubber bushing to protect the cable

THIS UNIT ALSO HAVE A LOCK AND KEY FEATURE

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Fiber Optics

When loading connector panels the count order is from left to right then top to bottom.

EACH CONNECTOR PANEL HAS A DUPLEX SC

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Fiber Optics

If this panel has 2 or 4 different 12 strands then the possibility of crossing cables or counts is very likely, remember that the fiber color code is only a 12 strand count so with 4 different cables the color code will be repeated 4 times.

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Fiber Optics

Multiple patch panels can be loaded onto a relay rack, in fact in some cases a relay rack may be dedicated to just fiber patch panels, especially in computer rooms.

As a general rule cables should not pass from one patch panel down into another one, it works with wall mount equipment because wall mounts are static.

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Fiber Optics

When working on or servicing existing fiber patch panels never assume that the unused ports are dark.

The point here is do not stare directly into the fiber ports some of them may be live laser links.

Remember that single mode patch panels will have yellow patch cords, multimode will be orange or aqua patch cords.