Duct Installation Of Fiber Optic Cable

Proper size and installation of the innerduct is critical for ease of cable installation.

Duct installation of fiber optic cable. Generally there are two approaches for optical cable installation. Ducts and innerducts should be sized to meet present and future cable installation requirements. Installing cable is a time consuming and expensive process so it is important to ensure the cable is good before installation. Testing fiber optic cable on the reel all optical fiber cables must be tested while on the reel prior to deployment.

Preparations for duct installation using an air blowing method. Normally standard size fiber optic cables are pulled into innerduct sub ducts. Micro duct cable is blown jetted into the micro duct. After the fiber optic cable is installed into a duct or innerduct end plugs should be installed to provide an effective water seal.

Most micro duct fiber cable products have a tension limit of 300 lbs or lower versus 600 lbs for typical outside plant fiber cable. The most common cables used for this type of installation are steel armored outdoor fiber cables. 1 micro ducts can also be placed directly into larger telecommunications conduits or can be factory assembled into a composite unit of multiple micro ducts. Duct cable can be hand pushed or pulled in via tape string into a micro duct.

The ducts and innerducts should be kept free of debris and maintained watertight at all times. The pushing force is applied mainly near the cable inlet by a pushing device. In underground fiberoptic cable installation cables can be buried directly in a trench or placed into a buried duct. Innerduct is a way to subdivide the duct and to provide for future cable pulls.

Rodding is used to clear the duct passage and install the pulling rope using fiberglass pushrods. Loose tube cables can be blown jetted or pulled into a duct or conduit that will protect the cable during its installed lifetime. Innerduct is available in ribbed corrugated and smooth. Compressed air flows at high speed through the duct and along the cable.

Three 1 25 inch inside diameter i d innerducts can usually be pulled into a 4 inch duct. Installation crews must use blowing equipment specifically designed and tested for micro duct fiber cable to avoid damage to the cable. Duct installation of fiber optic cable installation methods of fiber optic cable into duct. Cable blowing is the process of installation of optical fiber cable into a pre installed duct.

As compared to the duct the installation process is relatively very quick. Table 1 commonly used cable types for various osp applications underground cable innerduct micro ducts. Compressed air is injected in the duct inlet after few hundred meters of cable is pushed into the duct.