What is a pigtail and why is it indispensable?

An optical pigtail is a section of fiber optic cable that has a connector on one end, pre-installed at the factory, while the other end remains unconnected. This allows one side of the pigtail to be connected to an optical device, while the other can be connected to an optical cable. Optical pigtails are used to terminate optical cables using mechanical connections or splicing.

Quality pigtails, when adhering to splicing techniques, ensure optimal performance in terminating optical cables. The term "pigtail" comes from the English word "pigtail" (meaning "pig's tail"). This reflects both the appearance of this patch cable and the way it connects. Such products are indispensable when it is necessary to terminate the endpoint of a linear optical cable.

The classification of pigtails is related to the characteristics of the cable and connectors (at one of the two ends). The optical fiber in a pigtail can be:

In diameter, the former are several times smaller than the latter. For example, a single-mode cable marked 9/125 is characterized by a 125 µm outer diameter and a fiber with a diameter of 9 µm, while a multi-mode pigtail can be marked 50/125, 62.5/125, etc.

A single-mode pigtail guarantees signal transmission without dispersion between modes, as there is only one in this case. The principle of operation of multi-mode pigtails is tied to these dispersions. By standard, the outer sheath of pigtails is colored in different colors, depending on which the type of fibers is determined – single-mode ones are yellow, while multi-mode ones are orange. However, you should remember that there can be more color options in general, related to the diameter and classes of optical fiber. But absolutely for all pigtails, the outer diameter is the same – 125 µm.

Optical pigtails find wide application in various fields where fiber optic communication is used:

Thus, pigtails can be purchased for various purposes on https://a-comms.com.ua/sma-pihteily/.

Important characteristics of pigtails include the number of connection cycles for which the connector is rated. Typically, this figure averages around 1000 connections. Also, for each type of wire, there is a temperature range in which it can operate. The most common ones work at temperatures from -40 to +80. To easily distinguish the variety of cords, manufacturers use special labeling.

The price of an optical pigtail depends on all these characteristics, as well as the manufacturer. It is not advisable to choose very cheap options, as there is a risk of buying low-quality cable that will not transmit the signal in the required volume and quality. Therefore, it is worth choosing not by price but by the quality of the product. Saving in this case is definitely inappropriate.

These mounting cords differ by the type of connector installed at one end. Today, pigtails with connectors of type sc, st, fc, and others are widely used. However, for the arrangement of modern fiber optic telecommunication systems designed for transmitting various information, the sc type pigtail is most often used. Furthermore, a special splice may be used to connect to another optical cable.