There are many things that make fiber optic cables a superior option to copper cables. Fiber optic cables are capable of transmitting data a lot faster than copper cables. They’re also capable of transmitting data without experiencing as much signal loss as copper cables. These things explain why so many individuals and companies rely on fiber optic cables these days as opposed to copper cables.
However, one of the disadvantages of using fiber optic cables over copper cables is that they can be more fragile than people are used to. If fiber optic cables are twisted or bent the wrong way, they can be damaged and won’t be able to transmit data like they’re supposed to. With this in mind, it’s important to pull fiber optic cables properly during installation to prevent damage from taking place. Here is some advice that’ll help you pull fiber optic cables successfully without doing any damage to them.
Make sure you have long enough fiber optic cables for installation jobs.
Before you start pulling fiber optic cables as part of installation jobs, you should take measurements to make sure your cables are going to be long enough. The last thing you want to do is run out of fiber optic cables in the middle of a job and accidentally pull your cables too tight. This can cause damage to them. You should bring more than enough fiber optic cables to the site of your installation on spools. By doing this, you’ll avoid running low on cables and keep your project moving along.
Take great care when despooling fiber optic cables.
Spools make it easy to pull fiber optic cables when you use them the right way. But unfortunately, there are some fiber optic cable installers who take the wrong approach to despooling fiber optic cables when they’re in the process of installing them. They end up twisting the cables up and putting too much stress on them, which often leads to them damaging the cables. Fiber optic cables should always be reeled off of their spools rather than pulled over the edges of their spools since that can break them.
Use the proper pulling force to pull fiber optic cables.
The key to pulling fiber optic cables without damaging them is choosing the proper pulling force. The pulling force should depend on which type of fiber optic cables are being installed. If, for example, you’re using outside plant cables, the pulling force should be about 600 pounds. However, if you’re using other types of cables, the pulling force should be limited to 300 pounds. You should also have the right tension monitoring equipment in place if you’re using power equipment to pull your cables. It’ll stop you from using too much force to pull them.
Steer clear of bending fiber optic cables too tightly.
One of the absolute worst things you can do to fiber optic cables is bend them too tightly when they’re being installed. If you bend a fiber optic cable around a corner and it’s too tight, there is an increased chance of it sustaining damage. It’s a good idea to plan ahead as far as how you’re going to get fiber optic cables around corners and other curves and bends without damaging them. You won’t have to worry about figuring it out on the fly when there is already a plan in place.
Test fiber optic cables at the end of installation jobs to ensure no damage was done to them.
To the naked eye, fiber optic cables might look just fine once they’re installed. You might not be able to see any damage done to them. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to work the way you want them to. It’s important for fiber optic cable installers to test fiber optic cables when they’re done installing them to ensure they’re in good working order. Running a series of tests is the only surefire way to see whether or not fiber optic cables are ready to go. If you notice that any damage was done after running tests on the cables, you’ll need to make repairs to them before they can be used.
Pulling fiber optic cables is a job that’s best left to the professionals. Connected Fiber can perform the fiber optic services you need done so that you’re able to take full advantage of fiber optic cables and all that they have to offer to you. Call us at 910-443-0532 to get more information on the services that we can provide for you.
