5

Step-by-Step Plastic Cable Connectoring Instructions

Thefollowingstep-by-stepguidedescribeshowtotermi-

nateplasticfiberopticcable.Itisidealforbothfieldand

factory installation. Connectors can be easily installed

oncableendswithwirestrippers,cuttersandacrimping

tool.

FinishingthecableisaccomplishedwiththeAvago

HFBR-4593PolishingKit,consistingofaPolishingFixture,

600gritabrasivepaperand3µmpinklappingfilm(3M

Company,OC3-14).Theconnectorcanbeusedimmedi-

atelyafterpolishing.

Materialsneededforplasticfiberterminationare:

1.Avago Plastic Optical Fiber Cable (Example: HFBR-

RUS500, HFBR-RUD500, HFBR-EUS500, or HFBR-

EUD500)

2.IndustrialRazorBladeorWireCutters

3.16 Gauge Latching Wire Strippers (Example: Ideal

4.HFBR-4597CrimpingTool

5.HFBR-4593PolishingKit

6.Oneofthefollowingconnectors:

a) HFBR-4501/4503 Gray Simplex/Simplex Latching

ConnectorandHFBR-4525SimplexCrimpRing

b) HFBR-4511/4513 Blue Simplex/Simplex Latching

ConnectorandHFBR-4525SimplexCrimpRing

c)HFBR-4506Parchment(off-white)DuplexConnector

andHFBR-4526DuplexCrimpRing

d) HFBR-4516 Gray Latching Duplex Connector and

HFBR-4526DuplexCrimpRing

Step 1

Thezipcordstructureoftheduplexcablepermitseasy

separationofthechannels.Thechannelsshouldbesepa-

ratedaminimumof100mm(4in)toamaximumof150

mm (6 in) back from the ends to permit connectoring

andpolishing.

After cutting the cable to the desired length, strip off

approximately7mm(0.3in.)oftheouterjacketwiththe

16gaugewirestrippers.Excesswebbingontheduplex

cablemayhavetobetrimmedtoallowthesimplexor

simplexlatchingconnectortoslideoverthecable.

Whenusingtheduplexconnectorandduplexcable,the

separatedduplexcablemustbestrippedtoequallengths

oneachcable.Thisallowseasyandproperseatingofthe

cableintotheduplexconnector.

Step 2

Placethecrimpringandconnectorovertheendofthe

cable;thefibershouldprotrudeabout3mm(0.12in.)

throughtheendoftheconnector.Carefullypositionthe

ringsothatitisentirelyontheconnectorwiththerimof

thecrimpringflushwiththeconnector,leavingasmall

spacebetweenthecrimpringandtheflange.Thencrimp

theringinplacewiththecrimpingtool.Onecrimptoolis

usedforallPOFconnectorcrimpingrequirements.

For applications with extreme temperature operation

or frequent temperature cycling, improved connector

tocableattachmentcanbeachievedwiththeuseofan

RTV(GECompany,RTV-128orDowCorning3145-RTV)

adhesive.TheRTVisplacedintotheconnectorpriorto

insertionofthefiberandthefiberiscrimpednormally.

TheconnectorcanbepolishedaftertheRTVhascured

andisthenreadyforuse.

Note: By convention, place the gray connector on the trans­

mittercableendandtheblueconnectoronthereceivercable

end to maintain color coding (different color connectors are

mechanically identical).

Simplex connector crimp rings cannot be used with duplex

connectors and duplex connector crimp rings cannot be

used with simplex connectors because of size differences.

The simplex crimp has a dull luster appearance; the duplex

ring is glossy and has a thinner wall.