Four ways to end a cable
A cable has to end somewhere. It may end in a plug, in a socket, on a panel, or in a join with another cable.
Each ending has a method, and a method has a check. Skipping the check is how a "finished" job comes back as a fault.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Termination | the way a cable ends, in a plug, socket, panel or join |
| Patching | ending a cable on a patch panel and linking with patch cords |
| Splicing | joining two fibres end to end |
| Fusion splice | a permanent join made by melting two fibres together |
| Mechanical splice | a join made by holding two fibres together in a small clamp |
| Patch cord | a short flexible cable with a plug on each end |
| Patch panel | a frame of ports where fixed cables end |
| BS EN 61300 | a standard of test and measurement methods for fibre connectors and parts |
| Ethernet | the common way to join wired devices in an office |
| Wire map | a test that shows which wire reaches which pin |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can name the termination methods, describe a fusion and a mechanical splice, and list the checks that prove a termination.
Starter: orders and panels
Have a go
Starter: orders and panels
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The termination methods
| Method | Cable | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Patching | Copper or fibre | End the fixed cable on a patch panel. Link with patch cords |
| RJ-45 | Copper | Fit a plug for an Ethernet connection, to 568A or 568B |
| Fusion splice | Fibre | Melt two fibres together. Permanent |
| Mechanical splice | Fibre | Hold two fibres in a clamp. Not permanent |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Fusion and mechanical splices
A fusion splice uses an electric arc to melt two fibres into one. It gives very low loss and is permanent. It is usual for single mode and works on multi-mode too.
A mechanical splice holds two clean fibre ends in a small clamp with a gel. It is not permanent, costs less in tools, and loses a little more light. It works on single mode and multi-mode.
Applying patching
First identify the type: copper or fibre. Then connect each patch cord to the port the plan gives it. Check the plan, not your memory.
Then test each patch cord with the right tool. Last, review the work against the standards before you call it done.