A quick way to connect and disconnect fiber optic cable is with a fiber optic connector, which is a flexible device. There are many different types of fiber connectors, including LC fiber connectors, SC fiber connectors, FC fiber connectors, ST fiber connectors, and others.
Today’s LAN and data center cabling commonly uses LC fiber connectors, the most well-known type of SFF (Small Form Factor) connector. What is an LC fiber connector?
Small form factor (SFF) connectors like the LC connector are made to connect or disconnect LC fibers. Continue reading to find out more about LC.
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What Does LC Mean?
The full name of the optical connector type known by the abbreviation LC is Lucent Connector. The LC connector was originally created by Lucent Technologies (currently Alcatel-Lucent) for telecommunication applications, hence its name. The connector body resembles the square shape of an SC connector and uses a retaining tab mechanism. The LC fiber optic connector is simple to insert or remove, just like the SC type connector, and it offers a snug, precisely aligned fit that complies with TIA/EIA 604 standards. It continues to be one of the most widely used fiber optic connectors today.
Different LC Fiber Connector Types
There are single-mode and multimode tolerances for LC connectors. UPC and APC both offer various LC connector polishing options. By its green housing and strain relief boot, the LC APC fiber connector, which has an eight-degree angle to reduce back reflection, can be identified. LC UPC fiber connectors are distinguished by their blue color. Jumper and BTW connectors are the two main types of LC connectors that are typically offered.
Simplex and duplex cordage measuring 1.6 to 2.0 mm can be terminated using the jumper connector. Having a trigger and a typical latch makes it simple to engage and disengage. Jumper connectors are also designed for use in LAN, central offices, and patch cords for premise distribution systems.
In order to mount on 0.9 mm fiber, the BTW (behind-the-wall) connector is a condensed version of the LC. On the back of the equipment, it is frequently used. Furthermore, BTW connectors frequently employ finger catches and extended latches, which facilitate quick engagement and disengagement.
Benefits Of LC Fiber Connectors
LC fiber optic connectors are extremely common in the market today. The following are several advantages of LC connectors:
- The system’s expense can be decreased with an LC connector. The traditional SC connector is twice as big as the LC connector. The fiber density in shelves and outlets can therefore be doubled.
- The polarized LC connector feature ensures high repeatability and assists in maintaining the transmitting or receiving direction.
- An anti-snag latch on the LC connector can increase durability and lessen the amount of rearrangement required due to cross-connections.
- Since the field mountable connectors don’t need to be installed, installation time is reduced.
Features Of LC Connectors
What characteristics does an LC connector need to have to remain competitive? Not every LC connector is made equal because of the various applications and manufacturer preferences. However, there are still some general features that LC connectors have:
- Small form factor: The LC connector is half the size of standard connectors like SC, FC, and ST connectors. LC connectors can be used in high-density applications due to their small size and reliable construction.
- Low insertion loss performance: The six-position tuning feature of the LC connector allows for very low insertion loss performance by enhancing the alignment of the fiber cores.
- Available as a pre-assembled one-piece connector or as a multi-piece connector, the LC connector is available in single-piece and multi-piece varieties. While the multi-piece connector is better suited for factory assembly, the pre-assembled connector can shorten the installation process on-site.
LC Fiber Connector Family
The LC connector family includes adapters, attenuators, jumpers, a variety of connector modules and panels, etc. They are typically used in telecommunications networks, LANs, data processing networks, device terminations, premises distributions, etc. There are several major LC-related devices:
An ideal, high-density solution for the network is provided by the LC adapter when used with the entire LC fiber optic family. A self-adjusting mechanism allows it to fit patch panels with a thickness of between 1.55 and 1.75 mm. Additionally, it comes in single-mode, multi-mode, simplex, and duplex configurations. One LC connector pair is connected by an LC simplex adapter within a single module space. In contrast, an LC duplex adapter joins two LC connector pairs within a single module space.
The most popular type of fiber optic cable is LC fiber cable, which has two LC connectors terminated on either end. The LC connector that is used on the LC fiber cable has a trigger mechanism that makes it simple to engage and disengage the connector.
LC connector, another widely used LC-related device, is used by LC attenuators. To a certain extent, it lowers the optical fiber power used in fiber optic communications. Typically, it has a male plug connector on one side and a female fiber optic adapter on the other. Additionally, the range of its typical attenuation values is 1 to 30 dB.
LC Fiber Optic Solutions
There are a variety of LC fiber optic solutions, including LC fiber connectors, LC fiber patch cables, LC fiber adapters, LC fiber patch panels, LC fiber attenuators, and more, all of which can be used for a variety of purposes in applications like LANs and telecommunications networks.
LC Fiber Connector Solution
The two types of LC connectors are typically the fiber patch cable connector and the behind-the-wall (BTW) connector.
LC connectors for jumpers come in two different varieties. Fiber cords with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.0 mm can accommodate LC connectors with a 1.5 to 2.0 mm OD. While LC 3.0mm connectors are made to attach to 3.0mm cordage. For the connectors, simplex and duplex fibers are both offered. The two LC connectors in the next image have various core diameters.
With 0.9mm buffered fiber in mind, the BTW connector is a condensed version of LC. It is typically used on the equipment’s back side. One type of LC BTW connector is based on the unibody connector and is known as the LC BTW unibody connector.
LC Fiber Patch Cable Solution
The most typical type of fiber optic cable used in the industry is an LC-LC fiber patch cable with two LC fiber connectors terminated at either end. When compared to other types of common fiber optic cables, LC fiber cables offer high density and consistent performance in most applications. Single mode (OS1/OS2) and multimode (OM1/OM2/OM3/OM4/OM5), duplex, and simplex types of standard LC fiber patch cables are available.
To cope with the “high density” trend in data centers, uniboot The birth of LC fiber cable. A standard LC cable (left) and a uniboot LC fiber patch cable (right) are easily distinguishable from one another in the image below.
The Uniboot LC patch cord can reduce the number of cables by up to 50% when compared to the conventional LC duplex patch cord because it has two LC fiber connectors housed in a single housing and only one boot terminated on a single twin-fiber round cable. Additionally, the switchable uniboot LC patch cord’s polarity reversal can be accomplished with ease in just a few straightforward steps, saving both time and money. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that using a uniboot LC fiber patch cord with a push-pull tab will further increase cabling density by 50%.
Uniboot LC-LC patch cables are available in numerous variations. They might have different polarities when their polarity is reversed. The image below illustrates the two most popular ways to reverse the polarity of uniboot LC patch cords.
Conclusion
A fiber optic cable and another optical component, or two LC fiber cables, are connected by an LC fiber connector. In addition to the LC fiber connectors, adapters, attenuators, and jumpers mentioned above, FS.COM also offers technical support for you. For additional information, kindly get in touch with FS.COM.
