Fiber optic cable is connected to equipment on the premises of customers using optical connectors, which are also used to connect network devices at data centers. SC and LC are two of the most widely used fiber connector types among the various varieties (FTTH).
What is SC connector? A push-pull latching mechanism, similar to that found in common audio/video cables, is used by a square connector, also known as a standard connector (SC), to latch and unlatch fiber-optic cables.
What are the differences between SC and LC, and which is preferable? if you haven’t yet provided a response. Here, perhaps, is a hint.
Table of Contents
What Is SC Connector?
One of the first connectors to enter the market after ceramic ferrules were introduced was the SC connector, which was created by the laboratories at Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) in the middle of the 1980s. Sometimes referred to as the “square connector” the SC has a ceramic ferrule end face with a spring-loaded push-pull coupling. It was created with Gigabit Ethernet networking in mind initially, and in 1991, it was standardized into the TIA-568-A telecommunications specification. As production costs decreased, its use gradually increased. Only the ST could compete with it due to its superior performance, which allowed it to rule fiber optics for more than ten years. For polarization-maintaining applications, it is still the second most popular connector after thirty years. The SC is perfectly suited for datacoms and telecoms applications, such as point-to-point and passive optical networking.
What Is LC Connector?
The introduction of the LC connector, which some people believe to be a modern replacement for the SC connector, was less successful, in part because of the initially high license fees from the invention’s creator Lucent Corporation. The LC is also a push-pull connector, but it uses a latch rather than the SC locking tab, and because of its smaller ferrule, it is referred to as a small form factor connector. Its smaller size and latch feature make it the perfect choice for densely populated racks and panels, which contributes to its enormous popularity in datacoms and other high-density patch applications. Its steady growth in the FTTH market is probably going to continue with the release of LC-compatible transceivers and active networking components.
SC Vs. LC: Difference Between Them
You might wonder what the differences are and what they mean for your implementation now that you have a basic understanding of both SC and LC connectors. The strengths and weaknesses are summarized in the table below. Additionally, the size, handling, and history of the connectors are generally where LC and SC fiber optic connectors differ from one another. Each of these topics will be covered in the text that follows.
- Size: Size-wise, LC, and SC are equal. The size of one SC adapter and one duplex LC adapter are identical. Therefore LC is more and more common in central offices where packing density (number of connections per area) is an important cost factor
- Handling: SC is a true “push-pull-connector” and LC is a “latched connector”, although there are very innovative, real “push-pull-LCs” available which have the same handling capabilities as SC.
- The History of Connector: The LC is the “younger” connector of the two, Although SC is more prevalent globally, LC is catching up. The insertion loss and return loss capacities of both connectors are identical. In general, whether you want to use an SC connector, an LC connector, or any other type of connector, it depends on where in the network you want to use it.
Summary
While extending into new industries like health care, railroads, defense, aerospace, and oil and gas exploration, fiber-optic communication is predicted to grow significantly. Here, the connector selection is critical to ensuring that the connection is highly precise to reduce losses and that electromagnetic interference (EMI) and RF interference are contained from spreading into front panels and enclosures.
Regarding the cost and speed of deployment of fiber communication networks, the choice of fiber-optic connector is equally important. The main connectivity options for the majority or all of the fiber-optic distribution, as described in this article, are SC and LC devices.
Additionally, miniaturization is working in the favor of LC devices. However, in the end, the choice comes down to specific applications.
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