As we know, there are 6 standard fiber optic cable connectors in the optical transmission system, SC, FC, LC, ST, MR-RJ, and Mpo. What are their design meanings? How to make a better choice among these connectors? So, let’s find out together.
Standard SC Fiber Optic Cable Connector
The SC interface is one of the four most commonly used interface types. This SC connector, each coupler can only splicing 1 core optical fiber (support G.652 D, G.657A1, OM2, OM3, OM4 and other optical bare fibers). This coupler also has a duplex mode selection in addition to the basic simplex mode.
The SC interface is generally made of ABS alloy plastic material as the shell. Through the groove buckle, it can be used directly by inserting it into the corresponding interface. So its installation and use is very time-saving and convenient. This fiber optic connector is widely used in switches, fiber optic media converter, SFPs, and fiber to the home.
Especially in the construction process of fiber to the home, SC connectors are also popular on quick connectors. It eliminates the need for a fusion splicer and mechanically splices the fiber optic cable and the FTTH cable quickly.
Standard FC Fiber Optic Cable Connector
The connection method of the FC interface is very different from the connection method of the SC interface. FC connectors use female thread and groove construction. This connection is stronger than other structures. It can not only ensure a fixed long-term connection, but also has a small attenuation loss.
FC connectors mostly use simplex mode, but there are also duplex FC jumpers patch cord. Thanks to its excellent fixation, FC interfaces are mostly used at the end of the backbone network. Similarly, the interface can also support splicing various types of optical bare fibers.
LC Fiber Optic Cable Connector
The LC interface is somewhat similar to the SC interface. They are all held in place by snaps, but the LC is smaller. In most practical use cases, LC connectors are mostly used in duplex mode. It is smaller in size and is mostly used as the interface type of switches or SFP modules. This enables the optical components to take up less volume inside the device.
In addition to the duplex LC interface, there are also simplex LC couplers and 4-core LC couplers to choose from.
Standard ST Fiber Optic Cable Connector
ST connectors are very similar in shape to FC connectors. However, it does not use a screw fixation method, but uses a screw buckle for a fixed connection. Moreover, the overall volume of the ST is smaller than that of the FC connector. It also has the same fixed performance as the FC, and the time required for installation is also shorter.
MT-RJ Fiber Optic Cable Connector
MT-RJ started from the MT connector developed by NTT. It has the same latching mechanism as the RJ-45 type LAN electrical connector. It is aligned with the optical fiber through the guide pins installed on both sides of the small sleeve. The optical fiber on the end face of the connector is designed in a double-core (0.75mm interval) arrangement. It is the next-generation high-density optical fiber connector mainly used for data transmission.
The MT-RJ connector is often used as a fiber patch cord or coupler. Since it can simultaneously receive and transmit two-core fiber optic cables through a single connector, it is regarded as the beginning of a new generation of connector MPO.
MPO (Multi-fiber Push On) Fiber Optic cable Connector
MPO (Multi-fiber Push On) fiber optic cable connector is a high-density connector that can be said to continue to develop on the basis of MT-RJ. It has the advantages that many of the above connectors do not have.
First, the structural of MPO connectors are similar to those of MT-RJ. MPO connector is one of the MT series connectors, which is a multi-core and multi-channel plug-in connector, pin (also called PIN pin) for precise connection. This allows it to accommodate more optical fibers, such as: 8 cores, 12 cores, 16 cores, 24 cores. So, it transmits more light signal only through a connector that is similar in size to an SC coupler.
MPO connectors have also developed a lot of products, such as: MPO fiber optic patch cords, MPO branch fiber optic patch cords, and so on. In the future, we will introduce the MPO fiber patch cord and its peripheral products to you.
The 7 commonly used optical cable connectors and their supporting products such as optical fiber jumpers patch cord, coupler adapters, and Bithoo communications are all professional manufacturers. If you need it, you can contact us at any time.
