Introduction of figure 8 fiber optic cable

Aerial fiber cable

1. What is figure 8 fiber optic cable?
Optical cables with a cross-sectional shape of “8” are generally called figure 8 fiber optic cables. The optical fiber cable integrates the cable core part and the steel supporting strand into an “8”-shaped PE sheath to form a self-supporting structure. During the laying process, there is no need to erect steel supporting strands and hooks, and the construction efficiency is high and the construction cost is low. The overhead laying between poles and poles, between poles and buildings, between buildings and buildings, etc. can be realized simply.

2. Basic structure

The structure of the figure 8 fiber optic cable is to insert a single-mode or multi-mode optical fiber into a loose tube made of high-modulus plastic, and the tube is filled with a water-blocking compound. The center of the cable core is the loose tube, and the outside of the loose tube is longitudinally wrapped with plastic-coated steel tape. The water-blocking tape between the steel tape and the loose tube ensures the compactness and longitudinal water-blocking of the optical cable. It is placed in parallel with the steel strand and extrudes the figure-8 sheath into a cable.

3. Advantages 

  • Accurately control the excess length of the optical fiber to ensure that the optical cable has good tensile performance and temperature characteristics
  • The loose tube material itself has good hydrolysis resistance and high strength, and the tube is filled with special ointment, which provides key protection for the optical fiber
  • There is no need to put additional steel strands during erection, which increases the construction speed by 3-4 times
  • A water-blocking tape is placed outside the loose tube, and the special fiber is filled in the loose tube with good water-blocking material to prevent the longitudinal water seepage of the optical cable
  • The high-modulus steel strand suspension wire ensures that the optical cable can be laid by itself, and the overall cost is low

4. Types 

4.1 Loose-buffered non-armored outdoor self-supporting figure 8 fiber optic cable with strength member

Self-supporting Aerial Fiber Optic Cable

The fiber optic is sheathed in a loose tube made of high-modulus polyester material, and the tube is filled with a waterproof compound. The center of the cable core is a metal reinforcing core, the loose tube is twisted around the central reinforcing core into a compact circular cable core, the gap in the cable core is filled with water-blocking filler, plastic-coated aluminum polyethylene laminate (APL) tape / corrugated steel longitudinally packaged, and the steel wire strands are integrated into a figure-8 polyethylene jacket to form a cable.

Features:

  • Full-section water-blocking structure to ensure good water-blocking and moisture-proof performance; through the use of a single steel wire central reinforcing core, the casing is filled with special waterproof compounds, the cable core is completely filled, and the plastic-coated aluminum tape (APL) moisture-proof layer or double-sided plastic-coated steel tape is used. (PSP) moisture-proof layer and other measures to ensure the waterproof performance of the optical cable
  • Fiber optic cables have good mechanical and temperature characteristics
  • The loose tube material itself has good hydrolysis resistance and high strength
  • The tube is filled with special ointment for critical protection of the fiber
  • Precisely controlled excess length of optical fiber ensures that the optical cable has good tensile performance and temperature characteristics
  • Longitudinal clad steel tape strengthens the lateral pressure resistance and moisture permeability of the optical cable
  • Self-supporting structure has high tensile strength, which is convenient for overhead laying and reduces installation cost
  • The optical cable has a compact structure and adopts the SZ layered structure to ensure that the optical fiber is not stressed in harsh environments

Application: suitable for long-distance communication and inter-office communication

4.2 Loose-buffered non-armored outdoor self-supporting figure 8 fiber optic cable without strength member

Figure-8 self-supporting outdoor optical cable is made of non-metallic reinforcing members, stranded loose tube cable and polyethylene bonding sheath. The loose tube is filled with a waterproof filler. FRP, as a non-metallic strength member, is located in the center of the core. The pipe is twisted into a compact circular core around the strength member. After winding with water-blocking tape, the stranded wire is used as the support part, and the figure-8 polyethylene sheath is added to complete the cable.

Features:

  • High modulus fiberglass reinforced plastic rod (FRP) center reinforcement
  • Full-section water-blocking structure, double-sided film-coated aluminum strip or double-sided plastic-coated corrugated steel strip, good water-proof and moisture-proof performance
  • The loose tube is filled with special ointment for critical protection of the optical fiber
  • The figure-8 self-supporting structure has high tensile strength, which is convenient for overhead laying and low installation cost.
  • The polyethylene jacket makes the cable have good UV resistance
  • Low loss, low dispersion
  • Non-metallic cable core, with strong anti-electromagnetic interference ability
  • Compact structure, lightweight, self-supporting erection

Application: Long-distance communication, inter-office communication, CATV and computer network transmission system, etc.

4.3 Unitube light-armored outdoor self-supporting figure 8 fiber optic cable with strength member

Figure 8 Fiber Optic Cable
The optical cable is a central tube filled, polyethylene-sheathed, figure-8 self-supporting outdoor optical cable for communication. The 250µm fiber is sheathed in a loose tube of high-modulus material filled with a waterproofing compound. Add a layer of water-blocking tape to the outside of the tube, wrap it longitudinally with a layer of corrugated steel, and integrate it with the steel wire into a figure-8 polyethylene sheath to form a cable. Generally, it is installed aerial.

Features:

  • Steel armor makes the optical cable have better bending resistance and lateral pressure resistance, and can also resist gunshots and rat bites
  • The high tensile strength of steel wire strands facilitates self-supporting aerial laying and reduces installation costs
  • Good mechanical and temperature properties
  • The tube is filled with special ointment, which provides key protection for the optical fiber
  • Cinrugged steel improves the moisture resistance of optical cables
  • Small diameter, lightweight, easy to lay

Application: suitable for long-distance communication and inter-office communication

4.4 Unitube light-armored outdoor self-supporting figure 8 fiber optic cable without strength member

The figure 8 fiber optic cable consists of non-metallic reinforcing member, center bundle tube and polyethylene sheath. It is a communication cable for outdoor use. The optical cable and the supporting strand are connected together.

Features

  • Low loss, low dispersion
  • Reasonable design and precise excess length control make the optical cable have excellent mechanical and environmental performance
  • High-strength galvanized steel strands to meet different laying spans and environmental needs
  • “8” self-supporting structure, easy for overhead installation and laying
  • Accurate process control and high-quality material selection ensure that the optical cable has excellent mechanical and environmental performance
  • Unitube structure, small and compact size, lightweight

Application: suitable for access system, CATV and computer network transmission system, etc.

4.5 Tight-buffered non-armored indoor self-supporting figure 8 fiber optic cable without strength member

The surface of the ф900μm or ф600μm optical fiber is uniformly applied to strengthen the multi-strand aramid strands into a circular shape, and the aramid strands are integrated into a figure-8 polyethylene sheath.

Features

  • Small outer diameter, lightweight, easy to lay
  • Aramid stranded wire has extremely high tensile strength, which is convenient for self-supporting aerial laying and reduces installation costs
  • Has good mechanical and temperature properties
  • Special tube filler ensures critical protection of the fiber

Application

  • Indoor horizontal wiring, vertical wiring in buildings, LAN network
  • Standard fiber cores have direct-mount connectors for connection to equipment
  • Used as the pigtail cable of the backbone network, it can be directly connected to the room from the outdoors, eliminating the need for junction boxes, isolating lightning and improving system reliability
  • Suitable for floor connection and easy maintenance

4.6 FTTH drop tight buffer self-supporting figure 8 fiber optic cable
FTTH figure 8 fiber optic cable

FTTH indoor branch optical cable with tight buffer, aramid yarn strength member, and LSZH jacket, with non-metallic strength member. The inner core adopts tight type optical fiber, and the outer jacket can be matched with flame retardant or LSZH flame retardant jacket.

Features:

  • A variety of cable structure options can be laid in limited space, and no winding effect
  • Can be used in inter-building conduit trays and channels
  • The ideal network cable is easy to route under the premise of ensuring the protection of the optical fiber, and the insertion and identification ensure that the optical fiber is easy to be stripped at one time, which is convenient for rapid installation and fully supports future network applications.

Applications: Mainline building access, suspended ceilings, inter-building trays and conduits

 5. Summary

Bonelinks is a figure 8 fiber optic cable supplier, providing various types of figure 8 fiber optic cable, ranging from outdoor to indoor, tight-buffered or loose-buffered, aluminum/steel/water blocking tape, armored or non-armored figure 8 fiber optic cable. We can also provide customized figure 8 fiber optic cable upon request. If you need it, you can contact us.

Echo Huang

Echo Huang is an expert wordsmith and marketing professional at Bonelinks with more than 8 years of experience in high technology businesses – fiber optics, IoT, and telecommunication. She is very glad to share industry knowledge and communicate with others.

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