A fiber distribution panel is another name for a fiber optic patch panel. Its real task is to terminate the fiber optic cable and enable access to the individual fibers. Fiber patch panels are termination devices that are designed to house connectors and splice units in a secure, organised environment.
Fiber patch panels can be rack-mounted or wall-mounted, and are typically used in close proximity to termination equipment (within patch cable reach). Fiber optic cable, splices, and connections can be housed, organised, managed, and protected in both types.
Wall Mount Fiber Optic Patch Panel
Fiber patch panels can hold fiber adapter panels (also known as connector panels), as well as trunk cables, connectors, and patch cords, and they usually include built-in cable management.
Individual cable fibers can be cross-linked, connected to lightwave equipment, or tested at the patch panel using fiber patch cables. It also has a link demarcation point and enables for individual fibre tagging.
Construction of a fiber patch panel
The following are the components of a typical termination unit:
- A mountable wall or equipment can be used to create an enclosed chamber. rack
- The connection couplers are held in place by coupler panels (adapter panels).
- Couplers for connectors (the connector adapters)
- Splice tray — Holds and organises splice modules.
The patch panel is divided into two compartments: one for the bulkhead receptacles or adapters, and the other for the splice tray and extra fibre storage. Patch cable management trays are available as an option for some patch panels and allow for the orderly storage of long patch cables.
The adapter is located on the bulkhead panel of the patch panel (receptacle and barrow). The adapter enables the fibre connector on the cable to connect to the proper patch cable connector. It has a low optical loss connection over a wide range of connector matings.
Fiber termination in the patch panel
Both pigtail and field-installable connector fiber termination techniques can be used to terminate fiber optic cable in a patch panel. The pigtail method necessitates a splice and the usage of a splice tray in the patch panel. The pigtail method gives the highest-quality connection while also being the quickest.
Fiber Optic Pigtail
When terminating fiber optic cable at fiber optic patch panels, the minimum bending radius should always be observed.
A field-installable connector is used in the second approach. The concept is to directly attach a fiber connection (SC, ST, FC, LC, etc.) to each individual fiber in the cable. Typically, a 250um bare fiber is used, and the connector must be installed and polished directly onto the fiber. Breaking out and protecting the naked fiber requires extra caution.
Specifications for common patch panels
- Whether indoors or out
- Rack-mountable or wall-mountable options are available.
- Front-only access or front-and-back access
- Patching just or splicing and patching
- Adapters just, adapters and pigtails, or unloaded as a bare chassis
- Fixed, slidable
- Single fibre, standard ribbon, or SpiderWeb Ribbon® (SWR) cable is intended for use.
- Count of fiber
- Height of the rack unit
- Required adapter type
The advantages of a fiber patch panel
- Allows fiber optic connections to be terminated quickly and easily.
- All input jacks/ports are connected to a patch panel in a central position in a well-organized and easy-to-manage manner.
- Because all of the modifications can be done at the patch panel, it’s easy to connect different devices in varied orders.
- Because all connections are patched using the ports in the patch panels, there are no costs associated with wear and tear on the input ports of networking equipment.