How does a fiber optic joint closure
Optical connections in fiber networks are very sensitive and need to be protected from external elements. One way to protect these delicate fibers is to use a fiber optic joint closure. This small, hardy plastic box protects the splices in your fiber network from extreme temperatures and other environmental factors. There are several different types of fiber optic closures on the market today, each designed to meet your network needs. Read on to learn more about this crucial protective element for fiber-optic networks and how to choose the best one.
A Fiber optic joint closure, also known as an optical cable splice closure or a splice enclosure, is used to provide mechanical pressure sealing and splicing protection for optical cables in outdoor environments. It can withstand the impact of vibration, tensile cable distortion, stress circling and strong temperature changes. The closure can be installed at various locations in the field, including aerial, buried or butt joint, and is available for armoured or unarmoured optical cables.
The closure is a hard plastic case that has multiple entries to accommodate optical splices. The splices can be made by fusion or mechanical splicing. Regardless of the splicing method, a proper splice should be made to ensure that the optical connection is secure and stable. The splice closure provides protection and prevents water from entering into the splice. The closure is sealed with a special splice seal that is watertight and airtight.
How does a fiber optic joint closure protect optical connections?
There are two main types of fiber optic closures: horizontal types and dome types. Horizontal closures look like a flat or cylindrical case and offer space for fused optical cables to splice. They are typically mounted aerial or buried underground. Most horizontal closures can fit hundreds of splices, and they are designed to be dustproof and waterproof.
Dome fiber optic closures have a dome-like structure and are commonly used in buried applications. They can be hung from the messenger wire in the case of aerial cables or attached to the pole in the case of direct buried applications. Dome fiber optic closures require high-levels of sealing and the use of waterproof technologies, due to their underground application. They also need to keep insects and dirt out of the splices.
A hybrid fiber optic closure is another type of splice closure that can be mounted on walls, aerial or pedestal installations. These closures are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and can be equipped with additional accessories such as grounding and a watertight cap. These closures are popular with telecommunications companies as they are easy to deploy, and can accommodate a variety of cable sizes. Choosing the right fiber optic closure for your network can help you avoid a lot of unnecessary problems, so it’s important to understand the features of each type. Multilink offers a wide variety of hybrid and vertical closures, so you can find the perfect one to suit your network.