What type of cable should I use with my network or application? It’s a common question that more and more people are asking, especially as fiber optic has become a viable alternative to copper in many end uses and applications.
In this post, we’ll get to the bottom of things by taking a closer look at why fiber optic cables are quickly becoming the preferred cable technology across a wide range of industries. We’ll also talk about some of the key advantages that fiber optic cables hold over conventional copper ones. Here’s a closer look at what you need to know.
Fiber Optic Cables Explained
Before we get into some of the key things that you should know about fiber optic cables, let’s start by discussing just what fiber optic cables are.
Specifically, fiber optic cables, or optical-fiber cables as they’re also commonly called, use a glass or polymer-based fiber and a light signal to transfer data. They differ from conventional cables, which are often comprised of metal and use an electric signal to transfer data.
Fiber optic cables hold several key advantages over more conventional cables, and many of these features we’ll get into in the next section. Specifically, fiber optic cables are especially lauded for their fast data transfer speed, especially over longer cable lengths. They’re also ideal in extreme environments, as they don’t easily corrode and have fire-resistant properties.
5 Things to Know About Fiber Optic Cables
1. They Offer Fast Signal Speeds
The best thing to know about fiber optic cables is how fast they’re able to transfer data, especially when compared to conventional copper cables. By using a core consisting of light to transmit data, they’re able to transmit signals at much faster overall speeds. What’s more is that there is less signal degradation when transmitting data, especially over longer cable lengths. This is another huge advantage of fiber optic cables.
2. They’re Flexible
In addition to enhanced reliability, it’s clear that the future of data transmission is fiber optic cables. They’re small and thin, can integrate easily into existing applications and are very versatile. You can tie fiber optic cables in knots or bend them to fit certain applications, all the while ensuring they will stay strong and remain both durable and functioning in the application.
3. They’re Light
Fiber optic cables are as light as they are durable, which makes them easy to install. A part of what makes these cables lightweight is how they’re also smaller than conventional cables.
4. They Don’t Emit Heat
As we noted in the previous section, fiber optic cables are fire-resistant when compared to copper cables. This is largely due to the fact that they don’t emit any heat, reducing the threat of a fire hazard. These fire-resistant properties make fiber optic cables especially relevant in high-temperature or more demanding applications.
5. They Don’t Corrode
In addition to fire-resistant properties, another nice thing about fiber optic cables is that they won’t corrode. This means that they tend to be more reliable and require less maintenance over time. Additionally, fiber optic cables are resistant to the likes of temperature changes, inclement weather and moisture.
Why Choose Fiber Optic Cables?
In addition to the benefits that we’ve listed above, there are other reasons to choose fiber optic cables over their traditional copper counterparts. One of the biggest reasons to go to fiber optic is their comparatively lower cost of ownership compared to other cables.
Not only are they easier to integrate into existing applications, but they are also secure. In fact, fiber optic cables are quite difficult to hack and intercept, making them an ideal accessory for safeguarding data, especially data that is sensitive. Hacking or intercepting fiber optic cables takes a very high level of skill.
Additionally, fiber optic cables also often come with a cheaper upfront cost, as glass is more affordable than metal to produce and integrate into the cable parts.
Also Read: Types of Copper Wire Cable Testing
Contact Circuit Assembly Today
For more information on the benefits of fiber optic cables and what applications they’re ideal for, contact us at Circuit Assembly today. As leaders in all things fiber optics, we’re standing by and ready to assist you with your cabling needs. Contact us for more information today.