Loose Tube Fiber Cable

The gel within the loose tube construction stops the penetration of water and keeps it away from the fiber.

Loose tube fiber cable.

Both contain a type of strengthening member such as aramid yarn stainless steel wire strands or gel filled sleeves. Their designs utilize 250µm fibers in both central multi loose tube constructions ranging in fiber counts from 2 to 288. Loose tube cables are designed for harsh environment conditions in the outdoors. Loose tube fiber and tight buffered fiber.

Fiber loose tube cable belden s loose tube cables are ideal for both outdoor indoor outdoor applications including use in conduit direct burial lashed aerial trunking. Tight buffered and loose tube fiber are the two styles of constructions fiber optic cables offered. Loose tube cables are optimized for outdoor applications. Each however is designed for very different environments.

Loose tube cables whether flooded under the jacket or water blocked with dry swellable materials protect the fibers from moisture and the long term degradation moisture can cause. From the picture below we can see that loose tube fiber holds more than one optical fiber each individually. The configuration of loose tube cable comprises of a coated fiber placed within a loose tube which is filled with water resistant gel to protect fiber from tension and stresses caused by such harsh environment as moisture and a wide operation temperature range from thermal shock to ice loading. Fiber optic cable is available in many physical variations such as single and multiple conductor constructions aerial and direct burial styles plenum and riser cables etc.

Loose tube and tight buffered. They protect the fiber core cladding and coating by enclosing everything within semi rigid protective sleeves or tubes. But there are two basic styles of fiber optic cable construction.