The SMOF break – out item enables optic fibres from a 12 fibre SMOF ribbon x 1.1m long, to be separated into 12 x 900µm micron individual fibre cords x 1.1m long. This enables the external ribbon fibre cable to have a single position appearance at a splice tray in a subrack of an FTF. Here connection is made to a 900µm single mode fibre. The SMOF meets G.652.D specification, with no water peak in the wavelength profile graph. Each optical fibre cord has the following features: colour coded to TIA-EIA-598-A; 9µm core dia; 125µm cladding dia; and a 900µm tight buffered outer sheath. The cord has physical properties of: minimal tensile strength; MBR of 30mm; ability to withstand a small crushing load; ability to withstand a small impact load.
The ribbon to single fibre break-out occurs in a small size rectangular plastic unit, typically 11.5mm wide x 5mm high x 53mm long. Typically, the break-out unit is housed on a splice tray, where the 1 x 12 fibre ribbon is fusion spliced to entering 1 x 12 fibre ribbon from the external ribbon cable.
The cords colours are to Telco Industry standard (TIA-EIA-598-A), and range from Blue to Aqua. For optical fibres 1 to 12 the Telco Industry Standard Colour Code is: Blue, Orange, Green, Brown, Slate, White, Red, Black, Yellow, Violet, Rose and Aqua. Be very careful NOT to subject the 0.9mm dia fibres and ribbon fibre to high values of tension, or it may become damaged, or suffer a failure.