How are 4S Fiber Optic Cables tested?
The 4S Fiber Optic cables are tested mechanically and environmentally by following the IEC 60794-1-2 procedures.
4S Testing Procedures
Tensile Strength: IEC 60794-1-2-E1
Impact Resistance: IEC 60794-1-2-E4
Crush Resistance: IEC 60794-1-2-E3
Temperature Cycling: IEC 60794-1-2-F1
Bend Radius: IEC 60794-1-2-E11
Repeating Bending: IEC 60794-1-2-E6
Water Penetration: IEC 60794-1-2-F5
Operating/Storage/Installation Temperature: IEC 60794-1-2-F1
Tensile Strength: IEC 60794-1-2-E1
Tests the behavior of the attenuation and/or fiber elongation strain as a function of the load on the cable, which may occur during installation.
Impact Resistance: IEC 60794-1-2-E4
Testing includes vertically dropping a round edge hammer on a cable sample fixed to a flat steel plate. The testing machine conducts single or multiple impacts on the cable sample. The energy of the impact is determined by the drop height and weight of the hammer.
Crush Resistance: IEC 60794-1-2-E3
The cable is subjected to compression according to detailed specifications and the attenuation of the optical fiber is measured.
Temperature Cycling: IEC 60794-1-2-F1
During this test, optical fiber cables are exposed to different temperatures in order to determine the stability and behavior of the attenuation of those cables. Changes in the attenuation of optical fiber cables usually take place as a result of buckling or tensioning of the fibers due to the difference between their thermal expansion coefficient of the cable strength and jacketing members.
Bend Radius: IEC 60794-1-2-E11
This test determines the ability of the an optical fiber cable to withstand bending around a test mandrel. The attenuation must not change by more than a predetermined value. The cable should now show any indications of mechanical failure.
Repeating Bending: IEC 60794-1-2-E6
The impact tester allows a cable sample to bend backwards and forwards at an angle of 180 degrees by bending the extreme ends of the cable 90 degrees and in opposite directions while the sample goes through a tensile load.
Water Penetration: IEC 60794-1-2-F5
This test determines the ability of a cable to block water migration for a specified length.
Operating/Storage/Installation Temperature: IEC 60794-1-2-F1
This test monitors cable behavior when exposed to the temperature ranges present during storage and transportation of cables. This test is also used to check (within a selected temperature range) the stability behavior of the attenuation connected to a substantially micro-bend free situation of the fiber within the cable structure.