Optical Fiber Identifiers 

How do you identify continuous wave signals in Fiber Optic Cables? Yamasaki Optical Technology have released the TF916 Optical Fiber Identifier to do just that. Without interrupting service or damaging the fiber the Yamasaki TF916 Optical Fiber Identifier identifies signals in a Singlemode fiber. There is no need to go to the splice point and open up the fiber and you therefore eliminate all possibilities of interrupting service. 

The Yamasaki TF916 Optical Fiber Identifier can be used to test the type of signal being relayed  or to identify the traffic direction, its frequency and its optical power used over the fiber. 

To use the Yamasaki TF916 Optical Fiber Identifier, fiber optic sensors are clamped onto the optical fiber through a low insertion loss macro bending technique. Without overstressing or damaging the fiber the Yamasaki TF916 Optical Fiber Identifier allows the optical fiber indicators to clamp onto the fiber. The direction of the traffic is indicated and displayed by the Yamasaki TF916 Optical Fiber Identifier when traffic is detected. 

The Yamasaki TF916 Optical Fiber Identifier is equipped with audible tone indicators as well as visual displays to ensure that the product is capable of being used as diagnostic tool in addition to a verification and troubleshooting tool for fiber optic installations.

 
The types of applications of use for the Yamasaki TF916 Optical Fiber Identifier are:

• -    Fiber Identification

• -    Relative Optical Power Comparison

• -    High Loss Point Identification

• -    Splice and Connector Verification

• -    Optical Signal Comparisons

• -    Historical Relative Power Comparisons

For further information about this product please click the following link:

 Yamasaki Fibre Optic Test Equipment  TF916 Optical Fiber Identifier

Update: 13 February, 2008. Website images on the Products page.

We have updated the specifications for the Yamasaki Y70 Arc Fusion Splicer, and the new model is available immediately.

The 3 main changes are:

1. New Internal Battery
2. New PC interface and software
3. More memory
4. Video Out

The Lithium Ion battery has a capacity of 10Ah, and should provide enough power to work for a full day, or around 100 splices. The battery takes 6 to 8 hours to recharge, so at the end of a day of installation, we recommend you charge the battery overnight.The power slot for the battery is also used for the DC adaptor. Adaptors are available as 110V and 220V, enabling the same machine to be used in all markets. Note that the machine comes standard with either a 110V or a 220V adaptor. If you require both, please talk to your distributor.

The PC interface is via a DB9 connection to the serial port on your laptop. It allows you to download splice results into the splicer software. It also allows you to save splicing parameters used for each fibre type. Sorry, PC only, no Mac or Linux support.

The memory upgrade means the Y70 optical splicer can now hold 8000 splice results, instead of 1000 results.

The Video Out port is an S-Video connection. This enables connection of the splicer to a projector, TV, or LCD to enable easier training of new technicians.

Update: 27 January. Website images on the Products page, and the Yamasaki Y70 PDF brochure are now updated.

Following on from our earlier tips on Optimising Arc Parameters for the Y70 fusion splicer here are some further tips to improve your fusion splicing productivity. If you have not read that article yet, please do so.

Y70 Manual Arc Parameter Adjustment
When the “Program Check” assesses that the Arc is too weak or too strong, the splicer will increase or decrease the Pre Arc Power (PAP) and Arc Power (AP) by 5 units at a time. As you become more familiar with the Program Check process, you will be able to judge of how much the parameters need to be adjusted by assessing the size of the gap after the Arc test. If the adjustment required is large, making a manual adjustment will speed up the adjustment process.

To adjust fusion splicer parameters manually, follow these steps:

1. Turn on the fusion splicer.

2. Clean and cleave fibers. Load cleaved fibers into the fusion splicer.
3. enter the “Setup Menu”

4. Use the arrow keys to move to “Program Check” and press to select.

5. Press to begin the Arc test.

6. The splicer will report “Arc Weak”, “Arc Strong”, or “Arc Good”. This report is based on the extent to which the glass fibre is burnt away as per this diagram

7. If the arc is good, press to reset, the program check is complete and you can proceed to splicing.

8. If the arc is too weak or too strong, press to exit the program check and return to the splicer menu.

9. Use the arrow keys ( and ) to move to “Change Parameter”

10. If the Arc is too weak, increase the PreArcPower and ArcPower parameters by the same amount. Make a judgement on how much to adjust the parameters based on the size of the gap after the Program Check.

11. As a rule PreArcPower should be 10 units less than ArcPower. PreArcPower should be in the range of 30-150 and ArcPower in the range of 40-160.

12. Return to step 2 to repeat the Program Check.

Some other tips:
Whenever you change fiber brands, you should adjust the splicer settings to match the fiber.

Keep a record of the settings for the main brands of fibre you use. Settings can be seen by entering the Menu, then entering the Change Parameters section. This will give you a good starting point when setting up for a new job. You can enter these settings manually by following instructions in section 6.5 of the user manual.

A Bubble in the splice
If multimode fiber splices are resulting in a bubble, adjust PreArcTime first. Change PreArctime from 0.3 to 0.28 then test again, if still causing a bubble in the fiber, continue to adjust.

Note: Settings for PreArcTime should be between 0.25-0.32 for multimode fiber, and 0.15-0.25 for singlemode fiber.

If adjusting the PreArcTime is not successful in eliminating the bubble, adjust the PreArcPower.

If the fiber splice shape is slightly fat, but not a bubble, decrease the Forward setting.

Note: Settings for Forward should be between 11 and 14 for multimode and singlemode fiber types

Note: We do not recommend you change settings for Forward Speed or Cleave Angles

To get the lowest splice loss possible, it is necessary to adjust the arc power parameters of the fusion splicer to match the fiber being spliced.

The loss estimate provided by the fusion splicer is an estimate based on the shape of the fiber splice, assuming the fibers being spliced are the same type, and the fusion splicer settings have been optimized. So we are going to adjust the parameters until we achieve an optimal real dB loss.

Target loss levels
When splicing two fibers of the same type together, the following losses should be able to be achieved.
SM 0.02dB
MM 0.01dB

When splicing two different brands of fibers together, the following losses should be able to be achieved.
SM 0.04dB
MM 0.02dB
Program Check
When adjusting the arc of the fusion splicer to match the characteristics of the fiber, the first parameters to adjust are the PreArcPower and ArcPower. The easiest way to set the correct PreArcPower and ArcPower levels is to do a Program Check.

Follow these steps to do a Program Check:

1. Turn on fusion splicer.

2. Clean and cleave fibers. Load cleaved fibers into the splicer.

3. Go to the main menu and press to enter the “Setup Menu”

4. Use the arrow keys ( and  )to move to “Program Check” and press to select.

5. Press to begin the Arc test.

6. The fusion splicer will report “Arc Weak”, “Arc Strong”, or “Arc Good”. This report is based on the size of the gap between the glass fibers after the arc.

7. If the arc is good, press to reset, and proceed with splicing.

8. If the arc is too weak or too strong, press and the fusion splicer will automatically adjust the PreArcPower and ArcPower parameters accordingly.

9. Return to step 2 to repeat the Program Check. This check may need to be done several times to reach the correct settings.

Some more user tips for setting parameters are now posted at advanced Y70 fusion splicer settings

Should you buy a fusion splicer?

Will you use a splicer enough for it to pay for itself?

There are a lot of factors that contribute to the final answer. So where can you start?

There is a useful tool at http://fusionsplicer.com.au/returnoninvestment/ which takes all the variables and puts them in a configurable spreadsheet. It incluses options for buying or leasing a fusion splicer, and enables adjustment of variables to your exact situation.

Once you make a decision to invest in a splicer, come back to Yamasaki, and we can put you in touch with our nearest fusion splicer stockist.

We have just released our GBIC and Small form Pluggable (SFP) Fibre Transceivers. Both the GBICs and SFP’s are available in 5 configurations to cater for various distance requirements. There is a multimode option, and four singlemode options at 10km, 40km, 70km and 110km transmission distance.

Both the SFP and GBIC are compatible with Cisco switches, so we expect these transceivers will prove very popular. They are also compatible with other brands of switches, provided they do not use proprietary code in the interface.

To learn more, or to download the product PDF, follow the links to the GBIC tranceiver and the SFP transceiver web pages.
CISCO and all other registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

We now have a DC adaptor available for the Y70 fibre splicer. This allows you to power the fusion splicer from a 12V DC source, such as the one found inside a car. Some installers have a van set up for fibre installation, and the 12V input is ideal for this situation.

12V DC input for Y70 fusion splicer

When we upgraded the fusion splicer to include a Lithium battery, we changed the layout of the inputs and outputs, and removed the DC input. Since then, we have recieved feedback that some people prefer a direct 12V DC input to running the splicer from a battery. So for those who would prefer a DC input, it is now available as an option.

The part number is Y70-DCIN

Has Ericsson pulled out of the fusion splicer market?

We were recently informed by a distributor of Ericsson arc fusion splicers that Ericsson will no longer be manufacturing optical fusion splicers. On checking the Ericsson website they still have information about their optic splicer products, but the link to their international distributors now redirects to a page about cable and Interconnect products.

Can anyone provide information on this apparent market withdrawl by Ericsson, via email or a comment?

Yamasaki fibre splicers continue to be available worldwide. To locate your nearest Yamasaki distributor, or to become a distributor, please send an email through the contact us page. We will be happy to work with you now and into the future.

Melbourne newspaper The Age reports that Kingfisher International has won a large US contract with Sprint Nextel to supply Fibre optic test equipment. It is great to see Australian companies excelling in the international fibre optic market.

Congratulations Kingfisher.

To maximise the performance of the Lithium Ion battery provided with your Y70 fusion splicer, we recommend that the you charge the battery for 18 hours before using for the first time.

Thereafter, the battery will take 6 to 8 hours to recharge. An LED indicates whether the battery is charging or has completed its charge. When charging, the indicator will be red, and when fully charged, the indicator will change to green.
At the end of a day of installation, we recommend you charge the battery overnight. This will not damage the battery.