Difference between Optical Fiber Patch Cable and Fiber Pigtails

What's the difference between fiber pigtail & fiber patch cord. Can we use a patch cord as pigtail by cutting in the middle of the cable?

Sopto finds such questions now and then on the Internet, it's true that there are still some peoples that are not familiar with but still interested in such knowledge. Keep this in mind; we would like to take this topic into the discussion by collecting opinion from related answers:

For some people, an optical fiber patch cable is ruggedize (providing additional fiber protection) and a pigtail is not (and therefore more brittle).

"We would expect pigtails while dealing with optical components, while when dealing with patch panels, equipment interconnections, etc. I would expect patch cables." "We would also expect patch cables to be double-ended (i.e. computerized at both ends) and pigtails to be single-ended (or not terminated)."

Patch cables have connectors on both ends; while, pigtails have a connector on one end and bare fiber on the other.

In our opinion, we would agree all of the above comments, and also give the simplest understanding of ourselves: the fiber optic patch cable = fiber optic connector + fiber optic cable + fiber optic connector, while the fiber optic pigtail = fiber optic connectors + fiber optic cable. We can really use a patch cord as pigtails by cutting in the middle of the cable.

Officially speaking, fiber optic patch cable, often called fiber optic patch cord or fiber jumper cable, is a fiber optic cable terminated with fiber optic connectors on both ends. I have two major application areas: computer work station to outlet and fiber optic patch panels or optical cross connects distribution center. Fiber optic patch cables can be divided into different types based on fiber mode, cable structure, connector types, connector polishing types and cable sizes.

Fan-out Patch Cords

All types of fiber optic patch cables can be found at sopto.com. LC patch cable is the most commonly used, other connector types include ST, SC, FC, etc., which can be either the same types of connector on both ends, or different connectors on each end (Hybrid fiber optic patch cables).

Fiber optic pigtail is a piece of cable terminated with fiber optic connectors at only one side of the cable while leave the other side no connectors, so that the connector side can link to the equipment and the other side can be melted with optical cable fibers. Pigtail fiber optic cables are usually used with fiber optic management equipment like ODF, splice closures and cross cabinets.

Commonly used fiber optic pigtails types are FC, LC, MU, E2000, MTRJ and ST pigtail. According to the fiber mode types, there are single mode types and multimode types.

The pigtail, when separate from a line, looks like a bundle of loose, capped wires that are bound together at one end. The bound end connects to the main cable, where the individual strands of the fiber pigtail are permanently fused, or spliced, to the multicore cable. When the process is complete, the pigtail is a non-removable piece of the system.

For more info, please browse our website. For purchasing more fiber optical patch cords, please contact a Sopto representative by calling 86-755-36946668, or by sending an email to info@sopto.com.