Testing & Commissioning Optical Fiber Link -Part 1
1/3/2017
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Calculation of Optical Power Budget
? What is Optical Power Budget
The optical power budget identifies how much attenuation or loss is
allowed across a fiber span while still maintaining sufficient output
.power for the receiver
Assuming that we are in the planning of installing a singlemode
fiber optics cable from point A to point B for our data
.communication project
Prior to actual fiber implementation we need to calculate before
hand the allowable maximum loss or optical power budget or
.optical power loss
Figure 1 : Cabling Schematic Diagram
For Singlemode fiber optics the common operating
.wavelengths are both 1310nm and 1550nm
For Multimode fiber optics the common operating wavelengths
.are both 850nm and 1300nm
Based upon manufacturers fiber specification, the attenuation
: or fiber loss at both operating wave length are as follows
Figure 2 : Fiber attenuation for both SM and MM
? How To Calculate Optical Power Budget
The Optical Power Budget Loss is equivalent to the total loss of
.fiber loss + splicing loss + connector loss
: It is illustrated as below
Figure 3 : Optical Power Budget
Fiber Loss = Length of fiber (km) x Attenuation
(dB/km)
Length of fiber (km) - to get this value by using OTDR
Attenuation (dB/km) - SM 1310nm - 0.3dB/km & SM 1550nm -
0.2dB/km
MM 850nm - 3dB/km & MM 1300nm - 1
dB/km
Splicing Loss = No. of splicing x Max splicing
loss (dB)
No. of splicing - total number of splicings done from Station A
to Station B
Max splicing loss - as per TIA/EIA recommendation 0.2dB for
each splicing
Connector Loss = No. of connector x Max
connector loss (dB)
No. of connectors - total number of connectors from Station A
to Station B
Max connector loss - as per TIA/EIA recommendation 0.75 dB
for connectors
(but we take maximum connector loss at 0.5dB )
Optical Power Budget Calculation Example
Using above Figure 1 fiber optics schematic diagram followings can
: be deduced
a. Total length of fiber is 1km
b. 2 nos of splicings
c. 2 nos of connectors
d. SM operating wavelength of 1310 nm - 0.3dB/km, 1550nm -
0.2dB/km
Operating Wavelength at 1310nm
Maximum Allowable Loss = Fiber Loss + Splicing Loss + Connector
Loss
(2 x 0.5dB ) + (2 x 0.2dB ) + (km x 0.3 dB/km 1) =
1.7dB =
Operating Wavelength at 1550nm
Maximum Allowable Loss = Fiber Loss + Splicing Loss + Connector
Loss
(2 x 0.5dB ) + (2 x 0.2dB ) + (km x 0.2 dB/km 1) =
1.6dB =
As such, when we do actual measurement using power meter
& light source the measured loss must be less than the
.calculated allowable maximum loss
If the actual measurement value is higher than calculated
maximum loss then most likely there will no communication or
.transfer data between Station A and Station B
On next articles we will emphasized on
More calculated examples schematic diagram
How to measure fiber optics loss using power meter &
light source
.How to troubleshoot fiber optic link to find the exact causes of higher fiber loss
Testing & Commissioning Optical Fiber Link -Part 2
1/5/2017
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Testing & Commissioning Optical Fiber Link -Part 1 HERE
More Examples on Calculation of Optical Power Budget
Assuming our Multimode Fiber Optics cabling configuration as below :
As per Singlemode, there are 2 common operating wavelength
namely 850nm and 1300nm.
The respective attenuation or loss as illustrated below :
Figure 2 : Operating Wavelength Attenuation
Please refer to the following link for calculation of optical fiber
budget formula :-
Testing & Commissioning Optical Fiber Link -Part 1 HERE
Optical Power Budget
Calculation
Using above Figure 1 fiber optics schematic diagram
followings can be deduced :
a. Total length of fiber is 1km (please use OTDR to measure
actual fiber length)
b. 2 nos of splicings
c. 2 nos of connectors
d. MM operating wavelength of 850 nm - 3dB/km, 1300nm -
1dB/km
Operating Wavelength at 850nm
Maximum Allowable Loss = Fiber Loss + Splicing Loss + Connector
Loss
= (1 km x 3 dB/km) + ( 2 x 0.2dB) + ( 2 x 0.5dB)
= 4.4dB
Operating Wavelength at 1300nm
Maximum Allowable Loss = Fiber Loss + Splicing Loss + Connector
Loss
= (1 km x 1 dB/km) + ( 2 x 0.2dB) + ( 2 x 0.5dB)
= 2.4dB
As such, when we do actual measurement using power meter &
light source the measured loss must be less than the calculated
allowable maximum loss.
If the actual measurement value is higher than calculated maximum loss then most likely there will no communication or transfer
data between Station A and Station B.
On next articles we will emphasized on
Calculating budget loss if there are jointings or splicings
between fiber optics cable
Calculating budget loss if few fiber optics cable are
connected via connectors
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