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fiber pigtail is a short length of optical fiber with a factory-installed connector on one end and bare fiber on the other. Its primary purpose is to provide a reliable, low-loss termination point for field cables, typically by splicing the bare end onto the main cable run.
- One-Sided Connector:Unlike patch cords, which have connectors at both ends, a pigtail has only one.
- Factory-Terminated:The connector end is processed in a controlled factory environment to ensure high precision and low signal loss.
- Unjacketed Design:Pigtails are often "tight-buffered" (typically 0.9mm) and unjacketed because they are meant to be housed and protected inside splice trays or termination boxes.
Common Uses
Pigtails are standard in 99% of single-mode fiber installations. They are typically found in:
- Optical Distribution Frames (ODF):For managing organized fiber terminations.
- Fiber Terminal Boxes:Used in FTTH (Fiber to the Home) to connect incoming drop cables to subscriber equipment.
- Splice Closures:Acting as a bridge between the high-count backbone cable and distribution equipment.
Types of Fiber Pigtails
Pigtails are categorized based on their technical specifications to match the network they are joining:
| Category |
Common Types |
Notes |
| Fiber Mode |
Single-mode (Yellow), Multimode (Orange/Aqua) |
Single-mode is for long distances; Multimode (OM1-OM5) for shorter runs. |
| Connector |
LC, SC, ST, FC, E2000 |
LC is for high-density; SC is common for home internet; ST/FC for industrial/legacy. |
| Polish Type |
UPC (Blue), APC (Green) |
APC has an 8° angle to minimize reflections, critical for CATV and GPON. |
| Environment |
Standard, Armored, Waterproof |
Armored resists rodents/crushing; Waterproof is used for outdoor towers or harsh conditions. |
Pigtail vs. Patch Cord
| Feature |
Fiber Pigtail |
Fiber Patch Cord |
| Connectors |
One end only |
Both ends |
| Typical Use |
Permanent splicing inside boxes |
Reconfigurable device-to-device links |
| Jacket |
0.9mm (minimal protection) |
2.0mm or 3.0mm (rugged) |
| Installation |
Requires splicing (fusion or mechanical) |
Plug-and-play |
