New patch panel "consigns broken fibers to history," says Krone

April 1, 2004 Gloucestershire, UK -- Krone Technique UK recently unveiled the Fibre Split-Patch Panel, a new patch panel that enables the introduction of new fibers without disturbing existing live fibers.

According to Krone, research by a major public network operator has shown that when new fiber cables are introduced into existing operational patch panels there is a 50% probability that the disturbance will cause an existing live fiber to break. Worse still, when the technician then attempts to repair the broken fiber, there is a further 50% chance that another live fiber will also be broken.

Krone's approach is to split each 1-U patch panel into two independent 0.5-U trays, while still maintaining the highest possible packing density of 48 ports per U (LC and MT-RJ) and 24 ports SC duplex.

On the initial installation, only one tray is cabled and terminated, leaving the other half spare for later expansion capacity. When additional fiber cables need to be terminated, the second 24-port slide-out tray can be worked on without any movement or disturbance on the live tray, completely removing the chance of live fiber breakages.

The steel unit contains outstanding cable and fibre storage and management--essential to controlling bend radii and avoiding fiber breakages--for both pulled fiber cables and blown fiber tubes, say company representatives.

If required, the two 24-port 0.5-U trays can be fitted with different fiber adaptors. It is even possible to use one tray for external singlemode cables and the other for internal multimode.

As a further safety and security measure, each tray is fitted with internal covers that ensure that technicians working on the adaptor area cannot accidentally access the splice/storage compartment.

Currently being installed in the City of London financial services sector, the new Fibre Split Patch Panel is already avoiding breakages that used to cost millions in lost trading, reports the company.