Splice-On Connectors for Enterprise, Data Center Networks

Panduit’s new splice-on connector family, OmniSplice “is a fresh take on a well-known, rapidly growing technology,” said fiber-optic solutions product manager Seamus Hamrin when the product line was introduced. “We looked at ways to improve the process through precision and user-focused improvements with the goal of providing quality terminations, done fast, with maximum results to create value and efficiency for our customers,” he added.

“With protection of the splice point inside the body of the connector itself, OmniSplice eliminates the need for additional components and labor that pigtails require,” the company pointed out. “OmniSplice redefines speed with rapid terminations while providing improved function with pre-cleaved fiber stubs and an innovative holder design.”

The splice technician places the pre-polished and pre-cleaved connector subassembly into the OmniHolder, and splices it directly to the fiber cable. The connector is assembled around the splice point. Omni Holder works with the most current fusion splicers from AFL (Fujikura), Fiber Fox, Sumitomo, and UCL Swift—enabling termination of OmniSplice connectors on the most commonly used splicers in the field.

Designed to work with 900-micron tight-buffered fiber, 250-micron loose-tube fiber, and 250-micron fibers with 900-micron buildup tubing, OmniSplice can be terminated in 2 minutes or less, with an average insertion loss below 0.10 dB.

Commenting about OmniSplice’s advantages versus the use of pigtails, Panduit explained, “OmniSplice connectors protect the splice point inside the body of the connector itself, removing the need for additional components and labor that pigtails require. Pigtails provide a margin of error to the user by having a long length of fiber that can be cut away if the termination does not pass. This cable excess must be managed by some sort of slack management spool, and the splice protection sleeve must be secured in some form of splice holder.”