Fiber splicing is a very important part of fiber optic communication technology. There are two methods commonly used to splice optic fiber, they are fiber cold splicing and fiber fusing splicing, both of them are effective but used in different applications, this article will explain them in detail and clarify the difference between fiber cold splicing and fiber fusing splicing.

The transmission of fiber communication has the advantages of wide transmission frequency band, large communication capacity, low loss, no electromagnetic interference, small cable diameter, light weight, the rich source of raw materials and so on, and thus becomes a new transmission medium. Light in the optical fiber transmission will produce loss, which is made up mainly by the optical fiber transmission loss and splicing loss at the fiber connector. Once the cable is ordered, the transmission loss of the fiber itself is basically determined, and the splicing loss of the fiber junction is related to the fiber itself and the site construction. Efforts to reduce the loss of splicing at the fiber connector can increase the fiber transmission distance and increase the attenuation of the fiber link.

Optic fiber cold splicing

It is used for the connection of fiber to fiber or fiber to pigtail, which is equivalent to the connector (the connection of fiber to pigtail refers to the core buttocks between fiber and pigtail instead of the former pigtail head). The thing for this cold connection is called fiber cold connector. 

The fiber cold connector is used when two pigtails are docked. The main part of the fiber is a precise v-groove, which uses cold fiber connectors after the stir of two pigtails to achieve the docking of the two pigtails. It is more simple and quick to operate, faster than welding with the welding machine. Cold connection generally has two forms: the field fast linker of the first end; second, the cold connector of fiber junction. 

With the rapid development of FTTH (fiber to the home), the demand for fiber cold connector is also greatly increased. Fiber optic fast connector, as well as the fiber cold connector, plays an irreplaceable role in FTTH network access. Field termination technology of fiber fast connector solves the problem, without the need of wielding, quick and easy, the low cost of connection, truly achieving the access anytime, anywhere. It is used for the connection of fiber to fiber or fiber to pigtail, which is equivalent to the connector (the connection of fiber to pigtail refers to the core buttocks between fiber and pigtail instead of the former pigtail head). The thing for this cold connection is called fiber cold connector. The fiber cold connector is used when two pigtails are docked. The main part of the fiber is a precise v-groove, which uses cold fiber connectors after the stir of two pigtails to achieve the docking of the two pigtails. It is more simple and quick to operate, and faster than fusion splitter. 

Fiber fusing splicing

Light in the optical fiber transmission will produce loss, which is mainly comprised of the optical fiber transmission loss and fiber wielding loss at the junction. Once the cable is ordered, the transmission loss of the fiber itself is basically determined, and the wielding loss of the fiber junction is related to the fiber itself and the site construction. Efforts to reduce the welding loss at the fiber connector can increase the transmission distance of fiber relay amplification and increase the attenuation of the fiber optic link.

The differences between cold splicing and fusing splicing

Fusing splicing

Need to use welding machine, fiber cutting knife to connect the two fibers without auxiliary materials. The advantage is that the quality is stable and the connection loss is small (about 0.03 to 0.05). The disadvantage is that the equipment cost is too high, the equipment storage capacity is limited, and the field operation is limited.

Cold splicing

Do not need too much equipment but fiber cutter. But each contact point requires a quick connector (which can be said to be the future mainstream operation), with the advantage of easy operation, suitable for field operations, and of shortcomings loss of about 0.1 to 0.2dB each point. Currently, cold connectors are directly produced little by manufacturers in the country with higher cost. There is no room for choice in business and technical services, followed by the use of matching terminals in the cold connector. Due to the less use and short time, the problem of aging needs time to test.