Progress of Optical Cable Damage Repair

Optical cable damage repair involves precise fault detection, careful fiber preparation, and low-loss splicing to restore network connectivity efficiently.Fault Identification

The first step in repairing a damaged optical cable is accurate fault location. Technicians use tools like Optical Time-Domain Reflectometers (OTDRs) to send light pulses through the fiber and detect breaks, bends, or high-loss points. For shorter distances, a Visual Fault Locator (VFL) can highlight visible breaks with red light. This step ensures that only the damaged section is addressed, minimizing unnecessary cutting and preserving network integrity .

Cable Preparation

Once the fault is located, the damaged section is exposed and removed. The fiber jacket and Kevlar strength members are carefully stripped without harming the core. The bare fiber is then cleaved to create clean, perpendicular ends, which is critical for low-loss splicing . Proper preparation also includes cleaning the fiber ends with alcohol-dampened wipes to remove contaminants.

Splicing and Connection

There are two main methods to reconnect fibers:

• Fusion Splicing: Uses an electric arc to weld fibers together, creating a continuous strand with minimal signal loss (typically