Handle the cables with care to avoid scratching.

 

Always install with as few bends as possible and do not exceed the minimum bend radius.

 

Always allow extra lengths of fiber cable at termination point to light source for maintenance.

 

Cap all exposed fiber ends for side lit usage to increase intensity of light drive.

 

Seal ends that will submerge in water during installation.

 

All fiber cables immersed in water must be properly sealed.

UV Radiation

Do NOT put the fiber outdoors or indoors without protecting it from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Protection is required indoors when the fiber will be subject to UV from skylights, windows,

or interior lights that give off UV. UV rays will degrade the fiber and seriously affect its longevity.

Therefore, for exterior or interior applications where UV rays are present the fiber should be

protected with either Lexan® tubing or a special PVC-type jacketing.

Also, make certain that the illuminator has an effective UV filtering glass; otherwise, the fiber

will degrade. Remember, both side and end illumination fibers must be protected from UV rays.

Bending of Fiber

Do NOT bend the fiber at hard right angles. It is not recommended that you bend the fiber

more than 8x the diameter. Yes, the fiber can be bent very, very sharply but doing this will

result in a “lighting hot spot” and this will reduce the distance the fiber will illuminate.

Remember, light travels in straight lines and does not respond well to bending.

Generally, the slighter the bend, the better the light transmission within the fiber.

When the fiber leaves the illuminator it should come out in a straight line for a few feet.

Do not bend the fiber immediately; instead, allow the light to first have a short straight run.

Distance of Illumination

How far will a fiber illuminate? There is no simple answer to this question.

Yes, the best fiber will illuminate up to 263'. However, for a fiber to illuminate 263',

several factors must be taken into account. The illuminator must be bright and well-focused.

The fiber and illuminator are a team; both have a role to play. Therefore, the brightness and

the efficiency of the illuminator will play a major role in the distance that the fiber illuminates.

Second, the number of curves or bends in the fiber will affect the distance and the intensity

of the light as it travels from one end of the fiber to other. Third, the ambient light is critical.

What is acceptable illumination around a dark pool may not be acceptable around a building

that has an illuminated parking lot or is in a shopping mall.

Fourth, how “bright” the client expects the fiber to appear is also a factor in determining the

distance of illumination for that particular fiber, illuminator, and situation.

Orientation of the Fiber

The fiber must be placed directly in the path of the light beam in order for the light to transmit

effectively through the fiber. If the fiber is placed at an angle to the beam of light produced by
the illuminator, it will not transmit as much light as a fiber that is placed directly straight on with

the beam of light emanating from the light source.

Cutting the Fiber

Do NOT cut the end of the fiber without using a very sharp razor blade.

A clean, clear cut is critical since a cut with occlusions will result in light loss.

Colors

Certain colors of the spectrum are transmitted and appear to the human eye to be

brighter than others; e.g., yellow appears much brighter than red to most of us.

Scratching the Fiber

Do NOT drag the fiber around on a rough surface as this will scratch or mar the surface and

reduce the ability of the fiber to transmit light.

Thermal Expansion of Fiber

When installing the fiber in Lexan® be sure to allow for expansion and contractions at the corners.

If this is not done, the light transmission can be negatively affected and the fiber may be damaged.

Immersion in Liquids

Do NOT put the ends of the fiber in any liquid including water.

The ends of the fiber should not come into contact with any liquid since the liquid can migrate

between the outside cladding and the fiber thereby causing damage and reducing its ability to

transmit light.