I'm trying to get my head around fibre optics compared to copper. In my head copper is easy, if i've got 20 signals in the field going to a PLC, I may select a 20 pair cable (for example). However if i've got 100 signals in the field, and i want to use fibre then how do i know how many OM3 cables (for example) i need to use/what's the limitation on OM3 cable. Can someone point me in the direction of any literature that explains?
Hi Jones,
Well honestly speaking that comparision was back in days, might be 30 years ago. Currently each have own appliance.
For the instance you mentioned , it is not feasible to replace a copper with fiber unless you want to gain some bandwidth. at the end of the day it will be and end-to-end connection from each equipment to main frame.
Let me give you a different example:
Lets say that you need to install 50 new equipment at site and all of them needed to wire back to control room which is 20 km away. also each equipment uses 10 pairs of cable.
With fiber beauty, you can install an equipment rack nearby this equipment and install 1 pair fiber to each equipment where the field equipment will multiple all the signals to single fiber and send to main frame. imagine that we did it all 50 field equipment and now it is time to deliver this 50 equipment's 10 pair signal to 20 km away. Now another multiple will happen in main frame and we will transport all this 50x10=500 signals to 20 km away with 1 pair fiber.
This concept is called MUX-DEMUX , it was used for coppers back in days but signal loss and noise was a huge impediment. As nature of fiber practically eliminates all noises
let me know if you need any help
it is huge concept but simple
Hi Jones,
Well honestly speaking that comparision was back in days, might be 30 years ago. Currently each have own appliance.
For the instance you mentioned , it is not feasible to replace a copper with fiber unless you want to gain some bandwidth. at the end of the day it will be and end-to-end connection from each equipment to main frame.
Let me give you a different example:
Lets say that you need to install 50 new equipment at site and all of them needed to wire back to control room which is 20 km away. also each equipment uses 10 pairs of cable.
With fiber beauty, you can install an equipment rack nearby this equipment and install 1 pair fiber to each equipment where the field equipment will multiple all the signals to single fiber and send to main frame. imagine that we did it all 50 field equipment and now it is time to deliver this 50 equipment's 10 pair signal to 20 km away. Now another multiple will happen in main frame and we will transport all this 50x10=500 signals to 20 km away with 1 pair fiber.
This concept is called MUX-DEMUX , it was used for coppers back in days but signal loss and noise was a huge impediment. As nature of fiber practically eliminates all noises
let me know if you need any help
it is huge concept but simple
