IEC 61300-2-4 Fiber Optic Interconnection Devices and Passive Components - Part 2-4: Fiber or Cable Retention

EUROLAB laboratory provides testing and compliance services within the scope of IEC 61300-2-4 standard. This part of the IEC 61300 standard is to ensure that the gripping or attachment of fiber, cord or cable in a fiber optic device or in an enclosure withstands the tensile loads likely to be applied during normal service.

The device under test (DUT) is rigidly clamped to a holding device shown in Figure 1 and a tensile load is applied to the fiber, cord or cable. Possible failure modes for this test include, but are not limited to:

• Cable sheath damage;
• Strength element damage;
• Fiber breakage or damage;
• Cable clamp malfunction;
• cable pulling;
• Loss of optical continuity or sealing of enclosures;
• Change in optical properties such as attenuation or return loss;
• Breakage, excessive movement or damage to cable sheath, gaskets, cable clamps.

The diameter D of the mandrel is equal to the greater than 60 mm, or 25 times the diameter d of the fiber, cord, or cable. Use enough turns to avoid slipping. For optical components, the distance A between the rearmost part of the cable fixing component of the DUT and the mandrel tangent point should be 200 mm ± 50 mm. For closures, the distance A must be 50 times the diameter d of the fiber, cord or cable or greater than 250 mm.

The holding fixture holds the DUT and mandrel in designated positions throughout the test. The retention method used should not disrupt the DUT. Mount the DUT in a fixed location. The holding fixture should allow the DUT to be connected to an optical source and detector to monitor changes in attenuation if required by the relevant specification.

The force generator will smoothly apply the specified force to the DUT at the specified rate. The force meter should record the amount of force applied between the DUT and the fiber, cord, or cable. This equipment may include a device that records the rate of force application or the total time the force is applied, or both.

Other apparatus can be used instead of a tensile testing machine and a force gauge. For example, the required force can be obtained by applying controlled mass increases to the mandrel.

Prepare DUTs according to the manufacturer's instructions or as specified in the relevant specification. DUTs shall be terminated with fiber cable of sufficient length to facilitate interfacing with the optical source and detector. Each DUT is preconditioned for 2 hours for connectors, splices, passive components and fiber management systems or 61300 hours for shutdowns in standard atmospheric condition defined in IEC 1-4.

EUROLAB, with its more than 25 years of experience, state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, helps you get precise and fast results. Do not hesitate to contact our laboratory for your testing and certification requests.