When working with fiber optic cables, you need to configure them in a way that other technicians can understand. The fiber optic color code was created to establish a standard configuration that all cable technicians could follow. So, what does the fiber optic color code entail?
Fiber Optic Color Code for Cable Jackets
For cases in which all of the fibers are the same type, there is a unique fiber optic color code. Because of the differences between different types of multimode and single-mode cables, technicians need an easy way to tell what type they happen to be working with. As such, the cable jackets should be one of the following uniform colors.
- Orange for OM1 (62.5/125), OM2 (50/125), and multimode (100/140) cables.
- Aqua for OM3 (50/125) and OM4 (50/125) cables
- Lime green for OM5 (50/125) cables
- Yellow for single-mode cables like OS1, OS1a, and OS2
- Blue for polarization maintaining single-mode cables
Color Code for Fibers
When there are several different types of fibers, each cable should be color-coded accordingly. There are 12 standard cable colors: blue, orange, green, brown, slate, white, black, red, yellow, violet, rose, and aqua. Each of these colors should correspond to one type of fiber, making them easy for technicians and maintenance workers to tell apart when working with them.
To ensure the cables work as intended and have a clear meaning, it’s recommended that you color code them in this exact order. If you are using more than 12 unique fibers, you will need to adjust your color code accordingly. In most cases, the solution is to loop around from the 12th color back to the 1st, this time adding a black stripe to each cable to distinguish it. Since this stripe would not be visible on the black cable, it receives a yellow stripe instead.
Color Code for Cable Connectors
Fiber optic cables may have different connection types depending on their specific use case and cable type. Though they may look similar, these connectors are not interchangeable, so technicians need to be able to tell the difference. As it can be difficult to tell them apart from shape alone, they are also color-coded. The color code is as follows.
- Beige for OM1 (62.5/125) cable connectors
- Black for OM2 (50/125) cable connectors
- Aqua for OM3 (50/125) and OM4 (50/125) cable connectors
- Lime green for OM5 (50/125) cable connectors
- Blue for singlemode cable connectors
- Green for singlemode APC cable connectors
Learn More About the Fiber Optic Color Code With Equal Optics
If you’d like to learn more about the fiber optic color code, how to use fiber optic cables, or any related matters, contact us at Equal Optics today! We also sell a wide range of high-quality fiber optic cables, so we can ensure that your operation’s every need is met. Once you’ve gotten in touch, we can talk over what you need for your use case, ensuring that you’re set up with the best equipment for the job.
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