Fibre Optic Hybrid Adaptors
We are all familiar with Fibre Optic Hybrid Adaptors, also referred to as through connects or fibre couplers.
They play a vital part in the mating of individual fibres together.
They serve to couple or connect the diverse range of connectors we have available, such as ST, SC, or LC connectors.
Furthermore, adaptors are available in Singlemode and Multimode versions being either Simplex, Duplex or Quad adaptors.
There is no problem if the connectors being used are the same on each side of the link, but what if they are not?
This is where a hybrid adaptor could be used. A hybrid adaptor has a different connector input port on each side.
This makes it easy to change the connector style if needed.
There are 3 types of Hybrid Adaptors available, that we will have a look at
- Bare Fibre Adaptor
- Female to Female Hybrid Adaptor
- Male to Female Hybrid Adaptor
1. Bare Fibre Adaptors
Most commonly used to test and connect bare fibre to optic test equipment for acceptance before installation.
However, it can also be used for temporary repair or when a quick link-up is needed.
The real benefit of this adaptor is that is can be recycled, making it a cost-effective alternative.
Available with LC-SC-ST-FC male connectors on one side and bare fibre adaptor on the other.
Should any fibre break in this type of adaptor, the use of piano wire will easily remove it, allowing for use again.
2. Female to Female Hybrid Adaptors.
Typically used for connecting two different styles of Male connectors together. An example of this would be if you are dealing with legacy equipment, such as ST connectors for example. The cable used many years ago could be Singlemode ST, which is still performing as well as it did back in its heyday.
So removal is totally unnecessary. However, the required output ports have now changed from ST to LC connectors.
You would simply use a female ST-LC Singlemode hybrid adaptor to solve this issue.
The benefit of doing it this way is that you are changing the connector type without needing any extra cable, making for a much neater changeover.
3. Male to Female Hybrid Adaptor
Most adaptors are Female to Female but some hybrid adaptors are Male-Female.
These typically plug into a port on a piece of equipment, such as test and measurement equipment.
This then allows the port to accept a different connector than for which it was originally designed.
Most test and measurement equipment still come with the traditional FC port, as they are the most stable in aligning fibres and keeping them in place.
A Male to Female adaptor will solve the connector incompatibility in this instance.
Tolerance specifications are well controlled resulting in a typical insertion loss of 0.1 decibels or less.
Conclusion
The biggest and maybe only disadvantage of a hybrid adaptor is the cost.
Hybrid adaptors are typically much more expensive to purchase. One Hybrid adaptor may cost you more than 12 standard adaptors.
So, the theory is fantastic, but practically it is not the most economical solution.
But the option is there to be used if needed.
