Kabelstränge

A harness is the core of a fibre optic lighting system.

Universal Fibre Optics makes these harnesses in our modern factory, terminating and polishing the ends of the fibre for maximum transmission and longevity. Two basic types of fibre are available, glass and polymer, in a variety of configurations.

Glass Fibre

Glass fibre is most commonly used in its end-emitting configuration to transmit light from the light source to individual points of delivery.

The harnesses are made up of tails which contain many fine glass fibres sheathed in a black coloured low smoke material. The ends are finished with crimp terminations for the smallest diameters and with brass or stainless steel ferrules for larger diameters. Ferrules allow end fittings to be attached to finish the tail and with lenses to control the focus. Because the glass fibres in each tail are very fine they can be mixed-up in the common end (known as randomising) to give a more even light output between individual ends. Glass end emitting fibre is the preferred option over polymer for lengths up to about 10m. With longer lengths a colour shift can occur. Cracked glass side glow is also available as an effect fibre.

Polymer-Faser

End emitting polymer fibre comes in two configurations - single unsheathed or sheathed strands of 0.75mm, 1mm, 1.5mm or 2mm diameter or as multiple strands of 0.75mm fibre in a low smoke sheathing.

The single strands of fibre give 'starry' points of light and do not usually require termination while the multi-stranded fibre is normally terminated in the same manner as end emitting glass. Multi-stranded polymer end emitting fibre is usually specified where very long tail lengths of above 10m are required as there is less colour shift when compared with glass over long distances. As polymer fibre is made up of much thicker fibres it is less flexible than glass and cannot be randomised (see above) to the same extent.

Our end lit polymer fibre can be used in temperatures between -55°C and +70°C or 60°C in highly humid locations. Sideglow fibre can normally be used between 0°C and +70°C. All polymer fibres degrade with age, though the speed of degradation will depend on many environmental considerations, so there is no sure fire way to predict the useful working life of these fibres. In favourable conditions polymer fibre has been found to last more than 10 years, though this cannot be guaranteed.