[quickthrowman]

If I am wrong, then explain why this 24-strand plenum rated fiber optic cable has a minimum bend radius of 5.9”: https://leviton.com/content/dam/leviton/network-solutions/pr...

Part number: LTP12B024

I am running a project where the low voltage contractor is pulling this fiber cable into a conduit my electricians are installing.

I don’t doubt your bend radius claims on the fiber optic cables you listed, but there are far more types of fiber cable than the ones you listed.

[DannyBee]

There are not far more types of fiber cable, there are far more types of jackets :)

You are confusing the cable jacket with the fiber cable inside of it. This is the spec on the jacket they use and they didn't design this particular jacket to be flexible enough to survive flexing at the level the fiber cable inside of it can. Sure - not all jackets can be bent as much as the fiber. Some because they are not made to be as flexible (as here), some because it's basically impossible (armored interlocking jackets), etc.

I'm not sure what this changes?

The part number with suffix AB0403 (the SMF A1 fiber), if you cut the jacket, you should be able to bend the fiber cable inside at a radius of 10mm and have it be fine. It appears to be standard G.657A1 fiber cable inside.

There are really not far more types of fiber cable than i listed, and this spec sheet definitely does nothing to support that claim, since as i said, it has A1 fiber cable inside the cable jacket that will happily support a 10mm bend radius.

BTW, as an aside, I wouldn't use this stuff - just looking at this sheet and pricing at my normal fiber distributors - it is both overpriced and underspec'ed for its price. Which seems pretty typical for leviton :)

Most 24 standard I/O plenum cable is going to be 7.8mm (this is 9.9, so 30% thicker), and have less than half that bend radius even with non-flexible OFNP rated jackets. If you are being charged more than 2 bucks a foot for it, you should consider other options.

[quickthrowman]

> There are not far more types of fiber cable, there are far more types of jackets :)

Ahhhh, thanks for clarifying! Now I understand what you’re saying, the jacket and fibers have different bend radiuses (radii). I appreciate you taking the time to explain :) also, noted about there only being a few types of fiber, with a multitude of jackets.

I’ll let my low voltage subcontractor know about the underwhelming Leviton cable, it’s a plan and spec public job so it’s possible the Leviton rep is friends with the engineer and got their cable flat specced, wouldn’t be the first time!

I’m only responsible for the raceway, it’s a 2500’ run between two college campuses separated by a highway that runs outside for a good chunk of the distance so it’s possible the jacket is beefy and inflexible for temp resistance. I’m much more familiar with electrical conductor jackets, THHN and XHHW-2, which are PVC and XLPE, respectively.