Testing & Commissioning Optical Fiber Link -Part 1

1/3/2017

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Calculation of Optical Power Budget

? What is Optical Power Budget
The optical power budget identifies how much attenuation or loss is
allowed across a fiber span while still maintaining sufficient output
.power for the receiver

Assuming that we are in the planning of installing a singlemode 

fiber optics cable from point A to point B for our data
.communication project
Prior to actual fiber implementation we need to calculate before 
hand the allowable maximum loss or optical power budget or
.optical power loss
 Figure 1 : Cabling Schematic Diagram

For Singlemode fiber optics the common operating 

.wavelengths are both 1310nm and 1550nm
For Multimode fiber optics the common operating wavelengths 
.are both 850nm and 1300nm
Based upon manufacturers fiber specification, the attenuation 
: or fiber loss at both operating wave length are as follows

Figure 2 : Fiber attenuation for both SM and MM

? How To Calculate Optical Power Budget

The Optical Power Budget Loss is equivalent to the total loss of 
.fiber loss + splicing loss + connector loss
: It is illustrated as below 
 Figure 3 : Optical Power Budget

Fiber Loss = Length of fiber (km) x Attenuation

(dB/km)
Length of fiber (km) - to get this value by using OTDR
Attenuation (dB/km) - SM 1310nm - 0.3dB/km & SM 1550nm -
0.2dB/km
MM 850nm - 3dB/km & MM 1300nm - 1
dB/km

Splicing Loss = No. of splicing x Max splicing

loss (dB)
No. of splicing - total number of splicings done from Station A
to Station B
Max splicing loss - as per TIA/EIA recommendation 0.2dB for
each splicing

Connector Loss = No. of connector x Max

connector loss (dB)
No. of connectors - total number of connectors from Station A
to Station B
Max connector loss - as per TIA/EIA recommendation 0.75 dB
for connectors
(but we take maximum connector loss at 0.5dB )
Optical Power Budget Calculation Example
Using above Figure 1 fiber optics schematic diagram followings can
: be deduced
a. Total length of fiber is 1km
 b. 2 nos of splicings
c. 2 nos of connectors
d. SM operating wavelength of 1310 nm - 0.3dB/km, 1550nm -
0.2dB/km
Operating Wavelength at 1310nm
Maximum Allowable Loss = Fiber Loss + Splicing Loss + Connector
Loss
(2 x 0.5dB ) + (2 x 0.2dB ) + (km x 0.3 dB/km 1) =
1.7dB =
Operating Wavelength at 1550nm
Maximum Allowable Loss = Fiber Loss + Splicing Loss + Connector
Loss
(2 x 0.5dB ) + (2 x 0.2dB ) + (km x 0.2 dB/km 1) =
1.6dB =
As such, when we do actual measurement using power meter 
& light source the measured loss must be less than the
.calculated allowable maximum loss
If the actual measurement value is higher than calculated 
maximum loss then most likely there will no communication or
.transfer data between Station A and Station B

On next articles we will emphasized on

More calculated examples schematic diagram 
How to measure fiber optics loss using power meter & 
light source
.How to troubleshoot fiber optic link to find the exact causes of higher fiber loss 

Testing & Commissioning Optical Fiber Link -Part 2

1/5/2017

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Testing & Commissioning Optical Fiber Link -Part 1 HERE

More Examples on Calculation of Optical Power Budget

Assuming our Multimode Fiber Optics cabling configuration as below :
As per Singlemode, there are 2 common operating wavelength
namely 850nm and 1300nm.
The respective attenuation or loss as illustrated below :

Figure 2 : Operating Wavelength Attenuation

Please refer to the following link for calculation of optical fiber

budget formula :-
Testing & Commissioning Optical Fiber Link -Part 1 HERE

Optical Power Budget

Calculation
Using above Figure 1 fiber optics schematic diagram
followings can be deduced :
a. Total length of fiber is 1km (please use OTDR to measure
actual fiber length)
b. 2 nos of splicings
c. 2 nos of connectors
d. MM operating wavelength of 850 nm - 3dB/km, 1300nm -
1dB/km
Operating Wavelength at 850nm
Maximum Allowable Loss = Fiber Loss + Splicing Loss + Connector
Loss
= (1 km x 3 dB/km) + ( 2 x 0.2dB) + ( 2 x 0.5dB)
= 4.4dB
Operating Wavelength at 1300nm
Maximum Allowable Loss = Fiber Loss + Splicing Loss + Connector
Loss
= (1 km x 1 dB/km) + ( 2 x 0.2dB) + ( 2 x 0.5dB)
= 2.4dB
 As such, when we do actual measurement using power meter &
light source the measured loss must be less than the calculated
allowable maximum loss.
 If the actual measurement value is higher than calculated maximum loss then most likely there will no communication or transfer
data between Station A and Station B.

On next articles we will emphasized on

 Calculating budget loss if there are jointings or splicings
between fiber optics cable
 Calculating budget loss if few fiber optics cable are
connected via connectors
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