Notes regarding suitable POF cables
General information about POF cables
The standard polymer fiber is 1 mm thick and consists of a 0.98 mm thick core made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as well as a thin sheath. In order to enable the guidance of light using the effect of total reflection in the core, the usually very thin sheath consists of fluorinated PMMA, which has a low refractive index. The core diameters lie between 0.06 mm and 1 mm, as a result of which simple plug connections are easy to implement. Furthermore, the splicing process often used for the connection of glass fibers and the unnecessarily high expenditure associated with it can usually be dispensed with. The maximum operating temperature of standard POF is approximately 60°C and has a refraction profile with step index (SI-POF). The refractive index of the core material is around 1.49 and that of the sheath around 1.41. The difference determines the numerical aperture (NA) and thus the maximum propagation angle. With a difference of 5% this angle is about 20 degrees in relation to the fiber axis, which leads to a reduction in the bandwidth.
Due to the simple and almost universally applicable connection techniques compared to glass fibers, POFs are used in particular for short transmission distances, such as inside rooms, technical equipment, mechanical systems or cars.
POFs have an attenuation of about 140 dB/km at a wavelength of 650 Nm, so that a maximum data transmission distance of 50 m can be achieved.
Insertion of additional connectors in the route increases the signal attenuation. For each additional connector, the maximum permitted distances typically reduces by 6.5 m.
Application with EL2502-0005
 | Recommended plug connectors and POF cables The use of the following Beckhoff accessories is recommended for connecting the EL2502-0005: |
| Installation notes Among other things, the following items should be observed when laying POF cables (see also assembly instructions for Z1000):
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