What is Drop Wire Clamp?

Author: Hayden

Introduce of Drop Wire Clamp

A drop wire clamp is not just a small component-it holds the last mile together. In aerial fibre networks the cables are subject to wind, ice and ultraviolet rays. Here is where a good clamp comes in: without it, sagging and twisting or fibre breaks are inevitable. These fittings hold up the fibre optic drop cables to poles, walls, facades or messenger wires under extreme environmental pressures as well as tensile loads.

Aerial drop wire clamps: Form and function
The design is simple: a clamp body, a wedge or jaw, a bail or hook. The cable lies in a groove and the wedge exerts pressure without crushing the fibre. The materials vary: stainless steel, galvanised steel, or UV stable polymer, all resisting corrosion and heat. The forces act on the surfaces of the grooves, to eliminate micro-bending. Technical note: a well made drop wire clamp will allow a mechanical pull of approximately 60 kg , which is more than enough for the usual aerial FTTH spans. The important thing is the spacing: if it is set close to a connector it can cause micro-bending; if it is too slack, it allows for sagging.

Applications of Drop Wire Clamp

These clamps are used wherever aerial last mile fibre is being placed: urban FTTH networks, suburban service drops, or rural backbone tap-offs. The runs of cables can span poles or facades or even 40 metres. Round cables require clamps with round grooves; flat 2×3 mm cables, clamps with a flat body; figure-8 cables with a messenger wire, clamps of the type S or wedge. Aerial drop wire clamps give relief from stress on connectors, provide protection against sagging and hold well throughout the planned period of environmental exposure.
Bail of stainless steel and body of UV stable material help ensure good results over a long period of time.

Types of Drop Wire Clamps Used in FTTH Installations

Drop Wire Clamp Installation

Place the cable in the competition clamp slot.

Accommodation of the shim or jaw, with self-lockers, when used, would self-lock.

Connections of bail or hook to support or pole.

Slackening for strain relief given.

Some clamps require no tools, some require a little wrench, or hammer. Improper place, or over-loaded, will injure the fiber.

Field Case – Rural FTTH in Chile

A small I. S. P. (gtd.cl) placed aerial drop-wires over 42 m. pole span. The first catches given the cable slide of 2–3 cm., during rains and wind storms, giving slack loops of the wire to strike the fronts of buildings. The change to stainless steel wedge clamp, made a considerable betterment of the control of tension with all rural nodes, hence considerable the reliability of the network at once.

Special Designs for Special Needs.

FTTH S Fix Drop Wire Clamp : UV resistant polymer, stainless bail, S shaped for rapid attachment to messenger wire, good dielectric strength.

Fig. 8. Sus. Clamp : Holds messenger wire rigidly in position, of good mechanical strength, prevents galloping by wind.

Round Cable Clamp : For G.657A1/A2 wire. Simple, durable.

Spring Optical manufacture all these classes, at factory direct supply, testing mechanical and environmental performance at the laboratory, with added O. E. M. facilities for custom work.

Choosing the right drop wire clamp, for aerial cables.

This is determined by:

Shape of the cable, - round, flat, fig-8.

Length of span, - longer spans require wedge or S types.

Mechanical tension, - for these must resist pull, without injuring the fibers.

Environmental conditions, - outdoor, or humid conditions require stainless or galvanized types.
In matching the size of groove to diameter of cable, make sure, that the mounting has no strain, is firm. The proper clamps will possible failure, under very heavy overload, to protect the core of Fiber.

Advantages of Drop Wire Clamps:

Prevention of strain and micro-bending of the fibers.

Protection of jacket, from crushing.

Long life, endurance of outdoor conditions of living – UV, rain, temperature cycling.

Will serve under varied cable types.

Lessened maintenance and breakage condition.

Contributory to last mile stability, of network.

Final Thoughts

Small things, and nothing important, but pursuings of the aerial drop wire clamps, the weight of stability and reliability of networks. Every wire type, span, and conditions of existence, of use given the manufacture of the clamp. Wrongly fitted clamp, may cause sagging, signal breakage, and injury of the fiber. Well fitted clamps give, 0 life work of performance to aerial FTTH installations. Spring Optical manufacture drop wire clamps for aerial input cables, which are tested, enduring, and good for FTTH, FTTx, CATV conditions of supply worldwide. These clamps have mechanical security, and environmental conditions of resistance and to give the gumption to the operator and installer. Very small failure in last mile, will dispute service interruptions, a drop wire clamp, when properly fitted poises fiber in a taut and Corset condition, for years use of stable connection.