IEC TR 61282-15:2017

IEC TR 61282-15 ®
Edition 1.0 2017-05
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Fibre optic communication system design guides –
Part 15: Cable plant and link – Testing multi-fibre optic cable plant terminated
with MPO connectors
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IEC TR 61282-15 ®
Edition 1.0 2017-05
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Fibre optic communication system design guides –

Part 15: Cable plant and link – Testing multi-fibre optic cable plant terminated

with MPO connectors
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.180.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-4238-4

– 2 – IEC TR 61282-15:2017  IEC 2017
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 7
3.1 Terms and definitions . 7
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 8
4 MPO connectors . 9
4.1 General . 9
4.2 Keying and fibre positions . 9
4.3 Polarity . 10
5 Test methods and measurements . 12
5.1 General . 12
5.2 Attenuation . 12
5.3 Polarity . 12
5.4 Length . 12
5.5 Optical return loss and reflectance . 12
6 Variations of test methods . 13
6.1 General . 13
6.2 Optical light source . 13
6.2.1 General . 13
6.2.2 Source with MPO interface . 13
6.2.3 Source with non-MPO interface and fan-out cable . 14
6.2.4 Source with non-MPO interface and optical switch . 14
6.3 Optical power meter . 14
6.3.1 General . 14
6.3.2 Meter with MPO interface having multiple detectors . 14
6.3.3 Meter with MPO interface having large area detector . 15
6.3.4 Meter with non-MPO interface and fan-out cable. 15
6.3.5 Meter with non-MPO interface and optical switch . 15
6.4 OTDR . 15
6.4.1 General . 15
6.4.2 OTDR with MPO interface . 15
6.4.3 OTDR with non-MPO interface and fan-out cable . 16
6.4.4 OTDR with non-MPO interface and optical switch . 16
6.5 Other adaptations and accessories . 16
6.5.1 Adapters . 16
6.5.2 Test cords . 16
6.5.3 Optical switch . 17
6.5.4 Polarity and pinned/unpinned changers . 17
6.6 Visual inspection . 17
7 Test configurations . 17
7.1 General . 17
7.2 LSPM with MPO interface . 18
7.3 LSPM with non-MPO interface and fan-outs . 19
Bibliography . 21

Figure 1 – MPO connector . 9
Figure 2 – Polarity for three standard configurations . 11
Figure 3 – Polarity for a breakout cord . 11
Figure 4 – Reference connections for cabling with unpinned MPO plugs . 18
Figure 5 – Connections for measurements on type A cabling with unpinned MPO
connectors . 18
Figure 6 – Reference connections for tester with non-MPO plugs . 19
Figure 7 – Connections for tester with non-MPO plugs . 20

– 4 – IEC TR 61282-15:2017  IEC 2017
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
FIBRE OPTIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM DESIGN GUIDES –

Part 15: Cable plant and link –
Testing multi-fibre optic cable plant terminated with MPO connectors

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
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9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
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The main task of IEC technical committees is to prepare International Standards. However, a
technical committee may propose the publication of a Technical Report when it has collected
data of a different kind from that which is normally published as an International Standard, for
example "state of the art".
IEC TR 61282-15, which is a Technical Report, has been prepared by subcommittee 86C:
Fibre optic systems and active devices, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
The text of this Technical Report is based on the following documents:
Enquiry draft Report on voting
86C/1427/DTR 86C/1443/RVDTR
Full information on the voting for the approval of this Technical Report can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table.

This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 61282 series, published under the general title Fibre optic
communication system design guides, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

– 6 – IEC TR 61282-15:2017  IEC 2017
INTRODUCTION
Cabling testing standards such as IEC 61280-4-1 for multimode attenuation measurements
and IEC 61280-4-2 for single-mode attenuation and optical return loss measurement describe
testing simplex or duplex fibre cabling terminated with single-fibre ferrule connectors (e.g.
LC). This document has been written to describe measurement methods for attenuation and
polarity and can be used in the absence of any multi-fibre testing standard.
This document addresses the testing of installed multimode and single-mode cabling
terminated with multi-fibre connectors of IEC 61754-7 (all parts) related to multi-fibre push on
(MPO) and describes the challenges when testing array connectivity, which parameters are
important to measure, and why the test methods of IEC 61280-4-2 and IEC 61280-4-1 cannot
be used.
Installed optical fibre cabling terminated with MPO interfaces can be tested in different ways,
for example, with equipment having an MPO connector test port. Testing using other types of
equipment is possible, for example using an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR).
This document focuses on MPO connectors containing 12 fibres in a single row; however,
many of the principles can also be applied to testing of cabling terminated with different types
of MPO connectors with appropriate changes to test cords and/or test equipment interfaces.

FIBRE OPTIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM DESIGN GUIDES –

Part 15: Cable plant and link –
Testing multi-fibre optic cable plant terminated with MPO connectors

1 Scope
This part of IEC 61282 provides guidance for the testing of multi-fibre cable, multimode or
single-mode, terminated with plugs described in IEC 61754-7 (all parts) (multiple-fibre push
on – MPO). Guidance is provided on the measurement of attenuation, polarity, length and
optical return loss. The cabling can be installed in a variety of environments, including
residential, commercial, industrial, and data centre premises, and possibly in outside plant
environments.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their
content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition
cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including
any amendments) applies.
IEC 61280-4-1, Fibre-optic communication subsystem test procedures – Part 4-1: Installed
cable plant – Multimode attenuation measurement
IEC 61280-4-2, Fibre-optic communication subsystem test procedures – Part 4-2: Installed
cable plant – Single-mode attenuation and optical return loss measurement
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1.1
adapter
part of a connector in which one or two plugs are inserted and aligned
3.1.2
attenuation
reduction of optical power induced by transmission through a medium such as cabling, given
as
(P /P )
L = 10 log
10 in out
where P and P are the power, typically measured in mW, into and out of the cabling
in out
Note 1 to entry: Attenuation is expressed in dB.

– 8 – IEC TR 61282-15:2017  IEC 2017
3.1.3
configuration
form or arrangements of parts or elements such as terminations, connections and splices
3.1.4
connector
component consisting of two plugs mated together in an adapter, for the purpose of providing
frequent optical interconnection/disconnection of optical fibres or cables, between two cables,
or a cable to an apparatus
3.1.5
encircled flux
fraction of cumulative near-field power to total output power as a function of radial distance
from the optical centre of the core
3.1.6
launch cord
test cord used to connect the light source to the cabling under test
3.1.7
light source power meter
test system consisting of a light source (LS), power meter (PM) and associated test cords
used to measure the attenuation of installed cable plant
3.1.8
MPO connector
multi-fibre component consisting of pinned or unpinned plug and mating adapter, normally
attached to an optical fibre cable, for the purpose of providing high density termination
capability, and frequent interconnection or disconnection
3.1.9
plug
free part of a connector
3.1.10
test cord
terminated optical fibre cord used to connect the optical source or detector to the cabling, or
to provide suitable interfaces to the cabling under test
Note 1 to entry There are two types of test cords:
– launch cord;
– receive cord.
3.2 Abbreviated terms
APC angled physical contact (description of plug polish)
LED light emitting diode
LSPM light source power meter
MPO multiple-fibre push on
OTDR optical time domain reflectometer
PC physical contact (description of plug polish)
VFL visual fault locator
OPM optical power meter
OLTS optical loss test set
4 MPO connectors
4.1 General
A multi-fibre push on (MPO) connector is a multi-fibre device, used with ribbon cables, that is
defined in IEC 61754-7 (all parts). Plugs for multimode have flat end faces, whereas single-
mode plugs have angled end faces to minimize back reflection. These plugs are keyed and
use a large rectangular plastic ferrule. The plugs can be either pinned or unpinned. The MPO
plugs rely on the pins and corresponding holes to align the fibres. An adapter is used for
further alignment and to hold two MPO plugs in a fixed position (see Figure 1).
Adapter
Unpinned plug Pinned plug
Printed
board
Backplane
housing
housing
IEC
Figure 1 – MPO connector
4.2 Keying and fibre positions
Testing an installed optical fibre plant terminated with MPO plugs requires knowledge of the
interface between the test equipment and the cabling under test. Intermateability between 12-
and 16-fibre position MPO plugs can complicate testing as can the number of rows. There are
two different fibre optic intermateability standards: one for a 12-fibre position MPO plug as
defined in IEC 61754-7-1 and IEC 61754-7-2 , and another for a 16-fibre position MPO plug
2 3
defined in IEC 61754-7-3 and IEC 61754-7-4 . The 12- and 16-fibre position MPO plugs are
not intermateable due to keying. Although a 12-way connector is mechanically intermateable
with a 12-way connector, the number of fibre rows contained in each plug shall match. The
same is true for the 16-way connector.
MPO plugs can be one of two types: pinned or unpinned. The plug interfaces are configured
as a version without pins and another type with pins. The unpinned plug is intermateable with
the pinned plug. Some plugs can be adjusted for either type.

___________
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC AFDIS 61754-7-2:2017.
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC CDM 61754-7-3:2017.
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: IEC ACD 61754-7-4:2017.

– 10 – IEC TR 61282-15:2017  IEC 2017
The fibre positions in an array plug are referred to as position 1 through N, where N is the
number of fibre positions in the plug. When viewing the plug end-on with the key-way on top,
position 1 is the left-most fibre position, and N is the right-most fibre position. Multi-fibre
cabling and connectors can vary in fibre positions. Any examples shown in this document are
with 1 x 12-position test cords.
Keying and fibre position also have a specific configuration on angled physical contact (APC)
MPO plugs used with single-mode multi-fibre cabling. For single-mode cabling terminated with
APC plugs, it is essential to know if key-up/key-up or key-up/key-down adapters and test
cords are used.
NOTE It is normal for the single-mode ferrules to be "up angled", i.e. the highest part of the ferrule is on the same
side as the key; however, it is also possible for the ferrule to be "down angled", with the slope running the other
way.
4.3 Polarity
IEC standards describing MPO connectors can use different polarity nomenclature than other
standards bodies. Equivalent polarity nomenclatures are shown in parenthesis below:
• key-up to key-down (type A)
• key-up to key-up (type B)
• key-up to key-down, pair-wise flip (type C)
For the sake of simplicity, the type of polarity, A, B, or C is used in the descriptions below.
The polarity of the connections between the meter and source can have several
configurations and can be indicated on the power meter as "A", "B", and "C" or other common
polarity types not standardized. In some cases, an alternate type is necessary.
For testers capable of identifying polarity, the polarity is shown on the meter when the source
is selected to scan all fibre positions and all fibres are connected properly or improperly.
1) One of three polarity types: The connections use a standard method, key-up to key-down
(type A), key-up to key-up (type B), or key-up to key-down pair-wise flip (type C). In this
case, the tester should identify the polarity (see Figure 2).
2) Unknown polarity: The connections do not use a standard method, one or more fibres are
not connected, or the source polarity scanner is off. In this case, something may be wrong
with the cabling, so the tester cannot determine the polarity. However, all three cases do
not necessarily indicate an error in the cabling.
3) Alternate polarity: The connections are made to a box wherein a breakout cable, also
known as a fan-out cable, is used (see Figure 3).

1 1
2 2
3 3
Key-up Type A Key-down
4 4
5 5
6 6
7 7
8 8
9 9
Source channel:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12
10 10
Meter channel:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12
11 11
12 12
Key-up Type B Key-down
3 10
8 5
Source channel:  1  2  3
...