Fibre optic connector rack panels speed system assembly
To simplify and speed up systems integration assembly time and reduce component count and cost, Cliff now provides 1U x 19-inch rack patch panels that are pre-assembled with commonly used fibre optic connectors. Panels are available with an optional cable strain relief bracket.
Applications for the patch panels include audio, video, digital, optical and data feeds and professional equipment for post-production and editing suits. Other applications include TV camera feeds, broadcast, networking, lighting, instrumentation and industrial applications.
The company produces feedthrough and conventional connectors, mounted in the industry standard, 24mm-diameter XLR panel cut-out. Standardising on this commonly used format simplifies panel design and manufacture by having the same cut-out for every connector required, explains Cliff.
The four pre-loaded panels include one with the popular ST MM (multi-mode) fibre optic connector whose straight tip connectors utilise a bayonet style coupling providing a simple twist-on and twist-off installation. The ST connector is one of the most popular connectors for multi-mode networks in buildings and campuses.
The SC Simplex rack panel meets the requirements of single mode (SM) fibre optic cables where each cable has one fibre and the small form factor LC Duplex connector is available as single and multi-mode (SM and MM) assembled panels used for duplex communication between devices where a separate transmit and receive signal are required.
John Hall, managing director of Cliff Electronics, comments: “Applications for fibre optic communications continue to grow as data speed, quality and bandwidth are pushed ever further by system designers. Our pre-assembled connector rack panels, whether fibre optic, audio, power or USB offer systems integrators fast and convenient system assembly”.
The Cliff range of XLR format standard and FeedThrough connector range allows designers to simply integrate.
Cliff’s XLR format connectors in the standard 24mm panel cut out are available in a choice of versions, including RJ45, HDMI, BNC and USB3.0-compliant single and dual USB versions, as well as the existing range of analogue, digital and optical feedthrough connectivity in formats including Firewire, HDMI A-A and 50 ohm BNC versions, USB2 A-to-B and B-to-A ‘gender change’ sockets high speed USB Type – C, USB3 to USB3 in all gender changing configurations – A-A, A-B and B-A. All popular data and Ethernet connectors including USB 2.0 and 3.0, LC and SC fibre (Duplex and Simplex), UTP and FTP RJ45s in both Cat6 and Cat5e (shielded and unshielded), Toslink, RCA Phono and HDMI and blanking plates.
All versions of Cliff’s XLR footprint connectors are in full production and available direct from Cliff and via major distributors in the UK and Europe.
