Back to Basics – What is a Fibre Patch Panel?

Fibre patch panels - also known as fibre distribution panels are used to terminate fibre optic cables and provide access to the cable's individual fibres for cross-connection or ‘patching’.

Fibre optic patch panels use fibre patch cables to cross-connect between circuits and to connect to fibre optic communication equipment such as media converters, switches etc. Patch cables are also used for temporary connections to test equipment for the purpose of testing the individual fibres in the cable.

A fibre patch panel essentially comprises two parts; a panel housing fibre adapters (also termed ‘bulkheads’ or ‘fibre couplers’), and (optionally) a compartment that contains fibre optic splice trays and a system for managing a short length of the incoming fibre.

Simple patch panels with no splicing compartment are used for presenting pre-terminated backbone cables which are simply plugged directly in to the back of the fibre adaptors. MCL Data Solutions offers this type of low-cost panel (also called a ‘thru-coupler panel’) in a variety of styles with optional front management trays and rear tie-bars, catering for all connector types. This solution is ideal for datacentres, telecom rooms and CCTV / media racks – or wherever a pre-terminated backbone cable is used.

Patch panels with facilities for managing splices use pigtails (short lengths of fibre with connectors on one end only) plugged in to the backs of the adaptors onto which the individual fibres are spliced. The incoming cable is attached to the back of the panel using glands or clamps, and the individual fibres pass into the splicing area. MCL offer a range of this type of patch panel, from very basic low-cost units to high-quality panels for more critical applications. These panels adopt a system of total-fibre-management to ensure that the entire fibre path – from the incoming cable to the outbound patch leads – is controlled and managed to minimize the danger of interruption to in-service fibre during subsequent operations.

Optical fibre patch panels usually take the form of a standard 19” rack-mountable panel, but other types are available to suit a range of environments – such as low-profile wall mount patch panels and compact DIN rail mounted units.

Each of the different types of Fibre patch panel is available either unloaded or pre-loaded with a range of fibre couplers (and pigtails, where applicable), catering for both multi mode and single mode fibre using SC, LC, FC, E2000 or ST connectors. At MCL Data Solutions, we offer a wide choice of 1U and 2U rack-mount panels; wall-mounted enclosures; DIN rail units and many other special-purpose panels with port counts of 8, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 144 (and beyond) at competitive prices.