Duplex fiber cable labeling

[Edward Carlson]

This is perhaps more of a style or workflow question than a technical issue, but I'd like to get people's opinions on it.

 

I do a fair amount of cabling with duplex LC to ST fiber cables. If you're not familiar with these cables, the LC end has 2 fibers that are clipped together so that they go into the connector together. The other end, the ST connector, are two independent connectors. The strands are factory labeled A and B usually. So I have a situation where I need to draw 2 circuits going to 1 socket on one end, and 2 sockets on the other. It's basically a Y-cable, but where the order of the two legs matters.

 

When it comes time to label these fibers I have three options:

 

1. A duplicate number (F1001 for instance) that applies to both the A and B strands. But then my installers don't know which strand goes where on the ST end.
2. Two different numbers (F1001 and F1002) that are the same socket on one side but different on the other. The issue here is what label goes on the LC end?
3. Do a custom number like F1001-A and F1001-B. That presents the same issue as above though, which label goes on the LC end where A and B don't matter?

[Ian5100]

I typically show both strands on both ends to avoid any possible confusion. However, I have in the past done something like option 3. I would show the cable number only on the ST side, and insert a text box on the LC side with the plain cable number (ex. F1001-A & F1001-B on ST side, F1001 on LC side).