Can you splice fiber optics?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,242
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From: Kalispell MT
Can you splice fiber optics?
For some reason Bubba cut the fiber optics for the front of my '70 by the dimmer switch. I hate to be lazy, but can I simply splice the cables with heat shrink (or some other trick) instead of re-running an entire new cable?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
You just have to make sure the ends are bound up well, then make very square cuts. I would think that there is some kind of clear epoxy that would be used to make sure the light transfers well. I don't know that heat-shrink tubing would hold well enough, given the harsh environment. If it were me, I'd do an internet search for a splice kit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: charlotte north carolina
i wouldn't use any epoxy on the ends of the cables. the optical density of the epoxy might simply reflect the light back into the cable. as posted above, make a square cut with a razor blade and butt the two ends together. i'd use a short piece of wire and super glue it to the plastic case of the cable to hold the two ends tightly together, test it, and then heat shrink a wire wrap over it.
jeff
jeff
Race Director
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From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Pro
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From: Lantana TX
Can't you just buy a new fiber line?
Sorry to be to blunt, but it may not work. It all depends on how much forgivness you can get away with.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Kissimmee fl
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St. Jude Donor '07
The fiber cables just transfer the light from the bulbs to the console. A butt splice will work. You can use 1/8" compression fittings. Just make sure the ends are cut square as stated above.
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From: Lantana TX
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Virginia USA
I did my senior project in collage on fiber optics and the effects of splicing. Keep in mind that this is not data we are talking about here so all you need is a good cut on both sides and the ability to keep them as close as possible to each other when making the splice. Another thing I learned when working on my project is that just cutting the fiber is not enough (at least for data) and to clean up the data loss (light loss and scatter) I found that taking a piece of 1000 grit or higher sand paper and polishing the ends in a figure 8 pattern gave the best splice performance. As far as cutting the fiber with a razor blade it is probally OK in this application but we use special one time cutters at work that make a perfect 90 degree cut. I think the shrink wrap method would work good.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 857
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From: Morrisonville Illinios
Along time ago we use to use a special jig that would cut the cables and polish up the end before we would splice it together. Now with the newer style basic just cut the fiber and we put what looks like a buttjoint splice connector on them works good for our high speed data collection. Radio shack does still make a kit and MAD (Mid America) has one also. Good luck.
wro87
wro87
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Wichita Kansas
This has worked. Make sure your cut is clean but them together with the heat shrink. If you go with a long piece of heat shrink it will get enough grip that it will hold and you can double the heat shrink over the first and done. Should work well for light transfer. I wouldn't try to glue or epoxy the end together as you will have a loss of light transfer if any at all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: New Hill NC
Team Owner
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
It's just light transfer. It might not be quite as bright as a perfect, solid fiber optic filament, but it should work fine. If not, then do the more major repair.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Virginia USA
It's not hard. Place your sand paper on your workbench. Hold fiber optics in hand, place cut end of fiber onto sand paper keeping the end parallel as possible to the sand paper. Now all you have to do is move the fiber optic in a figure 8 pattern a few times. Believe me this works good and increases the light transfer through the splice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Santa Ana CA
As a worst-case scenario, you could always wire a small 12 volt bulb in parallel with the lamp being monitored and let that shine by your cut fiber end. Maybe a "Bubba" (or ingenious depending on your POV), but this would solve your problem and provide the brightest fiber optic at the termination point.
The fiber optics all worked on my '70, but they were never all that bright and the various monitor point lenses had different intensity depending on whether they were on the straight path or angled path lens.
The fiber optics all worked on my '70, but they were never all that bright and the various monitor point lenses had different intensity depending on whether they were on the straight path or angled path lens.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,242
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From: Kalispell MT
Thanks for the input guys!
I'm going to try splicing and if that doesn't cut it then I will go for a harness replacement. In a good year in my part of the world I have til mid-May to wrap everything up before Winter is dead and the roads are clean, and right now a new firewall insulation pad is my gating constraint...backordered til near the end of January.
A data quality type of connection is an interesting alternative. I have access to mini-lenses and sealing ends at work. Might try a lens to lens butt splice in a sealed connector just for grins since it doesn't need to be data quality connection, and looking at the factory ends it's better than what was available in 1970.
Thanks again guys. I hope your Winter is going great wherever you live!
I'm going to try splicing and if that doesn't cut it then I will go for a harness replacement. In a good year in my part of the world I have til mid-May to wrap everything up before Winter is dead and the roads are clean, and right now a new firewall insulation pad is my gating constraint...backordered til near the end of January.
A data quality type of connection is an interesting alternative. I have access to mini-lenses and sealing ends at work. Might try a lens to lens butt splice in a sealed connector just for grins since it doesn't need to be data quality connection, and looking at the factory ends it's better than what was available in 1970.
Thanks again guys. I hope your Winter is going great wherever you live!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
i wouldn't use any epoxy on the ends of the cables. the optical density of the epoxy might simply reflect the light back into the cable. as posted above, make a square cut with a razor blade and butt the two ends together. i'd use a short piece of wire and super glue it to the plastic case of the cable to hold the two ends tightly together, test it, and then heat shrink a wire wrap over it.
jeff
jeff
Good Advice.