| LC Adapters Have Many Names | | | | SC footprint duplex LC optical adapters occupy |
| LC adapter comes with many different names, such | | | | exactly the same footprint as a standard SC adapter |
| as LC bulkhead, LC mating sleeves, LC coupler, or LC | | | | LC footprint has no flange to achieve a even smaller |
| fiber optic adapter. | | | | footprint. The only difference between them is the |
| LC optic adapters are designed for a large variety of | | | | footprint size, they have no difference in terms of |
| applications so they come at different configurations | | | | optical performance. |
| and types. Before just blindly choose one, you can be | | | | Sleeve Materials |
| better informed with the following knowledge. | | | | LC connectors' ferrules are inserted in the adapter to |
| Simplex, Duplex or Quad, Which One Should You | | | | make the mate. In that process, the adapter's central |
| Use? | | | | sleeve plays the most critical role for guaranteeing a |
| LC Adapters come in one port (simplex), two ports | | | | low loss mate. Adapter's sleeve comes in two types |
| (duplex) or four ports (quad). | | | | of material: phosphor bronze or Zirconia (a type of |
| Duplex adapters are most popular, especially in | | | | ceramic). |
| enterprise networking world. | | | | Phosphor bronze is used for multimode adapters only. |
| Quad adapters are more popular in data data centers | | | | They do not have the precision for single mode |
| where space is precious. | | | | tolerances. However, they are much cheaper than |
| Single Mode or Multimode | | | | Zirconia sleeves, so they are chosen for multimode |
| Based on the fiber cables you are using, you should | | | | applications which don't require very high precision. |
| choose corresponding mode of fiber adapters. | | | | Zirconia material is used for single mode LC mating |
| 9/125um single mode fiber applications should always | | | | sleeves. They present very small worn out over |
| select single mode adapters. And APC connectors | | | | repeated matings, also they can fulfill the very high |
| should choose APC LC optic adapters. | | | | demand precision required in single mode fiber |
| It's a little bit complicated when coming to multimode | | | | systems. |
| applications. | | | | Hybrid Adapters |
| Multimode applications can be divided to two | | | | In addition to standard LC mating sleeves, there are |
| categories, the 62.5/125um (OM1), 50/125um (OM2) | | | | many types of hybrid adapters on the market too. |
| type and the 10Gig laser optimized 50/125um (OM3) | | | | They come as female to female types, or male to |
| type. | | | | female types. |
| OM1 (62.5um MM) and OM2 (50um MM) applications | | | | The configurations are diverse, such as LC to SC, LC |
| can just use regular beige colored multimode LC | | | | to MU, etc. |
| adapters. | | | | With or Without Shutter |
| Whereas 10Gig 50um OM3 applications should always | | | | Most common LC optic adapters come with only |
| use aqua colored multimode adapters. This is very | | | | removable dust caps preinstalled. But some come with |
| important to achieving consistent 10gig laser optimized | | | | shutters. LC adapters with shutters are perfect for |
| bandwidth. | | | | patch panels and equipment bulkhead applications. |
| SC Footprint or LC Footprint | | | | They provide a build in dust cap in addition to laser |
| Duplex and quad adapters come with two kinds of | | | | safety protection. |
| footprints: SC footprint or LC no-flange footprint. | | | | |