What is the fiber optic cable excess length

Fiber optic cables are designed in such a way that the optical fiber has, related to the cable, excess length. The overlength protects the fiber in the event of bending stress or tension on the cable. In central tube cables, the EFL is typically zero to a fraction of 1%. Water friction and the high cooling rate of the plastic compound creates problems with waste and post shrinkage, limiting line speed and the quality of the final product. Excess fiber length in a loose tube is a parameter. NDC Technologies, a leading global provider of precision measurement and control solutions, sees a growing trend among loose tube fiber and fiber ribbon cable manufacturers to accurately and efficiently control the excess fiber length (EFL) of products to ensure the fiber-to-jacket ratio meets. [pdf]