The Basics of Home Maintenance for the Novice

If you're going to be installing fiber optics for your outdoor sound system, you want to make sure that your cables are protected from damage caused by moisture and burrowing animals. That's where inner-ducting comes in. The system of ducting will provide a protective sleeve for your fiber optic cable, making them impenetrable. Here are four steps that will make the installation of your inner-ducting go smoother.

Rely on Professional-Grade Pull Tape

Most inner-ducting comes equipped with professional-grade pull tape. Be sure to use it. The pull tape will allow you to pull your fiber optics through the ducting without the need for excessive pressure. This is important because the fiber optics can get caught inside the ducting, especially if there's no way for you to ease the cable through.

Provide Lubrication

Whether your inner-ducting has pull tape or not, you're going to make the job much easier if you lubricate the inside of the ducting. Friction can build up while you're dragging the cable through. When that happens, your fiber optics aren't going to go anywhere. By applying a layer of lubricant to the inner wall of the duct, you'll reduce the friction, which will then reduce the amount of tension you have to apply to feed the cable through the duct. Be sure to keep lubricant on hand during the entire process. That will allow you to reapply it if you feel the friction building up.

Avoid Over-Bending

Your fiber optics and the inner-ducting are designed to bend. However, they each have a very specific bend radius. Bending either the fiber optic cable or the inner-ducting could lead to damage, rendering them both useless. To prevent damage, be sure to avoid over-bending during the installation process. If you're not sure what the maximum bend radius is for each of them, do a test bend on a small amount of each. This will allow to gain first-hand knowledge of their limitations.

Use End-Plugs

Once you have your inner-ducting installed, and the fiber optics fed through, you'll need to waterproof the duct. You can do this by installing end-plugs in each line of inner-ducting. Be sure your end plugs are properly sized to prevent water and debris from getting inside the ducts once the trench is filled in.

Don't take chances with your fiber optic cable. The tips provided here will help you avoid complications while you're installing your inner-ducting and fiber optic cable. For more information, contact local professionals like Cabletec.