The usage of optical cables is becoming more widespread over the globe. Things are progressing at a rapid rate, most people now use optical cables for transmitting their audio signals.  Optical cables are surprisingly fragile pieces of equipment.

Usually, glass, plastics as well as silica strands are strung together to form these delicate pieces of art. To perform correctly, they must be produced to exacting standards and with as few flaws as possible. But how long should an optical cable be expected to last? 

In most cases, if you take good care of your optical cable and keep it in good condition, it should last you for a very long time, 10 to 20 years or even more. This is owing to the fact that, on their own, optical cables do not deteriorate or get harmed by factors such as corrosion, as is the case with copper cables.

However, actions such as bending or twisting them, as well as not properly maintaining them, may lead these cables to become faulty.

Hence, it is critical to ensure that your optical cable is kept secure, as certain elements, such as regular maintenance, may have a significant impact on how long these cables will be able to function.

Factors that influence how long optical Cables last

Optical cables that are made without any surface imperfections will have a very long shelf life if they are properly stored and handled. Unfortunately, every professionally made optical cable will have microscopic micro-cracks on the surface due to the nature of the material. These little surfaces have the effect of shortening the lifespan of the material. An optical cable’s maximum lifetime is significantly reduced as a result of one of the most crucial variables.

Nothing lasts indefinitely. Over time, each product will experience some level of degeneration or aging in some way. For example, in the instance of optical cables, a competent manufacturing process allows manufacturers to create optical cables that have fewer faults than those produced before. As a result, it will guarantee that any defects that are there are kept to the bare minimum.

Optical cables are subjected to physical strain, which has a significant influence on their overall life expectancy. A cable that is subjected to high levels of stress on a regular basis will break down more quickly than a cable that is maintained in more temperate settings.

These physical pressures begin with the manufacturing of the cable and persist all through the initial installation and, eventually, into the operation of the cable in a live environment.

There are a variety of measures that cable manufacturers may take to mitigate the effects of physical stress on their wires. It is common practice for cable companies to construct their cables to resist far greater physical pressures than they are really anticipated to sustain in the field.

This extra safety net helps to guarantee that cables have the greatest possible chance of surviving in the natural environment.

Furthermore, the environment in which the cable is placed once it has been installed will have an impact on how long it will endure. An optical cable’s lifetime will be greatly decreased if it is placed in an environment where it will be disrupted or affected by the weather on a consistent basis.

On the other hand, an optical cable that has been correctly placed and has also been protected from the weather should be expected to endure for a reasonable amount of time.

Conclusion

Given that an optical cable does not decay or deteriorate on its own, these cables have the potential to persist for an extremely long period of time. Almost often, they will be damaged as a result of physical stress, which may involve bending or twisting the wires in an unnatural manner.

However, the length of time that these cables survive may also be determined by a variety of variables, including how well they are maintained, how well they are constructed, and so on. All in all, make sure that your optical cables are properly maintained to extend their life span. This means you should avoid exerting any kind of physical stress or placing them in places they might easily be destroyed.