LC Attenuator
LC Attenuator is part of the fiber optic attenuator range built by Ever Expresslink Limited in Ningbo, China. It is built on the LC (Lucent Connector) interface.
Controlled loss, for when a receiver is being overdriven
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Product Overview
LC Attenuator is part of the fiber optic attenuator range built by Ever Expresslink Limited in Ningbo, China. It is built on the LC (Lucent Connector) interface.
We supply single mode LC fiber optic attenuators including the bulkhead LC attenuator and female to male LC fiber attenuator. They are with high quality ceramic sleeves and UPC polishes. Attenuation range available is from 1dB to 30dB.
Working range of the LC fiber attenuator is 1240nm to 1620nm, including the typical 1310nm and 1550nm single mode applications. They are constructed of the highest quality materials and every piece is tested during production. The LC fiber optic attenuator is used with fiber amplifier, DWDM and telecommunications equipment. Our LC fiber attenuators are competitive prices and fast delivery.
LC uses a 1.25 mm ferrule in an RJ-style latch body, giving roughly twice the port density of SC in the same panel width. The latch is small and breaks if the cord is pulled sideways out of a dense panel. Use a boot or a push-pull tab on panels packed to 48 ports and above.
Key Benefits
- Supplied as LC Attenuator, so the part you receive matches the designation you ordered against
- Known, stable loss instead of improvised fiber coils
- Fixed values for production use and tunable versions for the bench
- Male-to-female plug styles that drop straight into an existing port
- Available across the main connector types and both polish styles
Problems It Solves
- Receiver saturation on short links built with high-power transmitters
- Bit errors that look like contamination but are actually overload
- Test benches that need a repeatable, known loss rather than a coil of fiber
- Commissioning delays while power levels are brought into range
Application Scenarios
- Data-center structured cabling
- Simulating span loss during equipment qualification
- Correcting an over-powered PON path at the splitter output
- Bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range
- Balancing levels across a CATV optical distribution network
Who It Is For
- Data-center teams running long-haul optics over short distances
- Test laboratories characterizing receivers
- CATV and RF-over-glass operators balancing distribution levels
- Maintenance teams diagnosing overload symptoms
Technical Features
- LC (Lucent Connector) interface
- The latch is small and breaks if the cord is pulled sideways out of a dense panel. Use a boot or a push-pull tab on panels packed to 48 ports and above.
- Tunable versions with a continuously adjustable range
- MEMS variable versions for programmable bench work
- Male-to-female plug style for direct insertion into a port
- UPC and APC polish options
Materials
- Doped fiber or coated-ferrule attenuating element
- Zirconia ceramic ferrule
- Metal or thermoplastic housing
- Precision adjustment mechanism on tunable versions
Specifications
| Product Designation | LC attenuator |
|---|---|
| Product Family | Fiber Optic Attenuator |
| Connector Interface | LC (Lucent Connector) |
| Manufactured In | Ningbo, China |
| Warranty | One year against defects in materials and workmanship |
Values shown are those carried by the product designation. Dimensional and optical values for a specific order are confirmed on the quotation.
Manufacturing Process
- Attenuating element preparation to the target value
- Connector assembly and polish
- Attenuation calibration against a reference
- Return loss verification
- Marking, capping and packing
Quality Control
- Attenuation value verified per unit against a calibrated reference
- Return loss measured on every unit
- Wavelength response checked on sample units
- Temperature stability sampled per production lot
- Marking accuracy checked against the measured value
Customization Options
- Attenuation value to your specification
- Fixed, tunable or MEMS variable format
- Connector type and polish
- Low back-reflection versions
- Matched sets for multi-channel balancing
Compared With Other Options
| SC | SC is more forgiving to handle; LC fits twice the ports per rack unit |
|---|---|
| MTRJ | MTRJ carries a duplex pair in one ferrule; LC keeps the two fibres separately serviceable |
Handling LC Attenuator
Before You Order
- Measure the actual received power before choosing a value
- Choose the value that lands mid-window, not at the edge of the receiver range
- Install on the receive side rather than the transmit side
In Service
- Use APC versions on paths where return loss is critical
- Re-measure after installation to confirm the link is inside its window
- Record the installed value in the link documentation
Questions About LC Attenuator
What do you need from us to quote LC Attenuator?
The quantity, the destination and anything that has to match on your side: connector and polish at each end, fiber mode and core size, and length where the item is an assembly. If you are matching a part you already buy, send the sample and we will quote against it.
Can LC Attenuator be supplied with a different connector interface?
Yes. LC (Lucent Connector) is what this designation carries, and the same family is stocked across the other mainstream connector standards. Tell us the port you have to mate with and we will confirm the equivalent part.
What is the difference between fixed and tunable attenuators?
Fixed units hold one calibrated value and are what you install in production. Tunable units let you sweep a range, which is what a test bench or a commissioning engineer wants while finding the right value.
Do you supply APC attenuators?
Yes. Use APC on PON, CATV and RF-over-glass paths where back reflection has to stay low. The polish is specified per order.
Can an attenuator fix errors caused by a dirty connector?
No, and the two are easy to confuse. Clean and inspect first. Only when power is genuinely above the receiver's maximum input is an attenuator the right answer.
More Fiber Optic Attenuator
SC Attenuator
We supply female to male SC fiber optic attenuator and bulkhead SC fiber optic attenuator.
View Details
ST Attenuator
We supply both UPC ST fiber optic attenuator and APC ST fiber optic attenuator for single mode applications; they are with 1240nm to 1620nm compatible working.
View Details
MU 4.5mm Attenuator
Multimode. Used for characterizing receiver sensitivity on a test bench.
View Details
FC Tunable Attenuator
Used for bringing a short DWDM or long-reach link into receiver range.
View DetailsGuides Cases and Industries
PLC and FBT Optical Splitters Compared
Two ways to divide light, why PON standardized on one of them, and how to check whether your budget can carry the split you want.
Buying GuideHow to Select a Fiber Optic Attenuator
Measure first, attenuate on the receive side, and record what you installed. The three rules that prevent most attenuator mistakes.
Process GuideInsertion Loss and Return Loss Explained
Two numbers on every test report, what each one is telling you, and how to build a link budget that survives being maintained.
Deployment ProfileCATV Optical Level Balancing
Bringing an optical distribution tree into level, and keeping reflections out of the picture
IndustryCATV and Broadcast Networks
Optical and coaxial distribution where return loss and level balance decide picture quality
IndustryTest Measurement and OEM Integration
Component-level supply for instrument builders and cable assembly houses
Request Pricing For LC Attenuator
Tell us the quantity and destination. If you are matching a part you already buy, send the sample and we will quote against it.