Fiber entry box

[TuxThePenguin]

Hi all

I am bringing fiberoptic into my garage. I'm used to using fiber as far as networking goes but I am not experienced with bringing it to other buildings and using conduit and such.

I am running it in 1-1/4" conduit, LBs and all that good stuff. PVC. I'll use LC connectors on my fiber (the large conduit is because I'm going to use pre-terminated cables and want to pull them easily). I'm going to use a Mikrotik Hex PoE switch in the garage which has one SFP (thus no separate fiber/ethernet converter required) and I believe it's 113x89mm in size, about 4.5" x 3.5" (I haven't bought it yet, planning to order that later this week)

So I have the 1-1/4" conduit and I want to bring it right into a box in the garage to do my fiber termination in. I will probably glue an empty wire spool to the box to wrap excess fiber around and to keep tension on the cable as low as possible. Maybe I will put my network switch in this box too (I will just run the DC power cable for the switch out the side and plug it in elsewhere). But I want to make sure it's a box that will accept my conduit directly so I don't have my fiber exposed outside of conduit in the garage at all.

What kind of box would you guys use for this? Something cheap though.

I was thinking this NEMA 1 10"x10" box for around $22. It's not "nice" in that it doesn't have a door and the plate screws on rather than using some sort of easy latch (which I would prefer, but don't want to pay additional money for), but I don't expect to need to get inside of it often enough for that to really bother me. https://www.zoro.com/wiegmann-enclosure-mtlc-10inhx-10inwx4ind-sc101004/i/G1247014/

Good option or would you guys recommend something else?


Thanks

edit: p.s. I don't care if it's a plastic or metal box as long as it works for my requirements

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Hi all

I am bringing fiberoptic into my garage. I'm used to using fiber as far as networking goes but I am not experienced with bringing it to other buildings and using conduit and such.

I am running it in 1-1/4" conduit, LBs and all that good stuff. PVC. I'll use LC connectors on my fiber (the large conduit is because I'm going to use pre-terminated cables and want to pull them easily). I'm going to use a Mikrotik Hex PoE switch in the garage which has one SFP (thus no separate fiber/ethernet converter required) and I believe it's 113x89mm in size, about 4.5" x 3.5" (I haven't bought it yet, planning to order that later this week)

So I have the 1-1/4" conduit and I want to bring it right into a box in the garage to do my fiber termination in. I will probably glue an empty wire spool to the box to wrap excess fiber around and to keep tension on the cable as low as possible. Maybe I will put my network switch in this box too (I will just run the DC power cable for the switch out the side and plug it in elsewhere). But I want to make sure it's a box that will accept my conduit directly so I don't have my fiber exposed outside of conduit in the garage at all.

What kind of box would you guys use for this? Something cheap though.

I was thinking this NEMA 1 10"x10" box for around $22. It's not "nice" in that it doesn't have a door and the plate screws on rather than using some sort of easy latch (which I would prefer, but don't want to pay additional money for), but I don't expect to need to get inside of it often enough for that to really bother me. https://www.zoro.com/wiegmann-enclosure-mtlc-10inhx-10inwx4ind-sc101004/i/G1247014/

Good option or would you guys recommend something else?


Thanks

edit: p.s. I don't care if it's a plastic or metal box as long as it works for my requirements

Im confused. you said youre using pre-term fiber but then say you need a termination box?

If its pre-term, you could just go straight to the switch.

f you have a rack, just get a fiber tray and connect the OSP fiber into the connector panel, then run a patch cord to the switch.

if you want a wall mount option, get a wall mount fiber termination panel.

https://www.lanshack.com/4-panel-Wall-Mount-Termination-Box-P2401.aspx

I wouldnt bother with an empty nema box as you would then need to rig some way of mounting the connectors. also would need a grommet to protect the fiber on the sharp edges if you go with metal.

 

[jeffmoss26]

get something like this
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-6-in-x-6-in-x-4-in-Gray-PVC-Junction-Box-E987RR/100404096

 

[TuxThePenguin]

Im confused. you said youre using pre-term fiber but then say you need a termination box?

i just want to keep my fiber un-exposed in the garage. all in a box, switch will be in the box too. I probably made a mistake describing something in my post to cause the confusion.. sorry. I did see some purpose-built termination boxes but I didn't figure out how to run conduit into them. I didn't intend to use the phrase termination box.... I just want to bring it into a box anyway. Fiber in (via conduit!), DC power in (i.e. I will just run the switch power supply through the box), ethernet cords out.

I wound up finding one that I think I like enough, https://www.zoro.com/wiegmann-utility-box-a081004/i/G0574275/

it's like a dollar more than the one I linked before and has a door and it's a little bigger than that PVC box so I think I can bring my fiber straight into it AND put my switch in it

 

[wyliesdiesels]

conduit is not typically ran into the termination enclosure. The fiber jacket runs into it and is clamped down to prevent movement of the strands.

you could run the conduit up to the bottom of it then bring the fiber jacket into the enclosure.

As for putting the switch inside, you would need something other than a fiber termination enclosure as there isnt room for a switch inside those.

Also you need to consider the minimum bending radius of the fiber.

 

[MFortie]

<SNIP>
Also you need to consider the minimum bending radius of the fiber.

Look for fiber rated condulets (LBs):

https://meproducts.net/products/smartlb

 

[TuxThePenguin]

the 8x10 "utility box" I bought will fit the switch that I will order (my garage equipment won't be rack mount). The "termination boxes" sold specifically for fiber probably wouldn't. I wasn't so much looking for a purpose-sold "termination box" as just some kind of cheap box that would be suitable for this. Basically more of an enclosed "network box" in my garage, not just a fiber termination box.

50/125 has a minimum bend radius of 7.5mm... it's not that bad.

Those LBs look pretty neat though. I ordered regular ones since I didn't know about those the other day when I ordered them. I think that will be fine since I'm using pretty large conduit and I'm only going to run one or two pairs through it. I suppose I could glue in some sort of half moon piece at the corner inside to help with it though. Could probably just use styrofoam no problem.