Hubbell FHPSCAS1SM SC/APC Single-Mode Fiber Optic Pigtail, 1 Meter

Overview

The Hubbell FHPSCAS1SM is a 1-meter SC/APC single-mode fiber optic pigtail designed for fusion-splicing into fiber distribution hubs, patch panels, and splice enclosures where a factory-polished, angle-polished connector end is required. Unlike a patch cord — which has connectors on both ends — this pigtail ships with one factory-terminated SC/APC connector and one stripped, bare fiber end ready for fusion splicing. The result is a splice point with the polish quality of a factory connector, not a field-terminated ferrule. That matters in single-mode runs where even modest back-reflection can degrade signal integrity across long distances.

The SC/APC (Angled Physical Contact) polish on the FHPSCAS1SM delivers a return loss typically greater than 60 dB — significantly better than the approximately 40 dB you get from a standard SC/UPC polish. In practice, that means less reflected light traveling back toward laser transmitters, which translates to cleaner signal at the receive end and fewer unexplained link errors in high-bandwidth single-mode systems. If your application uses DWDM, GPON, or any coherent transmission scheme, APC connectors are the correct choice; UPC is a compromise.

Key Features

• SC/APC Factory Polish: Angle-polished end-face delivers return loss typically exceeding 60 dB — the right spec for single-mode systems running GPON, CWDM, or any laser-sourced link where back-reflection causes transmitter instability.
• Single-Mode Fiber: Matched to OS1/OS2 single-mode infrastructure, so insertion loss stays consistent across the splice point rather than introducing mode-mismatch penalties you would get from a multimode pigtail used in a single-mode run.
• 1-Meter Pigtail Length: Sized for splice trays and distribution frames where you need enough slack to route through the enclosure and reach a fusion splicer chuck without stressing the fiber, but not so much excess that you are coiling surplus inside a tight tray.
• Bare-Fiber Splice End: Factory-stripped and cleaved-ready, so your fusion splicer produces a consistent splice geometry rather than dealing with field-stripped fiber of variable quality.
• SC Connector Form Factor: Push-pull latch mechanism is widely supported in patch panels, wall plates, and fiber distribution units — no specialty adapter required in most installed base environments.
• Hubbell Commercial-Grade Construction: Part of the Hubbell structured cabling line, built to the same dimensional tolerances as their fiber optic cables and assemblies — ferrule geometry is consistent lot-to-lot, which matters when you are splicing multiple pigtails in the same tray and need repeatable results.

Integration and Compatibility

The FHPSCAS1SM is compatible with any SC/APC-port device or panel: GPON OLT line cards, CWDM/DWDM mux/demux modules, single-mode fiber patch panels, and optical amplifier input/output ports. Pair it with a fusion splice-ready enclosure or splice tray that accommodates 900 µm tight-buffer pigtails. Confirm your splicer profile is set for single-mode before cleaving — a multimode splice profile will produce an incorrect arc duration and elevated splice loss. For a deeper look at choosing between pigtail and pre-terminated trunk methods, consult a fiber optic cabling selection guide before committing to one approach across a large installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between SC/APC and SC/UPC, and which does the FHPSCAS1SM use?

A: The FHPSCAS1SM uses an SC/APC (Angled Physical Contact) polish. The angled end-face reduces back-reflection to typically greater than 60 dB return loss, compared to approximately 40 dB for SC/UPC. Use APC wherever the light source is a laser — GPON, CWDM, DWDM, or coherent systems. APC and UPC connectors are physically incompatible; do not mate them.

Q: Can I use the FHPSCAS1SM with multimode fiber infrastructure?

A: No. This is a single-mode pigtail. Connecting it into a multimode system introduces significant mode-mismatch loss and is not a supported configuration. Verify your fiber plant is OS1 or OS2 single-mode before ordering.

Q: Is 1 meter long enough for a standard splice tray?

A: For most 1U and 2U splice enclosures, 1 meter is adequate to route from the splice tray to the front connector panel with manageable slack. In deep wall-mount enclosures or when the splice tray is far from the port panel, confirm your routing path before ordering — a longer pigtail may be required.

Q: What fusion splicer settings should I use when terminating this pigtail?

A: Set your splicer to a single-mode profile (typically SMF-28 or equivalent G.652 fiber). Using a multimode arc profile on single-mode fiber produces inconsistent fusion geometry and elevated splice loss. Cleave the bare fiber end at 90° for best results.

Q: Does the FHPSCAS1SM come with a dust cap on the SC/APC connector?

A: Factory-terminated Hubbell fiber pigtails typically ship with a protective dust cap on the polished connector end. Verify with your order documentation; keep the cap installed until the moment of mating to protect the angled end-face from contamination.

Marty Allison

When I specify pigtails for a single-mode distribution frame, the connector polish is the spec I look at first — and the FHPSCAS1SM gets that right with its SC/APC angle-polished end-face. In any laser-driven single-mode link, back-reflection is not a theoretical concern; it is a real source of transmitter noise that shows up as elevated BER on long spans or dense WDM channels. The APC geometry on this pigtail keeps that reflection well-suppressed.

Technical Highlights:

• SC/APC Polish: Angled physical contact end-face suppresses back-reflection to typically greater than 60 dB — roughly 20 dB better than SC/UPC, which matters on GPON OLT ports and coherent receive optics that are sensitive to reflected power.
• Single-Mode Fiber Match: Built for OS1/OS2 infrastructure; no cladding-diameter mismatch, no mode-field diameter penalty at the splice point — insertion loss stays predictable across the splice.
• 1-Meter Pigtail Body: Long enough to reach a front-panel port from a mid-tray splice point in a standard 1U or 2U enclosure, short enough that you are not forcing excess slack into a tight tray bend radius.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your fusion splicer is profiled for single-mode (G.652 / SMF-28) before cleaving the bare end — an incorrect arc program produces splice loss that will not show up on a visual fault locator but will degrade OTDR traces and live signal margins.
• APC and UPC connectors cannot be mated — if your patch panel uses SC/UPC ports, the FHPSCAS1SM is the wrong pigtail. Audit your panel labeling (green = APC, blue = UPC) before ordering in quantity.

This pigtail is the correct choice for GPON last-mile splice enclosures, CWDM node distribution frames, and any single-mode backbone splice point where a field-terminated connector is not acceptable and a fusion splice to a factory-polished APC end is the specified method.