Advice on fibre optic cables

[smudger1962 0]

Can anyone tell me if the bonded end connectors on fibre optic cables such as the Weefine and the sea and sea are a standard size. i have a Sea and Sea YS02 Strobe and a Fantasea FA6500 underwater housing. With the cable I have you have to attach the ends of the cable to the terminal plugs manually with a little screw, but its so tiny it is difficult to get a good nip on it and the end of the cable is prone to popping out. I want to get a one with bonded terminals but I don't know if they will fit at both ends.
Cheers.

[ChrisRoss 150]

They are mostly standard, called Sea & Sea connectors, have a little rubber o-ring on them to hold them in the port.  You can always use these right angle bushes, they wan't let go of the cable:  http://www.divervision.com/inon-rubber-bush-type-l-for-dual-fiber-optics-456212143784.html 

[rwe 4]

13 hours ago, smudger1962 said:

Can anyone tell me if the bonded end connectors on fibre optic cables such as the Weefine and the sea and sea are a standard size. i have a Sea and Sea YS02 Strobe and a Fantasea FA6500 underwater housing. With the cable I have you have to attach the ends of the cable to the terminal plugs manually with a little screw, but its so tiny it is difficult to get a good nip on it and the end of the cable is prone to popping out. I want to get a one with bonded terminals but I don't know if they will fit at both ends.
Cheers.

I just bought the Fantasea housing for the Sony a6400 and have been putting everything together; won't get to dive with it until Sept. 20.  The little screwdriver that is included with the Fantasea kit is junk and the fiber optic screw is hard to turn.  After punching a hole in the end of my finger, I reached into my desk draw and got a somewhat better screwdriver which worked much better, https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-6-Piece-Jewelers-Precision-Screwdriver/dp/B00002X29G?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_2 .

[TimG 62]

Damn those pre-underwater injuries! 

[smudger1962 0]

Thanks all

and RWE I have that same hole in my finger. Not sure what they are thinking about with that screwdriver. If I can find some of those elbows over here (UK) i might try them if not I'll try and get a cable with bonded end pieces. Also the cable I have is very thin and the more expensive ones look thicker and seem to be recommended for mirrorless and DSLR. Saying that I did try the cable i have and it seemed to trigger the strobe OK.

[TimG 62]

OK, for you damaged finger chaps, you can get the "elbows" (fibre optic L-adaptors) in the UK from here:

http://www.nauticam.co.uk/s-s-strobe-adapter/

Boots sell Band Aids 

[Kraken de Mabini 168]

This Wetpixel post from multiple contributors describes how to make one's own fiber optic cable, using Amazon supplies:

"DIY fiber optic writeup with parts.

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=60564."

 

Cable Plug Grommets: One can use of Amazon grommets as Sea&Sea-type cable plugs, just the grommets, without O rings, to connect my DIY Toslink f.o. cables to S&S YS-D2J strobes, they work just fine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XBG5U82/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The Toslink cable, 3 or 4 mm od,  can be shaved with a razor blade if too thick so it fits thru the grommet.  It can be glued into the grommet with rubber cement or ABS plumbers glue, then the end cut to refresh it. 

The grommets can  be fitted with 7 x 1 mm O rings from The O Ring Store, or just used bare.

=

I use Toslink fiberoptic cable from eBay, 3 to 4 mm o.d. and ~1.3 mm diam for the light fiber. It fires my two Sea&Sea YS-D2J's reliably in M mode, from a Subal ND800 or a Nauticam NA D500. My Toslink home made cables are tough, inexpensive and have consistently worked, no complaints.

[smudger1962 0]

I'd like to know why this kit is so much more expensive over here than in the states.

[TimG 62]

Exchange rates..... UK prices include 20% VAT... smaller market.......

[trimix125 73]

You can use as well some older Inon cables,
some of them had a screwed on shoe that will fit as well.
But better pick up than shipping to found out thats the wrong one...

Regards,
Wolfgang

[sinetwo 17]

@Kraken de Mabini can you post some detailed images of your cables please? 

[Kraken de Mabini 168]

In reply, for cable from eBay one can get Digital Fiber Optic Audio Cable, TosLink for TV DVD AMP,

6 ft for $2.95 or 25 ft for $6.95.  The cable varies from 3 to 5 mm o.d..  To fit in the plug, the ends of the 5 mm cable are trimmed, like sharpening a pencil, with a sharp razor.

  https://www.ebay.com/itm/10FT-Digital-Fiber-Optic-Audio-Cable-Cord-Optical-SPDIF-TosLink-for-TV-DVD-AMP/233320094956 

  

For the plugs one can use:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-26mmx5mmx3mm-Rubber-Strain-Relief-Cord-Boot-Protector-Wire-Cable-Sleeves.  

The plugs are about the right size to plug in the ports of the housing (i.e., Nauticam and Subal) and the Sea&Sea strobe..  To the end of the plug one can add a 1 x 5 mm i.d. O-ring, but I have not found this to be necessary. 

I cut the plug to a length of about 10-12 mm using a single edge razor.  If the plug to cable junction need to be secured, I glue it with rubber, or  plumbing ABS, cement.  

 

 

- -

To keep the cable from catching on outside objects, I wind it around the UL strobe float and through the holes in the UltraLight arms.

 

 

(The strobe has a jacket made of scrap wet suit material and a shoe lace; it has worked well for several years to prevent minor damage.) 

I hope this answers your request, please let us know. 

 Best of luck!

Edited December 15, 2019 by Kraken de Mabini
edit

[sinetwo 17]

Great, thanks for the response @Kraken de Mabini - I'll definitely give this a go / glow

[Kraken de Mabini 168]

One detail:  Commercial fiber optic cables are spring coiled, but putting the cable in boiling water to coil it tends to cut down the light transmission.  Instead I just thread the cable through the strobe arms to secure it. 

Happy Photos!

[bvanant 189]

If you use the multi-core fiber and coil it carefully you will not see any appreciable transmission loss. The multicore fibers have bend radii of 1 mm or so, and no one will try to coil it with that kind of radius. At 1 mm bend the transmission loss of the 613 core fibers is < 0.5 dB or 6 % loss (if I remember how to convert dB to %). If you use the Toslink or other single core fibers then the bend radius (Asahi) is 30 mm for the same 0.5 dB loss so you will definitely see some loss for tightly wound cables.

Bill

Edited December 18, 2019 by bvanant

[Kraken de Mabini 168]

In Inon strobes, the fiber optic cable has a 7 mm Sea&Sea type plugged into a holder, the holder screws on the strobe's optical trigger.  

 

 

This holder sells for $11 + $5 shipping from HongKong or from eBay or  Reef Wreck and Critter, Australia, for $9 + tax + shipping.  In the U.S. one can buy the f.o. cable with holder from Backscatter for about $120 plus tax and shipping.

 

Or, one can make this f.o. cable holder for a few pennies from heat shrink tubing. One uses a short length of heavy wall heat shrink tubing, 18 mm diam. (3/4 inch) from the local hardware store, and paper matches to heat the tubing.

 

Heat one end of the heat shrink tube all around its edge, then immediately push and screw the tubing onto the strobe's sensor.  After a few seconds, unscrew the tube, reheat, and again screw it on the sensor.  Repeat several times until it screws on firmly. 

 

 

  Now cut the tube to 30 mm long. Heat the other end all around to shrink it evenly and concentrically.  Concentric shrinking is needed so the light from the f.o. cable hits the sensor's center. Once the the tubing has shrunk to about 7 mm, plug in the Sea&Sea cable plug, and continue to heat until the shrink tubing holds the S&S plug firmly.  My holder took me about 10 minutes and 7 or 8 paper matches.

Edited December 19, 2019 by Kraken de Mabini
edit

[sinetwo 17]

So I guess i really only need two parts.

Ive added three things to my shopping card for immediate delivery (likely to go on a trip next week so this is a rush job!).

Could anyone verify these items please?

* cable option 1:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/9875321257/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2Q3LT3D86Q568&psc=1

* cable option 2:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/987532180X/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2Q3LT3D86Q568&psc=1

* plugs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00XBG5U82/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=AIF4G7PLKBOZY&psc=1

[Algwyn 12]

11 hours ago, sinetwo said:

So I guess i really only need two parts.

Ive added three things to my shopping card for immediate delivery (likely to go on a trip next week so this is a rush job!).

Could anyone verify these items please?

* cable option 1:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/9875321257/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2Q3LT3D86Q568&psc=1

* cable option 2:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/987532180X/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2Q3LT3D86Q568&psc=1

I'm a bit doubtful about these two cables. You should get sleeved fiber optic cables.

Also these cables, which are designed for fixed installation are probably not flexible, or may break easily when curved.

Second cable has bad review indicating a high level of attenuation. As there is no spec sheet for these cables, it's difficult to judge, but probably bad choices.

Tosslink cables as suggested previously would probably a better option.

If you look at the tech specs from high quality fiber cables like Inon, they are using multi-core cables such as these made by Asahi Kasei (217 cores, 2.2 mm diameter, 2mm min bending radius). I've found some US online retailer selling these cables, however their shipping is clearly not suitable for retail orders (150 USD to ship to Europe an order of 10 m = 60 USD).

However it gives a better idea of the margin the manufacturers of these cable make.

If we could solve this shipping issue,  this would clearly be the best choice. And you could use standard connectors which are only a few euros.

 

Edited February 4, 2020 by Algwyn

[sinetwo 17]

I did order one pack of the ones that seem like they would be decent, however as you say the specs are not there:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiber-Optic-Cable-1-1-5-2-0-Silica-Core-End-Glow-black-PVC-Waterproof-tube/193291911042?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D5b5aeadfc37b4cd9a262a7e84a8b13cd%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D233442238478%26itm%3D193291911042%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A09f840cf-4758-11ea-9f1c-74dbd180f121|parentrq%3A1089617c1700a16e8e191aaaffebb9e6|iid%3A1

 

I wasnt able to find anything else to be shipped to the UK in time for my potential trip, so my only other option would be to try and repair my existing cables, which should be doable provided i put a razor blade to the existing one and get the remaining cable out from the holder. I presume it would have to be drilled out at this point!

[turandot 15]

5 hours ago, Algwyn said:

If you look at the tech specs from high quality fiber cables like Inon, they are using multi-core cables such as these made by Asahi Kasei (217 cores, 2.2 mm diameter, 2mm min bending radius). I've found some US online retailer selling these cables, however their shipping is clearly not suitable for retail orders (150 USD to ship to Europe an order of 10 m = 60 USD).

However it gives a better idea of the margin the manufacturers of these cable make.

If we could solve this shipping issue,  this would clearly be the best choice. And you could use standard connectors which are only a few euros.

 

I'm looking to buy 2-3 meters of the same (or similar) multicore fiber optic cable, but is difficult to find online stores that ship by meters in Europe at low shipping price.

But I have this cable 1mm core; 2.2mm jacket; 0,25€/meter and work perfect with two Inon S2000 strobes. This aliexpress store have others sizes and core diameters for example:

1.5mm core; 2.5mm jacket; 0,35€/meter--> https://es.aliexpress.com/item/32494334758.html

1.0mm core: 2.2mm jacket; 0,25€/meter-> https://es.aliexpress.com/item/32494334034.html

Edited February 4, 2020 by turandot

[Kraken de Mabini 168]

This last cable you list from Amazon looks suitable, as do the Amazon cord boot protector plugs you list 3 posts above.

I have fit Toslink cable into the plugs after coating it lightly with plumbers ABS glue (ABS shavings dissolved in acetone), then trimmed the end with a sharp razor.  When tested with Sea&Sea YS-01 and YS-D2J strobes, and Inon D-180, D-2000, Z-240 and Z-330 strobes, they flash consistently, no problems.  

Please let us know how it all works out.

[bvanant 189]

Industrial Fiber Optics in the States sells the fiber by the meter. Get them to ship via USPS (it should be very inexpensive). Most of the single core fibers will work OK with Inon strobes if you are using the on-board flash. Where they fail is if you are trying to use an LED trigger with Sea and Sea strobes or you want accurate TTL.

Cheers

Bill

 

[sinetwo 17]

On 2/4/2020 at 5:38 PM, Kraken de Mabini said:

 

Please let us know how it all works out.

So I bought this at 2mm and tested it, works absolutely great! 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F193291911042

 

Here's the end result resusing one of the cheapo fiber optic cable plugs:

https://m.imgur.com/a/DCwAw7p

 

I still needed two spare plugs just in case my "repaired" official sea and sea cable fails again (you can see how I've elegantly superglued and taped it up for now. So I bought these as I could not find the appropriate o rings and plugs locally (they were available online but it had a very long shipping date):

https://www.mikesdivecameras.com/products/inon-rubber-bush-type-l

 

I am hoping the 2mm will fit these, if not I can trim the outside and slide them in, failing that I can re use the sea and sea cable! 

All I wanted to say was thanks to the community for the ideas, and that the cable from eBay works great. I haven't tested TTL but I never shoot with TTL so personally for me it's not an issue. But if anyone wants me to I can test it out next week. 

Happy strobing!