Optical Power Loss (Attenuation) - Part 3

Read Optical Power Loss (Attenuation) - Part 1 HERE
Read Optical Power Loss (Attenuation) - Part 2 HERE

What is Splice Loss?

• Splice loss occurs at all splice locations. 
• Mechanical splices normally have the highest splice loss from 0.2dB to over 1.0dB.
• Fusion splices on the other hand have lower losses usually less than 0.1dB or even lower than 0.05dB depending upon type of reliable fusion splicer and an experienced splicing crew.

High splicing loss  caused by few number factors. However, most high splicing loss are due to workmanship for example 

• Poor cleaving - please rotate cleaver blade if you keep getting bad cleaved​

There are high splice loss due to manufacturing defects as shown below :

End result of splicing due to fiber misalingment or lateral offset and cladding diameter mismatched - osa.org

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Splicing loss

Splicing loss as indicated on the fusion splicing machine is based upon estimation only.
In order to get accurate splicing loss you need to check with OTDR as shown below. You need to obtain  splicing loss by shooting OTDR from A to B and from B to A

Assuming the obtained both splice losses are  as below : 
a. From A to B is -0.04dB
​b. From B to A is -0.02dB
Using averaging formula below the final splice loss is -0.03dB