While both fiber optic pigtails and patch cables are used to connect optical fibers, there are some key differences between the two:

1.Length: Fiber optic patch cables are generally longer than pigtails. Patch cables can range from a few centimeters to several meters in length, while pigtails are typically only a few centimeters long.

2.Connectors: Fiber optic patch cables have connectors on both ends, while pigtails have a connector on one end and a bare fiber on the other. The connector on the pigtail end is typically used to splice the fiber to another cable or component.

3.Applications: Fiber optic pigtails are typically used in situations where a fiber optic connector needs to be spliced onto a longer cable or onto a fiber optic component, such as a patch panel or an optical splitter. Fiber optic patch cables, on the other hand, are used to connect devices, such as switches, routers, or servers, to a fiber optic network.

4.Manufacturing: Fiber optic pigtails are often made in-house by network technicians, while patch cables are typically purchased pre-manufactured from a vendor.

5.Color coding: Fiber optic patch cables are often color-coded to indicate the type of connector and the fiber type. Pigtails may also be color-coded, but this is not as common.

Overall, fiber optic pigtails are used to connect optical fibers to other components or cables, while patch cables are used to connect devices to a fiber optic network. Pigtails have a connector on one end and a bare fiber on the other, while patch cables have connectors on both ends.

Fiber optic pigtail sc apc sc-apc patch cord pigtail 12 core sc/apc