This paper discusses the installation of a fiber optic entrance link in operation for nearly one year at Alabama Power Company's Barry Generating Plant. Optical and electronics selection and installation of this system are shown to be straightforward and trouble-free. The reasons why optical entrance links are the first electrical utility application to become technically and economically practical are reviewed. An economic analysis compares optical entrance link systems with conventional protection systems. This analysis shows that fiber optic entrance links should be used in the majority of future utility installations.

Date Published: 19 September 1980
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 0224, Fiber Optics for Communications and Control, (19 September 1980); doi: 10.1117/12.958674

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0224:
Fiber Optics for Communications and Control
Charles W. Kleekamp, Editor(s)