Consider the box size: In smaller boxes, excessively long pigtails can quickly lead to overcrowding. Aim for a pigtail length that allows for comfortable connections without taking up excessive space. Optical. Executive Summary: A fiber optic pigtail is one of the most commonly specified yet least understood components in structured cabling. Get the wrong connector type, the wrong polish, or skip proper fusion splicing technique—and you're looking at elevated signal loss, increased back reflection, and a. That's because while plugging them into the motherboard PCIe slot is easy enough, cable managing the various PCIe cables (that run from your PSU to your GPU) is NOT easy. This is especially true if you have a pigtail (y-splitter) PCIe cable because there are multiple ends that hang around your case. The performance of a fiber optic splice is determined by a number of factors, including the quality of the fiber, the cleanliness of the splice, and the techniques used to make the splice. Intrinsic factors, such as the refractive index of the fiber, are those that are inherent to the fiber itself. While it's tempting to just snip off a few inches and call it a day, the correct length of a pigtail significantly impacts the safety, reliability, and serviceability of your electrical system. Let's dive deep into the factors that dictate the optimal length.