What a Fiber Optic Cable Actually Does
Most lighting cable exists to carry electricity to a lamp. A Nucleo fiber optic cable does the opposite — it carries no current at all. Instead, an LED illuminator generates light at one end, and the fiber's PMMA (Plastic Optical Fiber) core channels that light through total internal reflection to wherever the fiber ends up, whether that's a single point on a ceiling or a continuous glowing line along a staircase. The electrical component — and the heat that comes with it — never leaves the illuminator.
That single design fact is why fiber optic remains the standard for star ceilings, pool lighting, museum display cases and any installation where a live wire or a warm fixture would be a problem.
🌡️ Why Installers Choose Fiber Over Wired LED for Sensitive Spaces
Because the light-emitting tip carries no current and no meaningful heat, fiber optic can be embedded directly in stretched fabric ceilings, laid inside pool water, run through timber decking, or placed centimetres from artwork — none of which is advisable with a standard wired LED point. The illuminator itself sits in a dry, accessible location, and every fiber run downstream of it is passive.
Four Fiber Types — One Core Material
All four types share the same PMMA core. What changes is how — and where — that core releases its light.
End Glow Fiber
Light stays trapped inside the fiber until it reaches the cut tip. The body remains completely dark — one fiber gives one clean point of light. The foundation of every star ceiling.
Star ceilings Pool floors Accent pointsSide Glow Fiber
Engineered to leak light continuously along its length, so the fiber itself becomes a visible glowing line rather than a point. Available as single strand or bundled rope.
Contour lines Stair edges Outlines & signageSparkling Fiber
A micro-reflective treatment scatters light unevenly along the core, producing a shimmering glitter effect in addition to the tip glow. Reads as movement rather than a static point.
Feature walls Ceiling panels HospitalityJacketed Fiber
Any of the above fiber types wrapped in a protective PVC or LSZH jacket — shielding the PMMA core from UV, moisture and abrasion for exposed or outdoor runs.
Outdoor runs Conduit pulls Wet areasSix Diameters, One Purpose Each
Diameter governs brightness per point and the visual scale of the effect — not performance. Every type below is available across the full range.
Real night skies aren't made of stars all the same size. Mixing 0.5mm, 0.75mm and 1.0mm fiber in one ceiling reproduces that natural variation instead of a uniform grid of identical dots.
📏 Choosing a Diameter — the Short Version
0.75mm–1.0mm for general star ceilings. 1.5mm–2mm where individual points need to read as brighter accents. 3mm for large display points or where the fiber tip itself is the visible feature, not just a pinprick of light.
How to Choose the Right Type
| Fiber Type | Light Output | Best For | Typical Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| End Glow | Tip only | Star ceilings, pool floors, accent points, decorative panels | 0.5mm – 2mm |
| Side Glow | Full length | Contour lines, stair edges, pool wall outlines, linear runs | 1mm – 3mm |
| Sparkling | Scattered + tip | Feature walls, ceiling panels, glamour and theatrical installations | 0.75mm – 1.5mm |
| Jacketed | Matches inner type | Outdoor runs, exposed installations, conduit pulls, wet areas | 1mm – 3mm |
Construction & Properties
PMMA Optical Core
Polymethyl Methacrylate plastic optical fiber — high clarity, low attenuation, flexible and cut-to-length. The industry-standard core material for decorative fiber optic lighting.
Fluoropolymer Cladding
A thin cladding layer around the core maintains total internal reflection, keeping light travelling inside the fiber instead of leaking through the wall on end glow types.
Cut-to-Length On Site
Cuts cleanly with a sharp blade or fiber cleaver — no specialist tooling. Tips can be optionally polished for maximum brightness on end glow installations.
Zero Heat, Zero Current at the Tip
Infrared is filtered at the illuminator before light enters the fiber, and the fiber body carries no electricity. Safe for embedding in fabric, timber, and close proximity to artwork.
Full Spectrum Transmission
Carries the full visible spectrum with minimal colour distortion — compatible with single CCT, tunable white, RGBW and DMX illuminators.
Per Metre & Bulk Reel Supply
Sold per metre for small projects and sampling, or in 50m, 100m and 200m reels for installer and project-scale quantities. Every type and diameter is available both ways.
Full Specifications
| Specification | End Glow | Side Glow | Sparkling | Jacketed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | PMMA (Plastic Optical Fiber) with fluoropolymer cladding | |||
| Light Emission | Tip only | Full length | Scattered + tip | Tip or full length (matches inner fiber type) |
| Diameters | 0.5 · 0.75 · 1.0 · 1.5 · 2.0 · 3.0mm | 1.0 · 1.5 · 2.0 · 3.0mm (jacketed) | ||
| Jacket | Bare (no jacket) | Bare (no jacket) | Bare (no jacket) | PVC or LSZH outer jacket — black or clear |
| Bending Radius | Min. 25× fiber diameter (standard PMMA); tighter bends cause light loss | |||
| Operating Temperature | -20°C to +70°C | |||
| UV Resistance | Low — use jacketed variant for exposed or outdoor runs | Good — PVC/LSZH jacket provides UV protection | ||
| Colour Transmission | Full visible spectrum · compatible with RGBW, CCT and single-colour illuminators | |||
| Max Run Length | Up to 15m from illuminator (standard PMMA) | |||
| Supply Format | Per metre · 50m reel · 100m reel · 200m reel | |||
| Compatible Illuminators | Nucleo NLE series — NLE-18 · NLE-36 · NLE-45 · NLE-5S · NLE-90 | |||
Where Each Type Gets Used
Star Ceilings
End Glow or Sparkling, typically 0.75mm–1mm, mixed diameters for a natural star field.
Swimming Pools & Wet Areas
Jacketed End Glow or Side Glow — the illuminator stays dry, the fiber runs into the water.
Stair & Step Edges
Side Glow, 1mm–2mm, for a continuous glowing line along each step nosing.
Feature Walls & Art Panels
Sparkling fiber embedded in fabric, resin or acrylic panels for a shimmering surface effect.
Museum & Art Lighting
End Glow — zero UV and zero heat at the tip makes it the only technology safe close to sensitive artworks and textiles.
Architectural Contours & Coves
Side Glow, 2mm–3mm, for glowing outlines on columns, arches and cove edges.
Aquariums & Fish Tanks
Jacketed End Glow for underwater accent points without submerging any electrical component.
Retail Display & Signage
Side Glow or Sparkling for illuminated logos, shelf edges and jewellery display cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The illuminator filters out infrared before light enters the fiber, and the fiber carries no electrical current — only visible light. The tip or body stays cool even after hours of operation, which is why fiber optic can be embedded in fabric, run close to artwork, or laid inside pool water.
End glow keeps light trapped inside the core until it exits at the cut tip — the body stays dark, giving one sharp point of light. Side glow is engineered to leak light along its entire length, so the cable itself becomes a visible glowing line. Point effects use end glow; line effects use side glow.
A micro-reflective treatment along the core scatters light unevenly instead of channeling it cleanly to the tip, producing a shimmering, glitter-like effect along the fiber's length in addition to the tip glow. Used where a static point of light isn't enough — feature walls, glamour ceiling panels.
Wherever the fiber will be exposed, handled, or wet after installation — outdoor runs, pool decks, conduit pulls, or any commercial site where the fiber isn't sealed inside a ceiling void. For fiber that stays hidden inside a finished ceiling, bare PMMA is sufficient and less expensive.
0.75mm and 1.0mm are the standard diameters for star ceilings. Mixing 0.5mm, 0.75mm, 1.0mm and 1.5mm in the same ceiling creates natural variation in star brightness, similar to a real night sky. 2mm and 3mm are reserved for feature points and display work.
Up to 15 metres from the illuminator for standard PMMA before light loss becomes visible at the tip. Longer ceiling spans should use a centrally positioned illuminator, or multiple illuminators feeding different zones, rather than one fiber run past 15m.
Both. Nucleo supplies per metre for small quantities and sampling, and 50m, 100m and 200m reels for installer and project-scale supply. All four types and all six diameters are available in either format.
Yes, provided the combined bundle fits the illuminator's port size (20mm or 30mm depending on model). Mixed diameters and mixed end glow / sparkling fibers can be bundled into one port — exactly how varied-brightness star ceilings are built from a single engine.
Order Nucleo Fiber Optic Cable — Any Type, Any Diameter
End Glow, Side Glow, Sparkling or Jacketed — 0.5mm to 3mm, per metre or bulk reel. Call or WhatsApp with your fiber type, diameter and quantity.
