Polarity reversal for fiber optic connections

An adapter for receiving a connector having an orientation key, the adapter comprising:

• a housing defining a first connector receptacle having an entrance to receive and retain the connector;
• a first key way located in the housing proximate the entrance to receive and guide the orientation key during reception of the connector within the adapter in a first orientation;
• and
• a second key way located in the housing proximate the entrance to receive and guide the orientation key during reception of the connector within the adapter in a second orientation, the first orientation being different from the second;
• wherein the housing defines a second connector receptacle located alongside the first connector receptacle in a side-by-side relation, the second connector receptacle having first and second key ways for selectively receiving the orientation key of a connector received within the second connector receptacle.

An adapter for retaining fiber optic first and second connectors in a generally abutting relation, and maintaining consistent polarity between fibers in the connectors, comprising:

• a body with a standard first receptacle on a first end to selectively receive the first connector therewithin, the first receptacle having a configuration to receive the first connector only when the first connector is in a standard orientation;
• and
• the body of the adapter having a second receptacle on a second end to selectively receive the second connector therewithin so that a mating relation between the first and second connectors is established to form a connection, the second receptacle having a standard configuration to receive the second connector only when the second connector is in a standard orientation to establish consistent polarity between the connectors;
• and
• the second receptacle being adjustable to a reverse configuration to receive the second connector only when the second connector is in a reverse orientation and polarity in the event that the polarity was inconsistent.

A method of connecting fiber optic first and second connectors together in a generally abutting relation to provide a connection of consistent polarity between fibers in the connectors, the method comprising:

• a) providing an adapter body having:
• 1) a standard first receptacle on a first end to selectively receive the first connector therewithin only when the first connector is in a standard orientation, and
• 2) a second receptacle on a second end to selectively receive the second connector in either a standard orientation to establish a connection between the connectors when polarity is consistent between the connectors or a reverse configuration to establish a connection between the connectors when polarity between the connectors is inconsistent;
• b) inserting the first connector within the first receptacle;
• c) inserting the second connector within the second receptacle in a standard orientation;
• and
• d) inserting the second connector within the second receptacle in a reverse orientation to correct inconsistent polarity.

A method of connecting fiber optic first and second connectors together in a generally abutting relation, each of the connectors having an orientation key, the method comprising:

• a) providing an adapter having first and second ends, each end having a connector receptacle, the connector receptacle on the first end having a key way slot, the connector receptacle on the second end having standard and reverse key way slots on opposed walls;
• b) inserting a key excluder into the reverse key way slot on the second end;
• c) on the first end, inserting the first connector into the receptacle and the key into the key way slot;
• d) on the second end, while the key excluder is in the reverse key way slot, inserting the second connector into the receptacle and the key into the standard key way slot;
• e) then, if polarity is reversed, removing the second connector and the key excluder from the reverse key way slot;
• then
• f) inserting the key excluder into the standard key way slot, inverting the second connector and reinserting it into the receptacle with the key of the second connector fitting in the reverse key way slot.