Abstract: In a branching arrangement for a flat cable, where the flat cable is separated along the area of the subscriber connection from cross-links, which connect an optical vein to the neighboring elements, it is provided that the vein is separated for a long distance from the cable, so that it has no splice connection in the branching area. It is further provided that, the separated optical vein curves over the optical cable at about a right angle, that the separated optical vein is safeguarded by a kink protection tube, and that the cable and the kink protection tube are secured to prevent relative movement therebetween.

Abstract: An optical cable composed of a common sheath and a plurality of elongate basic elements enclosed by the common sheath, each basic element being composed of a stable sheath and at least one optical fiber housed and loosely guided in the stable sheath, and the plurality of basic elements being assembled together to form a plurality of basic units each of which is composed of several basic elements and is deformable transverse to the length of the basic elements. The plurality of basic units is assembled together to form at least one cylindrical layer of the cable, with each basic unit in the circular layer having a noncircular cross-sectional configuration which is flattened in the radial direction of the cable, while the stable sheaths of the basic elements are not significantly deformed, as a result of a deformation pressure exerted radially inwardly on the circular layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for indicating faults in a current consuming load connected to an electronic switching device by means of an indicator device wherein the input of the electronic switching device receives a signal via a control line to cause the load to be switched on. The problem of reducing the number of lines leading to a central operating location is solved in that the input resistance of the electronic switching device is made to be variable by means of an impedance which is controlled by an error signal and the indicator device is actuated in dependence on the current flowing in the control line and emits a fault indication if the current in the control line deviates from the value which it has when there is no fault.