Fiber Optic Connector Cleaning

With the deployment of 40G and 100G systems in the data center, reliable and efficient fiber facilities are critical to the high network performance. Contaminated fiber optic connectors can lead to degraded performance Often. Any contamination on the fiber connectors can because failure of the component or failure of the whole system. So it's significant to keep fiber connectors clean.

Contamination Sources

There are two major forms of contamination is Most fiber connectors and They Are oils and dust. Oils from human hands Will leave a noticeable defect Easily seen with a fiberscope. The oil trap dust Will Against the fiber and scratches to bring the fiber connector. Inserting and Removing a fiber can create a small static load on the ends, qui Attract airborne dust particles can. Simply Removing and re-inserting a fiber May aussi contaminate the end of the connector with a Higher Level of dust. Fiber caps, are used to prevent prevention qui fiber ends from contaminated while not being white seated in a connector, Will collect dust, dirt, oil and contaminants to the fiber --other When used. Except oil and dust, There aussi --other kinds of contamination, Such As Film residues from Vapors condensed in the air, leaving powdery coatings or after---other water evaporating solvents away. These contaminates tends to more difficulty to remove and can damage aussi due to equipment if not removed.

Contamination Inspection Tools

To inspect whether a fiber connector is contaminated, use one shoulds fiberscope, clean and resealable container for the endcaps, bulkhead probe. A fiberscope is a customized microscope for inspecting optical fiber components. The fiberscope shoulds Provide at least 200x total magnification. The bulkhead is a handheld fiberscope probe used in order to inspect in a bulkhead connectors, backplane, receptacle or port. It shoulds Provide at least 200x total magnification was displayed video monitor.

Contamination Inspection Steps

With contamination inspection tools, you shoulds know how to inspect fiber connectors. The Following Introduces the inspection steps:

• Make sour que la lasers are turned off before you begin the inspection. Be careful: Invisible laser radiation might be Emitted from disconnected fibers or connectors. Do not stare into beams or view Directly with optical instruments.
• Remove the protective cap and store it in a clean resealable container. Verify the style of connector you inspect and put the Appropriate inspection probe or adapt your equipment is.
• Insert the fiber connector into the fiberscope adapt, and adjust the focus ring so That You see a clear endface image. But instead the tip of the handheld probe into the bulkhead connector and adjust the focus.
• On the video monitor, see if There Is contamination present on the connector endface (See The Following figure).

Connector Cleaning Tools

If There Is INSPECTED contamination on the fiber connector, Then You need to clean it with proper tools. These tools can be divided into four kinds based on the cleaning method.

• Dry cleaning: Optic cleaning without the use of solvent like Any Such As one click fiber optic cleaner for 2.5mm connector (See The Following figure).

• Wet cleaning: Optic cleaning with a solvent.
• Non-Abrasive Cleaning: Cleaning abrasive material without touching the fiber optic connector end face.
• Abrasive cleaning: The popular lint free wipes, Such As fiber optic mini foam swabs.

Connector Cleaning Steps

How to clean the fiber connector? Here is about the cleaning steps with abrasive cleaning tools.

• Gently wipe endface with lint-free pad in one direction.
• Using a can with compressed gas and Held upright Approximately 2 inches from the connector end, release a stream of gas on the connector endface for no more than 5 seconds.
• Gently wipe the ferrule and the end-face area of ​​the connector with an alcohol pad. Making safe the pad Makes full contact with the end-face surface. Wait 5 seconds for the area to dry.

After finishing the cleaning steps, you shoulds better inspect again to make sour definitely There Is No contamination on the connector. Remember never touch the end face of the fiber connector and always install dust caps are unplugged fiber connectors. Do not re-use lens optic cleaning swabs or paper (lint free wipes).

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