INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Cabling powered by end-face, both in the core and cladding areas. The following is a table taken from the document that outlines the limits for single mode with a return loss of 45dB.
Cleaning Methods There are a range of cleaning products on the market and it is almost a case of you pay your money and make your choice. The two most popular are the cassette type cleaners such as Cletops or the Pen / Swab type. Whatever the choice, it is important to follow the correct procedure / instruction. Failure to do so could lead to even more contamination being introduced.
The following is a flow chart outlining the suggested process for cleaning fibre connectors.
Conclusion
Cleaning fibre is not a mystery it just requires some common sense and a little thought before the cleaning process starts. There are, of course, some warnings that must be noted.
Here are just a few of the dos and don’ ts:
• Never touch the end-face of the fibre connectors- natural body oil can be a major cause of contamination
• Always keep a protective cap on unplugged fibre connectors – protection from both damage and contamination
• Do not clean bulkhead connectors without a way of inspecting them – how else will you know whether the cleaning is successful?
• Always store unused protective caps in a sealed container- they can also be a major source of contamination if not stored in a clean environment.
• Never re-use any tissue, swab or cleaning cassette reel
• Never touch any portion of tissue or swab where alcohol was applied – you could be introducing both dirt and body oil
• Never use a wet cleaning method without a way of dry cleaning immediately afterwards- the wet process can leave a harmful residue that is hard to remove when it dries
Finally, be warned: Ensure all the fibre connectors you intend to clean are disconnected. And NEVER look into a fibre with either a fibre microscope or the naked eye when the lasers are on.
50 INTELLIGENTCIO www. intelligentcio. com