With the widespread use of optical fibers in high-speed communications, reliable and efficient installation and maintenance of optical fibers is critical for high-performance networks. When 100G and 400G systems are deployed in data centers, reliable and efficient fiber installations are critical for high-performance networks. Contaminated fiber optic connectors often lead to degraded performance and costly but preventable failures. In industry research, the number one cause of link failure is contamination or corrosion of connectors or fibers. To ensure proper performance and reliability, removable fiber optic connectors must be carefully installed and maintained. Ideally, properly maintained and cleaned fiber optic cables will help reduce the transfer of contaminants to detachable or non-detachable optical interfaces, thereby reducing or eliminating the need to clean expensive and delicate gear. Cabling industry best practices recommend that field and pre-terminated connections be inspected and cleaned before mating with other connectors or equipment.
Preparation for the Cleaning Process
Be sure to check your connectors or adapters before starting the cleaning process.
Use the connector housing to insert or unplug fibers.
Turn off any laser sources before inspecting and cleaning fiber optic connectors.
Disconnect the cable from both ends and remove the pluggable receiver from the chassis.
Use unused protective caps in resealable containers to prevent the transfer of dust to fibers.
Discard any used paper towels or cotton swabs.
Fiber Optic Connector Cleaning Procedure
Step 1: Inspect the fiber optic connector, component or bulkhead with a fiberscope.
Step 2: If the connector is dirty, clean it with a dry cleaning technique.
Dry cleaning: Using a reel-based cassette cleaner (see the picture below) with medium pressure, wipe the connector end face against a dry cleaning cloth (single swipe per exposure) in one direction. For angled physical contact (APC) polished connectors, ensure that the entire end face surface mates with the cleaning cloth. Dry cleaning will generally remove airborne contamination and should be attempted first. Inspect the connector end face for contamination after cleaning.
Step 3: Inspect the connector.
Step 4: If the connector is still dirty, repeat the dry cleaning technique.
Step 5: Inspect the connector.
Step 6: If the connector is still dirty, clean it with a wet cleaning technique followed immediately with a dry cleaning in order to ensure no residue is left on the end face.
Wet cleaning: Lightly moisten a portion of a lint free wipe with fiber optic cleaning solution (or > 91% Isopropyl Alcohol) and applying medium pressure, first wipe the end face against the wet area and then onto a dry area to clean potential residue from the end face. For polished APC connectors, ensure that the entire end face surface is covered with cleaning wipes. Wet cleaning is more aggressive than dry cleaning and will remove airborne contamination as well as light oil residue and films.
Step 7: Inspect the connector again.
Step 8: If the contamination is still not removed, repeat the cleaning process until the end of the face is clean.
Note: Never use alcohol or wet cleaning without a way to ensure that it does not leave residue on the end of the face. Or it will cause equipment damage. The following images show how to use a fiber optic cleaner; Just three steps will help you.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
If the product is not grounded properly, do not touch it.
Do not connect the end faces of fiber optic connectors.
Don't twist or pull the cable too hard.
Do not connect fibers to fiber connectors while the laser system is still on.
Do not touch the cleaned area with cotton swabs, paper towels or cleaning cloths.
Do not reuse paper towels or cotton swabs.
Don't touch paper towels or cotton swabs.
Don't use alcohol around open flames or sparks.
Extend the life of fiber optic connectors with proper cleaning
Use one of the popular cleaning methods to extend the life of your fiber optic connectors. They are safe to use and prevent your equipment from failing prematurely. Follow the instructions to improve system stability.
Summary
The following context briefly introduces the procedures for cleaning fiber optic connectors. Note that if you are not sure how to proceed, you'd better ask an expert for help. In addition, choosing the right cleaning tools is also important. Splicer Market has various fiber optic cleaning tools, such as pen cleaner, cassette cleaner, etc. All of these cleaning tools are of high quality and at reasonable prices. In addition, we also provide a full range of fiber optic cables such as LC to ST fiber cable, SC fiber cable, SC FC patch cord, etc. If you have any requirements for our products, please contact us: jack@splicermarket.com.
