Fiber Optic Connector Care - Avaya Ethernet Switch 5000 Series Manual

Caution:
Risk of equipment damage
Do not crush fiber optic cable. If fiber optic cable is in the same tray or duct with large, heavy
electrical cables, it can be damaged by the weight of the electrical cable.

Fiber optic connector care

Before connecting fiber optic connectors to transmission equipment, test equipment, patch
panels, or other connectors, ensure fiber optic connectors are clean. The performance of an
optical fiber connector depends on how clean the connector and coupling are at the time of
connection.
A damaged or dirty connector can damage a connector with which it pairs. A connector must
be absolutely clean before you insert it into a transmitter or receiver.
Never clean an optical connector while it carries light. Optical power can cause ignition of the
cleaning material when it contacts the end of the optical connector and destroy the connector.
Typical cleaning materials, for example, tissues saturated with alcohol, combust almost
instantaneously after you expose them to optical power levels of +15 dBm or higher.
Visually inspect the connector to determine cleanliness and to determine if it needs replacing.
You must replace a connector that has a scratch across the core, or a scratch that appears to
end in the core.
The proper connector cleaning method depends on the connector contaminants:
• Judge cleanliness by visual inspection with a fiber microscope. First inspect the
connector, and then clean as required.
Warning:
Risk of eye injury
When you inspect a connector, ensure that light sources are off. The light source in
fiber optic cables can damage your eyes.
• If you suspect only the possibility of dust particles (for example, which can occur when
you leave a connector uncapped in a clean environment), use high-quality canned air or
a reel cleaner, for example, a Cletop, to clean the connector. A reel cleaner is a good
choice to ensure that no dust contaminates the connector.
• If the connector is visibly dirty or you suspect it to be contaminated by chemicals (for
example, matching gel), use high-quality alcohol and canned air to clean the connector.
This method is the most thorough cleaning method. In some cases, a reel cleaner can
suffice.
The more surface manipulation you apply to the connector, the more likely the connector is to
become damaged.
Installing Transceivers and Optical Components on Avaya Ethernet Switch 5000 Series
Care of fiber optic equipment
December 2013 13