EXFO VFL User Manual
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EXFO VFL User Manual

EXFO VFL User Manual

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User Guide
Power Meter and VFL

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Summary of Contents for EXFO VFL

  • Page 1 User Guide Power Meter and VFL...
  • Page 2 EXFO Inc. (EXFO). Information provided by EXFO is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by EXFO for its use nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties that may result from its use.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Contents 1 Introducing the Optional Power Meter and VFL ........1 Conventions ..........................1 Safety Information ........................2 Certification Information ......................2 2 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL ..........3 Nulling Offsets ........................4 Setting Thresholds and Correction Factors ................5 Setting Reference Values on Your Power Meter ..............9 Measuring Power or Insertion Loss ..................10...

  • Page 5: Introducing The Optional Power Meter And Vfl

    (dBm or W) or insertion loss (dB). The power meter can detect modulated signals (1 kHz, 2 kHz, 270 Hz and 330 Hz). The built-in power meter can also include a visual fault locator (VFL) to inspect or identify fibers.

  • Page 6: Safety Information

    Introducing the Optional Power Meter and VFL Safety Information Safety Information The laser and electrical safety information pertaining to your unit is specific to the unit you are using. Please refer to the corresponding user documentation for more details. Certification Information The certification and declaration of conformity for your unit is specific to the unit you are using.

  • Page 7: Using The Optional Power Meters And Vfl

    To switch between dB, dBm and W as measurement units To take a new reference measurement To perform an offset nulling To activate VFL and To store a reading to the change VFL mode Measurements window Power Meter and VFL...

  • Page 8: Nulling Offsets

    Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Nulling Offsets Nulling Offsets Temperature and humidity variations affect the performance of electronic circuits and optical detectors, which can offset measurement results. To compensate for this offset, the unit is equipped with an offset nulling function.

  • Page 9: Setting Thresholds And Correction Factors

    Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Setting Thresholds and Correction Factors Setting Thresholds and Correction Factors You can define thresholds to specify acceptable power or insertion loss values for each wavelength. Thresholds are usually supplied by system manufacturers and depend on the system deployed.
  • Page 10 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Setting Thresholds and Correction Factors You may apply a correction factor (CF) to measured power to compensate for inaccuracies or drifts. You should change the CF after performing an offset nulling.  Power...
  • Page 11 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Setting Thresholds and Correction Factors To set thresholds or correction factors: 1. From the Instrument View tab, tap Setup, then select the Wavelengths and Thresholds tab. 2. Select Apply thresholds (Pass/Fail status) to apply the thresholds and display the relevant information in the Instrument View tab of the main window.
  • Page 12 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Setting Thresholds and Correction Factors 4. Modify the thresholds or correction factor for the selected wavelength. To select the units used for the absolute power value (has no effect on the measurement range)

  • Page 13: Setting Reference Values On Your Power Meter

    Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Setting Reference Values on Your Power Meter Setting Reference Values on Your Power Meter In Reference mode, your unit displays the loss created by the fiber under test only, since it subtracts a reference value from the measured power.

  • Page 14: Measuring Power Or Insertion Loss

    Wavlength list. However, if the power meter has the capacity, but the auto mode is still not available, a firmware update may be required. Please contact EXFO to see how to proceed to update the firmware. Power Meter and VFL...
  • Page 15 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Measuring Power or Insertion Loss To perform power or insertion loss measurements manually: 1. If necessary, perform an offset nulling (see Nulling Offsets on page 4). 2. Check your fibers and clean them properly.
  • Page 16 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Measuring Power or Insertion Loss 5. Using bulkhead adapters or the system patch panels, connect a fiber under test to reference patchcord attached to the light source and power meter. 6. From the Instrument View tab, use the list to select a wavelength.
  • Page 17 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Measuring Power or Insertion Loss To perform power or insertion loss measurements using the auto wavelength or auto switching modes of your source: 1. If necessary, perform an offset nulling (see Nulling Offsets on page 4).
  • Page 18 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Measuring Power or Insertion Loss 6. From the Instrument View tab, select Auto. Activate the source with the auto-wavelength or auto-switching mode. Readings with more than one wavelength appear on-screen at the same time when the auto-switching feature is enabled on the source.
  • Page 19 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Measuring Power or Insertion Loss 7. Tap Add to transfer the displayed values to the Measurements list. In auto-switching mode, the measurements are added for all wavelengths at once, using one line per wavelength.
  • Page 20 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Measuring Power or Insertion Loss To view and edit power or insertion loss measurements: 1. Select the Measurements tab. All your measurements are displayed in the order they were performed. 2. Tap Rename to rename the fiber, tap Delete to remove the selected value from the list, or Clear All to remove all measurements from the list.

  • Page 21: Saving Results Files

    Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Saving Results Files Saving Results Files Once you have added measurements to your list, you might want to save them onto a file for future consultation. To save a measurement file: 1. From the main window, tap Save As.

  • Page 22: Opening Result Files

    You can open results files that are stored on your unit or on a USB memory key. If you need more flexibility and a greater choice of report types, you can also transfer results files to a computer onto which EXFO’s FastReporter is installed.

  • Page 23: Clearing Measurements From The Display

    Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Clearing Measurements from the Display Clearing Measurements from the Display When measurements do not meet your requirements, you can clear the display and start over. Note: Clearing measurements from the display does not delete them from the disk (if they were saved previously).

  • Page 24: Adding Information To Your Results

    When you open the results files with applications such as EXFO’s FastReporter (installed on a computer), all the information that you entered will be available. To speed up information entry, once you have provided the required data, the contents is kept in memory.

  • Page 25: Generating Result Reports

    Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Generating Result Reports Generating Result Reports You can generate reports directly from your unit in PDF format. You can modify the information related to customer, cable and job (see Adding Information to Your Results on page 20).
  • Page 26 Using the Optional Power Meters and VFL Generating Result Reports To generate a power measurement report: 1. From the button bar, tap Report. 2. If desired, change the location for the file. 3. Enter a name for your file. 4. Tap OK to save your report.

  • Page 27: Identifying Fiber Faults Visually With The Vfl

    From its dedicated port, the VFL emits a red signal which becomes visible at the location of a fault on the fiber. This signal can be continuous (CW) or blinking (1 Hz).
  • Page 28 Identifying Fiber Faults Visually with the VFL To activate the VFL and inspect a fiber: 1. Clean the connectors properly. 2. Connect the fiber under test to the VFL port. 3. If necessary, from Mini Toolbox, on the Main Menu, tap Power Meter and VFL.

  • Page 29: Maintenance And Troubleshooting

    Maintenance and Troubleshooting Viewing Online Documentation An online version of the Power Meter and VFL user guide is available at all times from the application. Note: You will also find a printable PDF version on your installation DVD. To access online help:...

  • Page 30: Recalibrating The Unit

    Under normal use, the recommended interval for your Power Meter and VFL is: one year. For newly delivered units, EXFO has determined that the storage of this product for up to six months between calibration and shipment does not affect its performance (EXFO Policy PL-03).
  • Page 31 To ensure that your unit conforms to the published specifications, calibration may be carried out at an EXFO service center or, depending on the product, at one of EXFO’s certified service centers. Calibrations at EXFO are performed using standards traceable to national metrology institutes.

  • Page 32: Contacting The Technical Support Group

    Contacting the Technical Support Group To obtain after-sales service or technical support for this product, contact EXFO at one of the following numbers. The Technical Support Group is available to take your calls from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

  • Page 33: Warranty

    Warranty General Information EXFO Inc. (EXFO) warrants this equipment against defects in material and workmanship for a period of 1 year from the date of original shipment. EXFO also warrants that this equipment will meet applicable specifications under normal use.

  • Page 34: Liability

    Liability Liability EXFO shall not be liable for damages resulting from the use of the product, nor shall be responsible for any failure in the performance of other items to which the product is connected or the operation of any system of which the product may be a part.

  • Page 35: Exclusions

    Warranty Exclusions Exclusions EXFO reserves the right to make changes in the design or construction of any of its products at any time without incurring obligation to make any changes whatsoever on units purchased. Accessories, including but not limited to fuses, pilot lamps, batteries and universal interfaces (EUI) used with EXFO products are not covered by this warranty.

  • Page 36: Service And Repairs

    5. Return the equipment, prepaid, to the address given to you by support personnel. Be sure to write the RMA number on the shipping slip. EXFO will refuse and return any package that does not bear an RMA number.

  • Page 37: Exfo Service Centers Worldwide

    (Shenzhen) Ltd. 3rd Floor, Building 10, Tel: +86 (755) 2955 3100 Yu Sheng Industrial Park (Gu Shu Fax: +86 (755) 2955 3101 Crossing), No. 467, support.asia@exfo.com National Highway 107, Xixiang, Bao An District, Shenzhen, China, 518126 Power Meter and VFL...

  • Page 39: Index

    9 zero power..........4 help. see online user guide report creating for power meter results.... 20 printing..........21 identifying fiber faults......... 23 return merchandise authorization (RMA) ..32 measurement, with power meter ....10 Power Meter and VFL...
  • Page 40 ......17 service and repairs........32 service centers ..........33 setting power thresholds (power meter) ..... 5 reference values........9 shipping to EXFO ........32 symbols, safety..........1 technical support ........28 thresholds power ............5 setting, power meter ....... 5 transportation requirements .......
  • Page 41 CHINESE REGULATION ON RESTRICTION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES NAMES AND CONTENTS OF THE TOXIC OR HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR ELEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS EXFO PRODUCT EXFO Indicates that this toxic or hazardous substance contained in all of the homogeneous materials for this part is below the limit requirement in SJ/T11363-2006...
  • Page 42 MARKING REQUIREMENTS Product Environmental protection use period (years) Logo This Exfo product EXFO Battery If applicable.
  • Page 43 Tel.: 1 978 367-5600 · Fax: 1 978 367-5700 EXFO FINLAND Elektroniikkatie 2 FI-90590 Oulu, FINLAND Tel.: +358 (0) 403 010 300 · Fax: +358 (0) 8 564 5203 TOLL-FREE (USA and Canada) 1 800 663-3936 © 2013 EXFO Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada (2013-09) ...

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