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Connector Inspection and Cleaning
The following is a brief introduction to the fundamentals of proper connector care.
Proper connector care is essential to making accurate valid measurements.
Inspecting the Connectors
Visual and mechanical inspection of the output connector and adapter should be done periodically.
CAUTION
If a bad connector is accidentally attached to a good connector, the good connector can be
damaged.
A connector is bad if one of the following conditions exist:
• It fails the visual examination.
• Connectors do not mate smoothly.
Visual Examination
A careful visual inspection should be done often on all device connectors. Vigilance can save money and
ensure the best measurements with your equipment.
Examine the connectors for such obvious problems as deformed threads, contamination, or corrosion,
concentrating especially on the contacting surfaces. Look for burrs, scratches, rounded shoulders and
similar signs of wear and damage. Any problem you can see is sufficient to cause degraded performance.
Cleaning Connectors
CAUTION
Always wear an anti-static wrist strap and work on an anti-static bench mat when
cleaning the probe's outer connectors. Cleaning a connector requires you to touch the
center conductor of the connector with a swab. The danger of introducing static electricity
into the output connector center conductor must be completely eliminated. Do not clean
the adapter when it is connected to the probe.
Clean connectors are essential for ensuring the integrity of RF and microwave coaxial connections. Use
the following procedure to clean the connectors in this kit:
1. Use Compressed Air or Nitrogen
Use compressed air (or nitrogen) to loosen particles on the connector mating plane surfaces. Clean air
cannot damage a connector, or leave particles or residues behind.
Chapter 7
Connector Inspection and Cleaning
Service
7-15
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Troubleshooting
