Steps to clean fiber optic cable!

In order to have quality connections in a fiber optic system there is need of regular fiber optic cleaning. This is because if any dust particles, oil or lint gets accumulated in the cable it would degrade the optic signal. Apart from this these particles also cause few other problems like misalignment between the core cables, instability in the system and scratching the glass surface. Consequently this is the reason why it’s essential to clean fiber optic cable.

However, in order to clean the cables various fiber optic cleaning products are available in the market. These are categorized in 4 types:

• Abrasive cleaning
• Non-abrasive cleaning
• Dry cleaning
• Wet cleaning

Though before applying any of the above mentioned cleaning method, there are few steps that are must to follow:

• Before starting with the cleaning procedure, one must make sure that the cable is disconnected.
• Safety glasses should be worn
• Before cleaning, inspection is must to be done
• While cleaning, end face of the cable should never be touched
• Once the wet cleaning process is completed, dry cleaning method should be instant next step of cleaning procedure.
• Cleaning material also comprise of the use of alcohol, which is a flammable and should be avoided when there are any open sparks around
• Don’t leave alcohol on the end face of the cable as it would damage the whole cable when connected back into the system.

Now, once you are familiarized with the dos and don’ts of cleaning process here is step by step procedure of cleaning fiber optic cable:

• First and foremost step before cleaning is to make sure that the fiber optic cable is unplugged from the electronic system.
• Then hold the end of the cable and spray it with canned air. It is used to blow the dirty air particles, which are stored on the fiber optic cable.
• After using the spray, use lint free swab to further carry the process of cleaning. Hold the end of the cable, insert it into the swab tip and rotate the swab.
• Then use a piece of lens paper, fold it in half, apply 1 tsp. of isopropyl alcohol over it, wrap it over the cable and move it along the entire cable to remove the dust and dirt.
• Last but not the least, once the whole cleaning process is completed plug back the cable into the device but do make sure that you do not tough the cables end, while plugging.
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Fiber Optic: Need for cleaning and cleaning methods

21st century is has witnessed profound changes in the information technology introduced diversely around the globe. There has been an incomparable improvement in the ways and devices used for fast communications. An important concept that has revolutionized the ways of communication is the concept of optical fiber.

Although, fiber optic technology sounds like twenty first centaury’s technology, many of us are unknown to it. The principal idea (use of light for communication) that functions behind this miraculous technology was original given, in the year 1790, by Claude Chappe, a French inventor. Later, in the year 1840, two scientists Daniel Colladon and Jacques Babinet, tried the same principle in an experiment “guiding a light from reflection”. From that time, the development in the area of fiber optic technology is consistent.

Concept:

Optical fiber is a flexible and thin wire of glass or plastic which works as a waveguide, or “light pipe to transmit light signals from one end of the fiber to another. As mentioned before, this communication media use the concept of light for communication which is a major advantage of regular or conventional wired media because light accelerates at much faster rate than electric current and provide greater bandwidth, thus results in faster communication (regardless the distance between two locations). Need for cleaning:

Less prone to any type of interference which results in prevention of data loss, there is an important concept that requires extra carefulness to be taken is cleaning of fiber optic. In general, optical fiber connectors require frequent connection and disconnection for transmissions and these repeated actions leave trash in the device. The most obvious effect of these materials (Dust, oils from hands, and other contamination) is data loss and decrease in their ability to transmit signal at fast rate. Even one micrometer of such dust particles can signal disorder and huge data loss. Therefore, optical fibers need to tested and cleaned after regular intervals.

Methods of ferrule cleaning: Mentioned below are different types of approaches used to clean optical cable:

• Compressed gas cleaning: Also known as canned air or compressed air, this approach of cleaning blows the dust particles out from the ferrule of the cable connector.
• Air Free wipes and solvents: In this method, dust particles are removed using special fiber optic cleaning products like cloth, lens paper, and solvent with a solvent, typically IPA (isopropyl alcohol).
• Swabs: Swabs are specifically designed head fit into the connector face. They are free of fibers, and adhesives; will leave no residue after cleaning. One important thing about these cleaning products is that they work well as solvent applicator.

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