Appendix F: Fiber Optic Cleaning Guidelines
Cleaning Guidelines
136 | SmartBits 600x/6000x Installation Guide
Spirent Communications manufactures and sells products that contain fiber optic
components, including fiber optic transmitters and receivers. These components are
extremely susceptible to contamination by particles of dirt or dust, which can obstruct the
optic path and cause performance degradation. To ensure optimum product performance,
it is important that all optics and connector ferrules be kept clean.
This appendix presents guidelines for maintaining clean fiber optic components. Spirent
Communications recommends that these guidelines be followed very closely.
!
Caution: • Failure to comply with the guidelines explained in this appendix poses
risks to the performance of fiber optic-based devices, as well as to your
investment in the equipment.
• Whenever you handle a piece of equipment that contains fiber optic
components, you must be properly grounded to avoid harming the
equipment. Refer to Appendix E, “ESD Requirements” for more details on
ESD.
Cleaning Guidelines
To ensure the cleanliness of fiber optic components, follow the guidelines below:
• Use fiber patch cords (or connectors if you terminate your own fiber) only from a
reputable supplier. Low-quality components can cause many hard-to-diagnose
problems during an installation.
• Dust caps are typically installed on fiber optic components to ensure factory-clean
optical devices. These protective caps should not be removed until the moment of
connecting the fiber cable to the device. Ensure that the fiber is properly terminated,
polished, and free of any dust or dirt. Also make sure that the location of installation is
as free of dust and dirt as possible.
• Should it be necessary to disconnect the fiber device, reinstall the protective dust caps.
• If you suspect that the optics have been contaminated, alternate between blasting with
clean, dry, compressed air and flushing with methanol to remove particles of dirt.
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