A54-3144-XR • Rev B
71
APCON, Inc.
ACI-3144-XR Chassis User Manual
Chapter 6. Maintain the chassis
• Do not look into the end of an optical interface while the device is powered. The
laser can cause harm to human eyes.
• Add dust caps or covers to transceiver modules while cleaning (see
).
Cleaning tools
Here are the tools you need to clean fiber optic cables and transceivers:
•
Compressed air
. You can purchase canned clean dry air from laboratory suppliers or
camera shops.
•
Lens paper
. Purchase a long-fiber, low-ash content type of paper that contains no
chemical additives. Lens paper is available from laboratory suppliers, drug stores, or
camera shops.
•
Isopropyl alcohol or methanol
. These cleaning solutions are available from laboratory
suppliers, drug stores, pharmacies, and camera shops. Remember that these
chemicals are flammable and toxic and should be used with care.
You can also purchase commercial cleaning kits. If you have a cleaning kit, follow the
instructions included with the kit.
Care of fiber optic cables
Careful handling of fiber optic cables extends the life of optical transceivers. Here are
some precautions to remember when cleaning fiber optic cables:
• Do not let the end of the cable contact any surface, including fingers.
• Do not bend the cable. Bending the cable can break the fiber, causing poor
performance.
• Use finger cots or wear powder-free surgical gloves while handling cables to
prevent chipping and scratching.
• Use only fresh, spectroscopic-grade methanol or isopropyl alcohol.
• Never use dry lens paper or dry cloth to clean a cable.
Disconnect fiber optic cables
You should clean a cable any time you disconnect it from a transceiver, and you should not
move a cable from one transceiver module to another without cleaning it. Wait to remove
the dust cover until immediately prior to mating the cable.
Disconnect cables carefully to avoid damaging them.
♦
To disconnect a fiber optic cable:
1. Grasp the connector while squeezing the connector housing, and gently pull to
disconnect the connector from the unit.
