HP 83481A, User Manual, Page: 33 / 98

The Instrument at a Glance
Lightwave Connector Care
Summary
When making measurements with lightwave instruments or accessories ,
the following precautions will help to insure good, reliable , repeatable
measurements:
conrm connector type compatibility .
use extreme care in handling all lightwave cables and connectors .
be sure the connector interfaces are clean before making any connections .
use the cleaning methods described in this handbook.
keep connectors and cable ends covered when not in use .
Inspection
Visual inspection Although it is not necessary , visual inspection of ber ends can be helpful.
Contamination and/or imperfections on the cable endface can be detected as
well as cracks or chips in the ber itself.
Several ber inspection scopes are on the market, but any microscope with
an enlargement range of 1002 to 2002 can be used. It is helpful to devise
some method to hold the ber in place while viewing in this range .
Inspect the entire endface for contamination, raised metal, or dents in the
metal, as well as any other imperfections . Inspect the ber core for cracks
and chips .
Visible imperfections not touching the ber core may not aect the
performance of the lightwave connection (unless the imperfections keep
the bers from contacting). Consistent optical measurements are the best
assurance that your lightwave connection is performing properly .
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