HP 86060C Series, User Manual

Page: 21 / 104

1-15
General Information
Care of Fiber-Optic Connectors
The cure for these problems is disciplined connector care. as described in the
following list and in
“Cleaning optical connectors” on page 1-17 .
Guidelines
Use the following guidelines to achieve the best possible performance when
making measurements on a fiber-optic system:
• Keep connectors covered when not in use.
• Use dry connections whenever possible.
• Never use metal or sharp objects to clean the connector and never scrape the
connector.
• Avoid matching gel and oils.
While these often work well on first insertion, they are great dirt magnets. The
oil or gel grabs and holds grit that is then ground into the fiber endface. Also,
some early gels were designed for use with the FC, non-contacting connec-
tors, using small glass spheres. When used with contacting connectors, these
glass balls can scratch and pit the fiber. If an index matching gel or oil must be
used, apply it to a freshly cleaned connector, make the measurement, and
then immediately clean it off. Never use a gel for longer-term connections and
never use it to improve a damaged connector. The gel can mask the extent of
damage and continued use of a damaged fiber can transfer damage to the
instrument.
• When inserting a fiber-optic cable into a connector or adapter, gently insert it
in as straight a line as possible. Make sure the fiber end does not touch the out-
side of the mating connector or adapter. Tipping and inserting at an angle can
Figure 1-3. A damaged fiber end from using an improper cleaning procedure