Keysight 85033E User’s and Service Guide 3-
3
Use, Maintenance, and Care of the Devices
Visual Inspection
Visual Inspection
Visual inspection and, if necessary, cleaning should be done every time a
connection is made. Metal particles from the connector threads may fall into
the connector when it is disconnected. One connection made with a dirty or
damaged connector can damage both connectors beyond repair.
Magnification is helpful when inspecting connectors, but it is not required and
may actually be misleading. Defects and damage that cannot be seen without
magnification generally have no effect on electrical or mechanical
performance. Magnification is of great use in analyzing the nature and cause of
damage and in cleaning connectors, but it is not required for inspection.
Look for Obvious Defects and Damage First
Examine the connectors first for obvious defects and damage: badly worn
plating on the connector interface, deformed threads, or bent, broken, or
misaligned center conductors.
What Causes Connector Wear?
Connector wear is caused by connecting and disconnecting the devices. The
more use a connector gets, the faster it wears and degrades. The wear is
greatly accelerated when connectors are not kept clean, or are not properly
connected.
Connector wear eventually degrades the performance of the device.
Calibration devices should have a long life if their use in on the order of a few
times per week.
The test port connectors on the network analyzer test set may have many
connections each day, and are therefore more subject to wear. It is recommend
that an adapter be used as a test port saver to minimize the wear on the test
set’s connectors. Replace devices with worn connectors.
Inspect the Mating Plane Surfaces
Flat contact between the connectors at all points on their mating plane
surfaces is required for a good connection. See
. Look especially for
deep scratches or dents, and for dirt and metal particles on the connector
mating plane surfaces. Also look for signs of damage due to excessive or
uneven wear or misalignment.
Light burnishing of the mating plane surfaces is normal, and is evident as light
scratches or shallow circular marks distributed more or less uniformly over the
mating plane surface. Other small defects and cosmetic imperfections are also
normal. None of these affect electrical or mechanical performance. If a
connector shows deep scratches or dents, particles clinging to the mating
plane surfaces, or uneven wear, clean and inspect it again.
