Application Note 4 Reliable Operation of LSProbe 1.2 Field Probes
4 Fiber Connector Cleaning Instructions
There are two methods for cleaning fiber-optic connectors: dry cleaning and wet-to-dry
cleaning. Dry cleaning is suitable for minor contamination. Wet-to-dry cleaning is suitable
for severe contamination caused by skin oils, skin flakes, dust particles, etc. Therefore,
LUMILOOP recommends the wet-to-dry cleaning method, detailed in this section.
Regardless of the method, the following sequence of steps should be observed:
1. Inspect the connector end-faces for contamination using a fiber microscope. Always
ensure that the Computer Interface is switched off and cannot be turned on inad-
vertently during fiber inspection. Note that the focal plane for for E2000 and ST/FC
connectors differ and must thus be adjusted.
2. Clean the connector end-face.
3. Reinspect the connector end-face, go back to step two, if there is any contamination.
4. Connect the fiber connectors, do not put the connector down. Do not apply dust caps
between cleaning and connecting.
LUMILOOP’s cleaning kit shown in Fig. 7 includes:
• a 400x optical fiber microscope,
• two packs lint-free cassette cleaner wipes
(Chemtronics, Foccus QbE Pleaning Platform, part no. QBE),
• a fiber-optic cleaning pen
(Chemtronics, Foccus Fiber-Wash Precision Cleaner, part no. FW2170)
• an unfilled isopropyl alcohol (IPA) pipette/bottle,
• spare FC/ST dust caps and two E2000 locking caps.
Figure 7: LUMILOOP fiber-optic cleaning kit
Fig. 8 shows how to clean the fiber connectr end-faces of ST/FC and E2000 connectors.
November 23, 2020
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