8
Fiber optic cleaning supplies, such as optical wipes, optics grade alcohol, or cartridge style dry cleaners, should be used to
clean the fiber connector ends. Also, a can of filtered compressed air is useful for blowing out contaminates from adapters.
3.3 Typical Applications
The SMLP 5-5 Singlemode / Multimode Light Pack is used to perform diagnostic and evaluation measurements associated
with fiber optic transmission systems and cable plant. Applications for the SMLP 5-5 will be found within the
telecommunication, cable television, data network, and industrial control industries.
The SMLP 5-5 kit measures absolute power (in dBm or
µ
W ) and loss (dB). Absolute power expressed in dBm is the
amount of optical power received by the detector as compared to 1mW (0dBm=1mW). Measuring dBm is useful for verifying
the output power of an optical transmitter.
Loss is the difference in optical power from a known input (the reference level) and the output power at the opposite end of
the fiber under test. The OPM 5-2C can display dB loss directly after a reference level has been set. Loss measurements
are used to qualify cable plant links and fiber optic jumpers.
Microwatts is also a way to measure absolute power. Some manufacturers specify their transmission equipment in watts
instead of dBm. The OPM 5-2C offers the ability to measure watts for convenience when verifying output power of
transmitters.
For accurate results, always be sure to set the OPM 5-2C to measure the same wavelength as the output of the source or
transmitter.