PWRLink II 4800T Optical Transmitter Product Manual Rev A (2/02)
5–1
5
Maintenance
This chapter describes how to:
•
Clean fiber optic connectors
•
Replace the fan in the PWRLink II transmitter
5.1
Cleaning Fiber Optic Connectors
DANGER:
The fiber cable carries invisible laser radiation.
AVOID
EXPOSURE TO THE BEAM
. Never operate a unit that has a
broken fiber or a disconnected fiber connector.
Dirty optical connectors are the leading source of poor performance in a
broadband optical fiber network. Dirty optical connectors lead to optical
signal loss and reflections, which in turn can seriously degrade carrier-to-
noise (CNR) performance and, in some cases, distortion performance.
Therefore, Harmonic recommends that you clean all mating fiber connectors,
before connecting them to an optical transmitter.
In addition, if you suspect that the optical connector of a PWL 4800T module
may have been exposed to contamination (by a dirty fiber cable connector, for
example), you should properly clean the PWL 4800T optical connector before
connecting optical fiber.
CAUTION:
Improper cleaning of an optical connector can do more harm
than good. Never use a clean-air product to spray air onto the
surface of an optical connector. Spraying air onto an optical
connector can cause condensation on the connector surface,
leaving water spots and trapping dust. Failing to wipe a
connector on dry lens paper immediately after wiping on paper
wet with isopropyl alcohol can also lead to condensation on the
connector. Using low-grade cleaning paper or other cloth to
wipe an optical connector can leave microscopic fibers on the
optical connector surface.