
PDL5 User Manual
PDL5-UM-00001 Rev 001
17
5
OPERATION
Before the PDL5 multimeter can be used to make a measurement, the user
must setup the meter and connect and reference a “measurement jumper” to
the front panel connector.
Powering Up the Meter
To power up the meter:
1.
Connect the meter to an AC power source using the power cord
provided. If the meter has been running, ensure that the meter is
powered off and restarted.
2.
Set the power switch to I (ON), and wait for the “Initialization”
process to finish.
3.
Allow a 30 minute warm-up time in order to obtain an accurate
reading.
Backreflection Measurements
Backreflection (BR) measurements with the PDL5 require terminating the fiber
at two different points. The difference in the backreflection between the two
termination points is then calculated and displayed. By choosing the
termination points before and after a DUT, the backreflection of the DUT can be
measured.
To perform BR measurements, two terminations must be made:
Before the DUT, for example, on the BR5 meter side (for measuring BR
0
)
After the DUT (for measuring BRtot)
If measuring very low backreflection in single-mode fiber, both termination
points need to be made as close as possible to the DUT to minimize the errors
associated with Rayleigh backscattering in the fiber. The backreflection of all
components and connections between these two points is included in the
equation for calculating the backreflection value (BR) of the DUTs.