C A U T I O N

C A U T I O N

Reference

Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements

Visual inspection of fiber ends

Visual inspection of fiber ends can be helpful. Contamination or imperfections on the cable end can be detected, as well as cracks or chips in the fiber itself. Use a microscope with 100× to 200× magnification to inspect the entire end face for contamination, raised metal, or dents in the metal as well as any other imperfections. Inspect the fiber for cracks and chips. Visible imperfections not touching the fiber core may not affect performance, unless the imperfections keep the fibers from contacting.

Cleaning Optical Connectors

The connectors on the instrument are not easily cleaned. Before connecting cables to the lightwave instrument, it is very important they are cleaned following the procedures in this section.

The procedures in this section provide the proper steps for cleaning fiber- optic cables and HP universal adapters. The initial cleaning, using alcohol as a solvent, gently removes any grit and oil. If a caked-on layer of material is still present, this can happen if the beryllium-copper sides of the ferrule retainer get scraped and deposited on the end of the fiber during insertion of the cable, a second cleaning should be performed. It is not uncommon for a cable or connector to require more than one cleaning.

Hewlett-Packard strongly recommends that index matching compounds not be applied to their instruments and accessories. Some compounds, such as gels, may be difficult to remove and can contain damaging particulates. If you think the use of such compounds is necessary, refer to the compound manufacturer for information on application and cleaning procedures.

6-17