Technical Data
Fiber Inspection and
Cleaning Series
See how to improve network performance and reliability
with Fluke Networks’ Inspection & Cleaning Tools
the FT500 FiberInspector™ Mini and FT600
FiberInspector™ Pro video microscopes are
required.
Safely inspect live fiber without
harming eyes
Using Fluke Networks’ microscopes ensures
your eyesight is protected from harmful laser
light on live fibers. Each FiberViewer is
factory tested to verify performance of an
internal safety filter. Even still, users should
avoid inspecting live fibers with FiberViewer
microscopes. For total assurance of eye
safety, FiberInspector video probes project
crisp, clear images onto portable screens.
The video displays allow you to inspect the
fiber end-face
without looking
directly at the
fiber itself,
eliminating
any chance of
harmful laser
light from ever
reaching your
eye.
Because 85% of fiber optic cabling
failures are due to contaminated
end-faces, it is imperative that all
optical fiber connections are clean and
free of contaminants. Fluke Networks’
Fiber Inspection & Cleaning Tools are the
solution. Whatever your particular needs
are, Fluke Networks provides you with the
solution to ensure your fiber connections
don’t bring your network down.
Eliminate the #1 cause of
fiber failure
In a survey of installers and network owners
commissioned by Fluke Networks, end-face
contamination was found to be the leading
cause of fiber failures. Dirt and contaminants
cause insertion loss and back-reflection that
inhibit the light transmission and causes
havoc with transceivers. And because dirt can
migrate from one end-face to another upon
mating, both sides of any connection must
be inspected. Further, mating contaminated
connectors can cause permanent damage as
microscopic debris is crushed between end-
faces in physical contact. Therefore, you must
always inspect and clean before mating as a
preventative measure and not only after
experiencing problems. Even factory-
terminated patch cords or pigtails must be
inspected as protective caps do not keep
end-faces clean. Avoiding this common cause
of failure starts with inspecting the end-face
and eliminating any contamination before
insertion into a bulkhead or piece of
equipment.
Range of inspection options
With a range of solutions, Fluke Networks
always has the right tool for you to easily
inspect end-faces on a wide variety of
connectors. The FT120 and FT140
FiberViewerTM microscopes allow for
straightforward inspection. To
inspect end-faces both on
patch cords and
inside ports,
Save valuable time inspecting fiber
FiberInspector Pro and FiberInspector Mini
video microscopes give you superior
vision into your network by enabling you
to inspect all types of fiber in switches,
routers, interface cards, patch panels, wall
outlets and patch cables. They save time by
eliminating the need to access the back of
patch panels or disassemble hardware devices
for inspection. Instead of removing each
individual fiber, you only need to insert the
video probe to inspect the end-face while
it is still in place. This is the only practical
way to inspect many hardware devices,
where disassembly is not a realistic option.
Plus, the FiberInspector mircoscopes never
touch the termination so there’s no risk of
contamination or damage.
Ultimate tool for challenging
environments
The FiberInspector Pro is the ultimate
inspection tool. Its 3.5” screen provides
a larger image from its dual magnification
probe. The small probe fits in the palm of
your hand and can be switched between 250x
and 400x magnification with the turn of a
dial. The Pro unit also has a protective boot
for rougher outdoor
environments and
offers a greater
range of adapter
tips for specialized
applications, such
as multi-fiber
connectors.
Capture images for storage
and reports
The FiberInspector Pro dual magnification
probe can be attached to the OptiFiber® OTDR
or the OptiViewTM Integrated Network Analyzer
to save and store images for reference and
report generation. Use these captured images
to prove the condition of the installation or
as future reference if problems arise.
Proper cleaning of contaminants
Once end-face contamination is discovered,
proper procedures are required to eliminate
it. Shirtsleeves are not acceptable! In fact,
improper cleaning processes are not only
ineffective, but also potentially damaging.
Though canned air has been used for years to
blast dust away, it will not dislodge smaller
static-charged particles. Also, it can leave
behind propellants and tends to blow larger
particles around rather than remove them.
Proper fiber optic end-face cleaning involves
two key components: specialized solvent and
lint-free wipes or swabs.
Clean wet and finish dry
Always use proper solvent in conjunction
with either a wipe for a patch cord or a swab
for a port. Solvent is required to dissolve any
one of the many contaminants that may be
present, such as finger oil or buffer gel.
Further, wiping an end-face with just a dry
wipe or swab can generate static electricity
that draws more dust out of the air onto the
end-face. Even worse, a dry wipe can drag
debris across the end-face causing damage.
Effective solvents will act as a lubricant for
the safe removal of debris. Conversely, using
too much solvent or only a wet application
will result in the leftover solvent drying
out and leaving behind the dissolved
contaminants as a residue. Best practice is
to clean wet and finish dry. After cleaning,
always inspect the end-face again before
insertion to guarantee all contaminants were
removed. If necessary, repeat your cleaning
steps to remove any lingering soils not
removed by the first cycle.
Effective cleaning requires
specialized solvent
For years, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) was used to
clean fiber end-faces, but now there are
customized solvents that are far superior,
such as Fluke Networks’ Fiber Optic Solvent
Pen. Most importantly, this specialized
solvent is more effective than IPA at dissol-
ving all contaminants, especially non-ionic
compounds such as buffer gel and pulling
lube. You will get a better clean every time
and with every contaminant. Next, our
solvent has a lower surface tension that
allows it to envelop particles and debris,
effectively lifting them from
the surface of the
end-face
as they
are
carried
away
by a wipe or swab.
Many smaller particles carry a charge that
bonds them to the ferrule or end-face.
This solvent is oxygenated to neutralize
this charge so the charged particle can be
wiped away and additional particles are
not attracted onto the end-face. When
cleaning end-faces inside ports or equipment,
the evaporation rate of solvents become
significant as it is harder to guarantee
removal of all solvent. Fluke Networks’
customized solvent has an evaporation rate
tailored to stay long enough to work yet
still disappear before mating. It evaporates
much faster than IPA. Last, IPA is highly
hygroscopic and therefore draws water vapor
that can then dry on the end-face and leave
a residue, which sometimes appears as a
“halo.” Using Fluke Networks’ solvent will
avoid this problem.
Cleaning Instructions:
After removing one plastic cover, apply a
small spot of solvent to the starting corner of
the cleaning zone.
Holding the connector perpendicularly, swipe
the end-face from the wet spot into a dry zone.
After pulling a clean wipe from the cube,
apply a small spot of solvent to the starting
edge of the wipe.
Holding the connector perpendicularly, swipe
the end-face from the wet spot into a dry zone.
After pulling a clean wipe from the cube, apply
a small spot of solvent to the starting edge of
the wipe.
Touch the swab to the wet spot on the wipe
for 3 seconds to absorb a minimal amount of
solvent. A damp swab works better than a wet
one. Applying solvent from the pen directly to
the swab will likely result in excessive solvent.
Insert the swab into the port and turn several
times while applying gentle pressure. Follow
the damp swab with a dry one, using the
same procedure to remove any remaining sol-
vent from the end-face and alignment sleeve.
A. Fiber Optic Cleaning Cards
B. Fiber Optic Cleaning Cube
C. Fiber Optic Solvent Swabs
Fiber Optic Cleaning Kit
NFC-Kit-Case
Ordering Information
Model Description
NFC-Kit-Case Fiber Optic Cleaning Kit includes cleaning cube with wipes, ten cards with sealed cleaning zones, solvent pen, 2.5 mm port
cleaning swabs and 1.25 mm port cleaning swabs in a rugged carrying case.
NFC-Kit-Box Fiber Optic Cleaning Kit includes cleaning cube with wipes, five cards with sealed cleaning zones, solvent pen and 2.5 mm port
cleaning swabs.
NFC-Cube Cleaning cube with wipes cleans up to 500 end-faces
NFC-Cards-5pack 5 cards with 12 sealed cleaning zones each – perfect for troubleshooting
NFC-SolventPen Special solvent dispensed from pen (9g)
NFC-Swabs-1.25mm LC and MU port cleaning swabs (25 count)
NFC-Swabs-2.5mm SC, ST, 2.5 mm port cleaning swabs (50 count)
NFC-SWABS-MULTI MPO port cleaning swabs (25 count)
NFC-Case Carrying case for cleaning accessories
Support GLD-FTINSPECTOR 1-Year Gold Support coverage for the FiberInspector and kits: Models - FT500, FT525, FT600
Fluke Networks
P.O. Box 777, Everett, WA USA 98206-0777
Fluke Networks operates in more than 50 countries
worldwide. To find your local office contact details,
go to www.flukenetworks.com/contact.
©2011 Fluke Corporation. Printed in U.S.A.
9/2011 1592489H D-ENG-N
FiberViewer FiberInspector Mini FiberInspector Pro
Model FT120 FT140 FT500 FT525 (Kit) FT600 OFTM-5352
Magnification 200x 400x 200x 200x 250x 400x 250x 400x
Field of View 950µm 475µm 700µm 700µm 670µm 420µm 670µm 420µm
Detection Capability .75µm .5µm 2µm 2µm 2µm 1µm 2µm 1µm
Display N/A 1.8 in (4.6 cm) LCD 1.8 in (4.6 cm) LCD 3.5”, in (8.9 cm) LCD
View Patch Cords • • • • •
View Inside Ports No • • • •
Image Capture •
Universal 2.5 mm ferrules • • • • •
Universal 1.25 mm ferrules NF350 NFM110 Tip Set NFM110 Tip Set NF368 NF368
SC Ports • • • •
ST Ports • • • •
FC Ports NFM110 Tip Set NFM110 Tip Set • •
LC Ports NFM110 Tip Set NFM110 Tip Set NF362 NF362
MU Ports NF364 NF364
MPO Ports NF370 NF370
MT-RJ Ports NF360 NF360
E2000 Ports NF366 NF366
Gold Support GLD-FTINSPECTOR GLD-FTINSPECTOR GLD-INSPECTOR GLD-OFTM-53XX
Cleaning Kit •
FT120/FT140 FT500
FT600 OFTM-5352
OPV-FT600
FT525
