Fiber Inspection and Cleaning Series Because 85% of fiber optic cabling Eliminate the #1 cause of fiber failure In a survey of installers and network owners failures are due to contaminated end-faces, it is imperative that all commissioned by Fluke Networks, end-face contamination was found to be the leading cause of fiber failures. Dirt and contaminants 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. 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 the FT500 FiberInspectorTM Mini and FT600 be inspected. Further, mating contaminated FiberInspectorTM Pro video microscopes are connectors can cause permanent damage as required. microscopic debris is crushed between endfaces in physical contact. Therefore, you must always inspect and clean before mating as a preventative measure and not only after experiencing problems. Even factoryterminated 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. 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 Range of inspection options fiber end-face With a range of solutions, Fluke Networks without looking always has the right tool for you to easily directly at the inspect end-faces on a wide variety of fiber itself, connectors. The FT120 and FT140 eliminating FiberViewer microscopes allow for any chance of straightforward inspection. To harmful laser inspect end-faces both on light from ever patch cords and reaching your inside ports, eye. TM Technical Data Safely inspect live fiber without harming eyes See how to improve network performance and reliability with Fluke Networks' Inspection & Cleaning Tools Save valuable time inspecting fiber Proper cleaning of contaminants removed. If necessary, repeat your cleaning FiberInspector Pro and FiberInspector Mini Once end-face contamination is discovered, steps to remove any lingering soils not video microscopes give you superior proper procedures are required to eliminate removed by the first cycle. vision into your network by enabling you it. Shirtsleeves are not acceptable! In fact, to inspect all types of fiber in switches, improper cleaning processes are not only routers, interface cards, patch panels, wall ineffective, but also potentially damaging. outlets and patch cables. They save time by Though canned air has been used for years to eliminating the need to access the back of blast dust away, it will not dislodge smaller patch panels or disassemble hardware devices static-charged particles. Also, it can leave for inspection. Instead of removing each behind propellants and tends to blow larger individual fiber, you only need to insert the particles around rather than remove them. video probe to inspect the end-face while Proper fiber optic end-face cleaning involves it is still in place. This is the only practical two key components: specialized solvent and way to inspect many hardware devices, lint-free wipes or swabs. where disassembly is not a realistic option. 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 dissolving all contaminants, especially non-ionic compounds such as buffer gel and pulling lube. You will get a better clean every time Clean wet and finish dry and with every contaminant. Next, our Always use proper solvent in conjunction solvent has a lower surface tension that with either a wipe for a patch cord or a swab allows it to envelop particles and debris, for a port. Solvent is required to dissolve any effectively lifting them from Ultimate tool for challenging environments one of the many contaminants that may be the surface of the present, such as finger oil or buffer gel. end-face The FiberInspector Pro is the ultimate Further, wiping an end-face with just a dry as they inspection tool. Its 3.5" screen provides wipe or swab can generate static electricity are a larger image from its dual magnification that draws more dust out of the air onto the carried probe. The small probe fits in the palm of end-face. Even worse, a dry wipe can drag away your hand and can be switched between 250x debris across the end-face causing damage. by a wipe or swab. and 400x magnification with the turn of a Effective solvents will act as a lubricant for Many smaller particles carry a charge that dial. The Pro unit also has a protective boot the safe removal of debris. Conversely, using bonds them to the ferrule or end-face. for rougher outdoor too much solvent or only a wet application This solvent is oxygenated to neutralize environments and will result in the leftover solvent drying this charge so the charged particle can be offers a greater out and leaving behind the dissolved wiped away and additional particles are range of adapter contaminants as a residue. Best practice is not attracted onto the end-face. When tips for specialized to clean wet and finish dry. After cleaning, cleaning end-faces inside ports or equipment, applications, such always inspect the end-face again before the evaporation rate of solvents become as multi-fiber insertion to guarantee all contaminants were significant as it is harder to guarantee Plus, the FiberInspector mircoscopes never touch the termination so there's no risk of contamination or damage. connectors. Capture images for storage and reports The FiberInspector Pro dual magnification probe can be attached to the OptiFiber(R) 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. 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: A. Fiber Optic Cleaning Cards 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. B. Fiber Optic Cleaning Cube After pulling a clean wipe from the cube, apply a small spot of solvent to the starting edge of the wipe. Fiber Optic Cleaning Kit NFC-Kit-Case Holding the connector perpendicularly, swipe the end-face from the wet spot into a dry zone. C. Fiber Optic Solvent Swabs After pulling a clean wipe from the cube, apply a small spot of solvent to the starting edge of the wipe. Ordering Information 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 solvent from the end-face and alignment sleeve. 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 FiberViewer Model FiberInspector Mini FiberInspector Pro FT120 FT140 FT500 FT525 (Kit) Magnification 200x 400x 200x 200x 250x 400x 250x 400x Field of View 950m 475m 700m 700m 670m 420m 670m 420m Detection Capability .75m .5m 2m 2m 2m 1m 2m 1m 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 * * * * Display FT600 OFTM-5352 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 GLD-INSPECTOR GLD-OFTM-53XX Gold Support GLD-FTINSPECTOR GLD-FTINSPECTOR Cleaning Kit * FT120/FT140 FT600 FT500 FT525 OFTM-5352 OPV-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. (c)2011 Fluke Corporation. Printed in U.S.A. 9/2011 1592489H D-ENG-N