FIBER CABLE MAINTENANCE

Cleaning Procedures for Fiber Cable Connections

The most prominent cause of fiber-optic dropped packets or network outages comes from dirty or comprised fiber connections. If a particle of dust, lint, oil, or any other dirt gets on the end of the connector, it will interrupt the signal being sent. These seemingly small particles can throw a hiccup in the data transfer capabilities of your network, leading to costly network failures and downtime. It is important to address why clean environments and proper cleaning maintenance of your fiber transceivers and cables is necessary for the health of your network.

Signs a fiber connection may be contaminated

Performance Monitoring

Signs of contamination usually exhibit themselves in the form of performance degradation

Signal Loss

If you notice a loss of signal strength, this could be a sign of contamination. This can be monitored by viewing the Rx Power (Receiving Power) through the system.

Error Rates

Increased error counts, such as input errors, CRC errors, or packet loss can also indicate possible contamination or other issues.

Link Flapping

If the connection flaps between connected and disconnected, this is also a sign of possible contamination.

Guide Menu

Cable Inspection & Diagnosis

Examining a fiber core with an Integrated Fiber EndFace Inspector can help identify when damage or contaminates are effecting the throughput of light in the fiber.

Why is maintenance important?

In order to maintain optimal performance in a fiber network, it is paramount that fiber never be left exposed. Maintaining clean connections ensures your cables will perform to their proper specifications. Transceiver connectors and fiber cables should always be plugged in or covered with a dust cap in order to protect the fiber core. Any contamination in a fiber connection can cause failure of the component or the whole system overall. Microscopic dust particles that partially or completely block the fiber core generate strong back reflections which in turn cause instability in the laser system.

If a fiber cable was cleaned and properly inspected upon original installation, there are still ways in which the connectors can acquire contamination over time, even if the cable has never been removed. Here are some potential causes:

Airflow

In data centers or cabinets with active cooling, the airflow intended to cool equipment can inadvertently introduce or move around dust and particles, leading to contamination.

Wear and Tear

Over time, connectors may degrade or wear out due to constant thermal cycling, causing them to release minute particles, which can contaminate the end-face.

Condensation

If there are temperature fluctuations in the environment where the connectors are located, condensation can form on the connector end-face, leading to potential contamination.

Enclosures

If the connectors are placed within an enclosure or patch panel, connections within the same enclosure can introduce contaminants every time they are accessed, plugged, or unplugged.

Airborne Contaminants

Dust and other particles in the air find their way into even secure environments. Depending on the cleanliness of the environment, small amounts of dust or other airborne particles can settle on exposed connectors.

Microscopic Particles

Not all contaminants are easily visible to the naked eye. Minute particles from the surrounding environment can settle on connectors. These might have been missed during the original inspection or could have been introduced later.

Degradation of Materials

Over time, the materials used in the connectors, or nearby components, might degrade, releasing tiny particles that can contaminate the fiber optic end-face.

Diagnosing Connector Contamination

Visual Inspection

Physical Environment Monitoring

Optic Baseline Monitoring

How To Clean a Fiber Cable

Gather Cleaning Supplies:

• Lint-free cleaning swabs or sticks, specifically designed for fiber optics.
• Non-abrasive cleaner (air duster)

Dry Cleaning (Stay away from alcohol-based cleaning sticks)

Open the dust cover or remove the dust plug from the module

Use a non-abrasive cleaner (canned air) to remove any dirt or debris.

Insert a lint-free cleaning stick of the appropriate size (2.5 mm or 1.25 mm) and turn clockwise. Dry cleaning is recommended. Do not use alcohol-based cleaning sticks!

Remove the cleaning stick, close the dust cover or reinsert the module’s dust plug. Always keep the dust cover or dust plug inserted in the module when not in use.

Always make sure that the connector that will be plugged into the module is also clean before connecting it to the module to prevent cross-contamination

This procedure should always be followed when connecting or disconnecting fiber to or from the module.

Inspect After Cleaning

After cleaning, it's a good practice to inspect the connector end-face using a fiber inspection microscope. This ensures that the cleaning process was successful and that there's no residue or other contaminants left behind.

Safety Precautions

• When working with optical modules, make sure you're in an area equipped for ESD (electro-static discharge) protection and follow all necessary safety measures.
• Before handling any module, confirm that it's powered down and treat each module delicately.
• Only use Clean Dry Air (CDA) or a trusted source of canned compressed air.
• While using compressed air, keep the can in a vertical position. Angling it might cause unwanted liquids to be discharged with the air.

Protective Caps

After cleaning, if the transceiver will not be used immediately, ensure you place a protective cap over the connector to prevent future contamination.

Regular Cleaning and Inspection

Cleaning your cables can significantly extend their lifespan and ensure consistent and reliable performance. Proper care and handling are essential, given the sensitive nature of optical connections.

General Guide For When to Clean

Cable Maintenance Products

GT-FIB-CASFC

Fiber Connector Cassette Fiber Cleaner- APC/UPC LC, SC, ST, FC, MT, MU, E2000 (500+ Cleans)

Reel-type cleaners quickly and effectively clean a variety of connectors. Reel-type cleaners are a safe cleaning option without the need for alcohol, which can be toxic and flammable. They have refillable cleaning tapes making them ideal for lab, assembly lines and field use.

For Fiber Connectors (LC, SC, ST, FC, MT, MU)

GT-LCS-PENFC

LC/MU Simplex Click Pen Fiber Cleaner (800+ Cleans)

Designed for cleaning LC and MU type connectors, this fiber cleaner can easily remove dirt, dust, oil and grease from an optical fiber adaptor. With the ability to each into the entire area within the connector, it makes cleaning of the ferrule endface a simple task with the push of a button.

For Fiber Connectors (LC/MU):

For Transceiver / Fiber Patch Connection (LC/MU)

GT-MPO-PENFC

MTP/MPO Click Pen Fiber Cleaner (500+ Cleans)

This push-type cleaner is specifically designed for the cleaning of ferrule end-faces in MTP/MPO adapters. With the ability to clean all 8/12/24 fibers simultaneously it is a time and cost efficient tool for the maintenance of fiber cables. This cleaner can clean both exposed jumper ends as well as connectors embedded in the adapter.