Transceiver Maintenance - GigaTech Products

Network Transceiver Maintenance

Inspection and Cleaning Procedures for Fiber-Optic Connections

The reliability and effectiveness of optical transceivers and fiber optic cables depend not only on their quality but also on how well they are maintained. Regular inspection and cleaning of these components are crucial for ensuring high performance levels of the whole network system. Even the tiniest speck of dust can significantly disrupt signal transmission and cause reduced data quality, increased latency, and connectivity problems. Regular and proper cleaning of fiber optic cables and transceivers ensures long-term reliability and performance and prevents costly repairs, downtime, and network disruptions.

Signs an optical transceiver 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

Transceiver Inspection & Diagnosis

Optical transceivers require regular inspection and cleaning to ensure optimal performance. The cleanliness of fiber optic connections is crucial because even the smallest particle of dust can cause problems for your signal transmission.

Contaminated Transceiver Lens

Illustration of a transceiver with contaminated optical lens

Clean Transceiver Lens

Illustration of a transceiver with clean functioning optical lens

Why is maintenance important?

Even if a transceiver and fiber cable were 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 Transceiver Contamination

Visual Inspection

Physical Environment Monitoring

Optic Baseline Monitoring

How To Clean a Transceiver

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)

• Use a non-abrasive cleaner (air duster) to remove any dirt or debris.
• Use a dry, lint-free cleaning swab.
• Insert the swab into the transceiver's receptacle.
• Rotate the swab gently for a few turns and then remove.
• Discard the swab after one use.

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

Your transceivers 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

Transceiver Maintenance Products

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.