Why Clean Your Fiber?
The ability to transmit enormous amounts of data over long distances in an instant is a distinct advantage of fiber optic cables. Fiber installers, however, must ensure that contamination on the fiber connectors is minimized in order to stay within the acceptable range of data loss. Oil and dust particles small enough to be invisible to the naked eye are large enough to block the entire 9ยต core diameter of a single mode fiber. Smaller soils increase signal attenuation and return loss and have the potential to cause permanent damage to the connectors. Most contaminants are impossible to see without the aid of a microscope, as the fiber core is several times smaller than a human hair. You will need a microscope that is capable of viewing the ferrule endface of the assembly as well as the fiber itself (including the core).
Cleaning fiber optic cables is essential because even small amounts of dust, dirt, or oil on the connector ends can interfere with the light signal, leading to signal loss, poor performance, network disruptions, and even failures. Regular cleaning is therefore critical to ensuring optimal network performance and avoiding costly downtime.
Here are the main reasons to clean fiber optic cables:
- Signal degradation: Contaminants on the connector can block the light signal, leading to signal loss and reduced data transmission quality.
- Increased back reflections: Dirt can create imperfections on the connector's surface, causing light to bounce back, weakening the signal further.
- Network disruptions: Dirty connectors are a common cause of network connectivity problems and outages.
- Reduced lifespan of equipment: Ongoing contamination can cause damage to the fiber's end face, shortening the lifespan of network components.
- Cost-efficient upkeep: Regular cleaning helps prevent the need for costly repairs and troubleshooting related to dirty connectors.