FLUKE Networks Peralatan Pembersih Serat Optik

Clean OFC End Faces with the Quick Clean 1.25mm or 2.5mm Cleaner:
- To begin end face fiber optic cable cleaning, open or remove the guide cap from the Quick Clean Cleaner.
- Push the cleaner straight into the connector and you will a hear a click to confirm cleaning.

There are as many different cleaning techniques as there are fiber optic network technicians. While some techniques work some of the time, reliable and lasting performance of your fiber links require inspection and proper cleaning processes with every mating. Here are some well-known bad habits:

Dry Cleaning:
Traditionally, dry cleaning has been proven to be only partially effective in eliminating contaminants from fiber end-faces and connectors. The challenge had been that the dry cleaning materials were either not good enough to uplift the various types of dirt or greasy contaminants, or they actually introduced static to the fiber ferrule that attracts dust. With technological advancement and better dry cleaning materials, however, a new class of fiber cleaning tools have been created to provide a cost effective and efficient solution for cleaning more than 50% of contaminants from optical networks. It is therefore very important to avoid using simple swabs or cleaning papers to perform dry cleaning on any fiber connectors. Instead, use Fluke Networks’ Quick Clean Cleaner to eliminate most of the dust and harmful particles in your fiber plant.

Wet Cleaning:
Cleaning with only a pre-soaked wet wipe or excessive solvent will leave liquid behind on the end-face which also causes problems. As that excess solvent dries, it can leave behind of film of dissolved contaminants that were never properly removed. In addition, residual isopropyl alcohol (IPA) can leave behind a “halo” as it dries that not only causes attenuation, but also can be very hard to remove. No solvent should remain at the conclusion of a cleaning.

Canned Air and Dusters:
Canned air and dusters are ineffective and should not be used to clean end-faces. The only thing dusters do is blow large particles around. On a patch cord, this may be effective, but inside a port this can result in those same particles settling elsewhere. Dusters are ineffective on smaller, statically-charged particles and totally useless on oil-based contaminants such as buffer gel or body oil. Finally, dusters often expel a propellant that becomes a whole new contaminant that now requires an effective cleaning process to remove.

Thinking New Equals Clean:
Do not be lulled into thinking that end-faces on factory-terminated patch cords or pigtails will be clean when they are brand new and covered with a dust cap. Though fiber dust caps are great at preventing damage to the end-face, the caps themselves can be a source of contamination. The plastic used to create dust caps will outgas a residue as its plasticizers deteriorate over time and the surface of the cap may contain mold-release substances used in their high-speed production process. Don’t be surprised to find a contaminated end-face upon removal of a protective cap. For repeatable and reliable end-face cleaning, always use Fluke Networks’ fiber optic cleaning tools to follow the recommended wet and dry process.

For years isopropyl alcohol (IPA) fluid 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, Fluke’s specialized OFC cleaner 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 and with every contaminant by using Fluke’s fiber optic cleaning pen.

Next, the solvent in our fiber cleaning pen has a lower surface tension than IPA 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 fiber wipe or swab. Many smaller particles carry a charge that bonds them to the ferrule or an end-face. Unlike IPA, this solvent is oxygenated to neutralize this charge so that the charged particle can be removed, and more particles are not attracted onto the end-face. When cleaning fiber 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. 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’ fiber cleaning pen with specialized cleaning solvent will avoid this problem.