| First, let's understand why a fiber optic | | | | look at this tutorial: Is there only one |
| connector needs cleaning. You may never need | | | | method for fiber connector cleaning? There |
| to clean the RJ45 connector for your | | | | are many different ways to clean a fiber |
| computer's Ethernet network connection, then | | | | optic connector. They are not exclusive but |
| why do you need to clean a fiber optic | | | | rather complementary to each other. When one |
| connector if it serves the same purpose as a | | | | method failed, you can always try another |
| networking connection? While, the answer lies | | | | method. And that is why there are so many |
| in how optics work differently than | | | | fiber optic supplies for cleaning fiber |
| electronics. In electronics, as long as you | | | | connectors available on the market. 1. Air |
| have a contact between two connectors, they | | | | spray. Air dusters are used to blow loose |
| work perfectly; or at least most of the time. | | | | particles from optical fiber connector end |
| But for optics, light beams travel in | | | | face. Optic grade is more expensive. Air |
| straight lines, they bounce off whenever they | | | | spray is a non-abrasive fiber optic cleaning |
| hit anything and thus loss their energy. So | | | | method. 2. Lint-free wipes with isopropyl |
| in order for a light beam to carry the | | | | alcohol. The operator folds the lens paper |
| information signal and travel thousands of | | | | (such as the lint free wipes) into 4~6 layers |
| miles of optical fiber, its path must be kept | | | | and lay it flat on a table. He then holds the |
| crystal clear, including fiber optic | | | | connector vertically straight and cleans the |
| connectors in the network. What part of a | | | | end face in figure 8 motion. 3. Reel fiber |
| fiber optic connector should be cleaned, | | | | optic connector cleaners. Connector reel |
| exactly? OK. Now comes the critical part. | | | | cleaner is a dry cleaning method with a |
| What part in the fiber connector needs | | | | quick, reliable operation and uniform |
| cleaning, exactly? The short answer is the | | | | results. They use 2 micrometer weaved |
| ferrule's body and its end face. But what | | | | polyester cloth to clean optical fiber |
| exactly is a ferrule? Ferrule is a | | | | connectors. This is an abrasive fiber optic |
| cylindrical and also the most critical part | | | | cleaning method but pad underneath cleaning |
| in an optical fiber connector. It is usually | | | | cloth mitigates this significantly. 4. Stick |
| made from stainless steel or Zirconia. | | | | or swab type cleaners. These specially built |
| Zirconia is a type of white colored ceramic | | | | Cletop sticks come in 2.5mm and 1.25mm |
| which is an extremely refractory material. It | | | | versions. They are designed for dry cleaning |
| offers chemical and corrosion inertness to | | | | fiber optic connector mating sleeves, |
| temperatures well above the melting point of | | | | bulkhead adapters and receptacles. 5. In-situ |
| alumina. Zirconia is the preferred material | | | | cleaning. This semi-automated fiber optic |
| for high quality fiber optic ferrules. | | | | cleaning method is specially designed for |
| Ferrules have a tiny hole in the center which | | | | fiber optic connectors plugged in patch |
| holds optical fiber in place. Then the fiber | | | | panels and hardware devices. 6. Pre-saturated |
| is scribed and precisely polished to flush | | | | or soaked wipes. Pre-saturated wipes are good |
| with the end face of the ferrule. Two fiber | | | | for cleaning glass fiber or connector end |
| connectors can then mate to each other with a | | | | faces. They are available in a convenient |
| mating sleeve. When mated, two ferrules' end | | | | pre-saturated towelette. The towels are |
| faces contact each other perfectly and thus | | | | durable and non-linting. Pre-saturated wipes |
| pass light from one fiber to another. | | | | are a convenient option for field use. Fiber |
| Ferrules get dirty from dust, stain and | | | | Optics For Sale Co. offers all types of fiber |
| debris made by constant plugging and | | | | optic supplies for fiber optic cleaning. |
| unplugging after having been used for a | | | | Check it out by yourself at |
| while. These contaminations will block the | | | | |
| light path and thus seriously reduce the | | | | Colin Yao is the sales manager at Fiber |
| light power and may disable the network | | | | Optics For Sale Co. and specializes in fiber |
| connection. To get a better sense of how a | | | | optic supplies. |
| fiber optic connector could be contaminated, | | | | |