User`s guide

E Cleaning Information Why is it important to clean optical devices ?
274 E6000C Mini-OTDR User’s Guide, E0302
Why is it important to clean
optical devices ?
In transmission links optical fiber cores are about 9 µm
(0.00035") in diameter. Dust and other particles, however,
can range from tenths to hundredths of microns in
diameter. Their comparative size means that they can
cover a part of the end of a fiber core, and as a result will
reduce the performance of your system.
Furthermore, the power density may burn dust into the
fiber and cause additional damage (for example, 0 dBm
optical power in a single mode fiber causes a power
density of approximately 16 million W/m
2
). If this
happens, measurements become inaccurate and non-
repeatable.
Cleaning is, therefore, an essential yet difficult task.
Unfortunately, when comparing most published cleaning
recommendations, you will discover that they contain
several inconsistencies. In this section, we want to
suggest ways to help you clean your various optical
devices, and thus significantly improve the accuracy and
repeatability of your lightwave measurements.
What do I need for proper
cleaning?
Some Standard Cleaning Equipment is necessary for
cleaning your instrument. For certain cleaning
procedures, you may also require certain Additional
Cleaning Equipment.