Cleaning and Maintaining Fiber-Optic Connectors
Connector cleaning is required to maintain the performance of fiber-optic circuits. It is important that both
the LC/UPC connector at the end of the fiber-optic cable and the optical mating adapter on the front panel of
the device are clean before the connection is made.
Invisible laser radiation may be emitted from disconnected fibers or connectors. Do not stare into beams
or view directly with optical instruments.
Statement 1051
Warning
The following warning applies to disposal of chemicals and other materials used to clean connectors and
adapters:
Ultimate disposal of this product should be handled according to all national laws and regulations.
Statement 1040
Warning
Before installing the fiber-optic cable, always perform the cleaning procedure for cable connectors described
in the following section. Whenever possible, inspect each connector before connecting it to the optical mating
adapter on the front panel.
Note
The LC optical mating adapter on the faceplate of the device is less likely to get dirty if it is capped when not
in use. On some devices, the optical mating adapter has a shutter. The shutter automatically closes when the
LC/UPC connector is disconnected. This prevents entry of dirt.
The procedure for a thorough cleaning of these adapters is complicated. Use a commercially available cleaning
kit and closely follow the instructions included with the kit.
Note
Clean Fiber-Optic Cable Connectors
This task describes the steps to clean the fiber-optic cable connectors.
The tools required to clean fiber connectors are:
• Inspection microscope
• Type A fiber-optic connector cleaner (CLETOP reel)
• Optical swab
• Optical receiver cleaning stick
Install Cisco NCS 1000 32-Channel Mux/Demux Patch Panel
12
Install Cisco NCS 1000 32-Channel Mux/Demux Patch Panel
Cleaning and Maintaining Fiber-Optic Connectors
