How to Use and Maintain Fiber Patch Cables

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Fiber
patch cables are common assemblies seen in optical communications to link
devices and network components. To ensure normal optical transmission and fiber
durability, it is necessary to get familiar with the user instructions and
precautions. This post will introduce the precaution for taking care of fiber
patch cables from the perspectives of connecting, disconnecting, and routine
maintaining, which is recommended for you to prevent a series of possible
harmful consequences.

 

Connecting
and Disconnecting Fiber Patch Cables

Fiber patch
cables
can be used with many network devices, such as optical transceiver modules,
fiber adapter panels, fiber cassettes, media converters, and other products
having fiber optic interfaces. The following part will introduce the general
steps for connecting and disconnecting fiber patch cords, taking connecting a
fiber patch cable to a transceiver installed in a network switch as an example.

 

Connecting
Fiber Patch Cables

 

Remove
the rubber safety caps covered on the fiber optic connectors at both ends of
fiber patch cables and remember to keep these caps well.

 

Remove
the cap from the optical transceiver.

 

Insert
the cable connector into the optical transceiver.

 

Fix
and fasten the fiber patch cables by placing fixing elements on a loop to help
cables maintain their shape.

 

Disconnecting
Fiber Patch Cables

 

Disable
the interface in which the optical transceiver is installed by running a
command.

 

Carefully
unplug the cable connector from the transceiver.

 

Cover
the transceiver with a rubber safety cap.

 

Cover
the cable connector with a rubber safety cap.

 

There
are some points that should be noted during the connecting and disconnecting
process:

 

 

The
installation personnel needs to be skilled enough with an understanding of the
network layout so as to ensure the quality and safety of the installation.

 

Always
wear safety glasses and protective glasses to avoid electric shock or touching
fiber shards. Anti static wrist strap band is necessary to reduce static
electricity when operating with active devices.

 

Pay
attention to the bending radius of the fiber patch cords. Excessive pulling or
squeezing will possibly cause damage to fiber jumpers.

 

Do
not let the jumpers hang free from optical transceivers or run free on the
floor randomly. It is very likely to stress the cables at the fastening point
or break the cables once pulling the cables accidentally

 

Never
look directly into the end of fiber cables when there is a laser coupled to it
for the safety of your eyes.

 

Avoid
frequently inserting or removing fiber patch cables from devices or the fiber
end face will produce wear.

 

Thoroughly
clean the working area after the completion of installation.

 

Maintaining
Fiber Patch Cables

The
daily maintenance for fiber patch cables matters a lot in the fiber optic
system. There are two main aspects to which you should pay attention during
routine maintenance.

 

Keep
Fiber Patch Cables Clean

It
is often heard that special attention should be given to the fiber optic patch
cable cleaning, but are you clear why it is so important? In brief, for
reliable and robust fiber optic networks. According to an industry survey by a
major telecom company, contamination is the number-one reason for
troubleshooting optical networks. Fibers are so fragile that once they are
covered by dust or other contaminations, the optical signal can be degraded.
What’s more, the metallic particles worn by the bodies and fiber housings of
the fiber optic connectors will block a fiber, which will cause signal loss,
thus eventually reducing the network performance and causing a great loss for
businesses that rely on fiber-optic networks.

 

Generally,
fiber optic cleaning refers to cleaning fiber connectors. How to ensure you
clean fiber connectors using correct ways? There are two main cleaning methods:
dry cleaning and wet cleaning, each performing different functions. Reel-type
fiber cleaners, pen cleaners, fiber cleaning wipes, and foam swabs are the
common fiber connector cleaning solutions. More information about these
solutions and cleaning steps is available in How Much Do You Know About Fiber
Connector Cleaning?

 

Store
Fiber Patch Cables Properly

No
matter a fiber cable is in use or out of use, there is one significant point to
be considered: Do not bend or stretch your fiber cable too much. It is often
the case when working with fiber optic cables, people stretch or bend them. For
this reason, the worst case is the fiber may get damaged. Some breakage caused
by bending can be visible, but some loss may not, such as microscopic fiber
deformations caused by very low temperature, displacement of a few millimeters
caused by buffer or jacket imperfections, poor installation practice or other
factors. Since such loss can not be seen by the human eyes directly, it will be
overlooked and things can get even worse over time. In case of a huge loss when
the fiber patch cords must be replaced, the following essential elements need
attention:

 

Design
your fiber cable pathway using proper tools or components to protect fibers,
such as horizontal cable managers.

 

Do
not bend fiber patch cables beyond their minimum bend radius, especially in
those tight spaces of high-density fiber patching areas.

 

Make
sure not to hit the fiber connector against anything! On the one hand, those
ends may get abraded or broken. On the other side, broken glass at the fiber
end can cut someone’s skin. It is suggested to use protective caps when storing
or pulling fibers.

 

OTDR
and optical fiber microscopes are recommended if you need equipment for
measuring and identifying any faults such as breaks within the fiber cable or
overall attenuation.