Fibre Optics: Handling
Take special care to avoid damage or contamination when handling or working in the vicinity of fibre optic cables and connectors.
NOTE:
Damage or contamination includes scratches to the cable ends and pollution caused by dust, dirt, oil or moisture.
CAUTION:
When handling fibre optic cables cleanliness is of paramount importance. The fibre ends should not be touched even with clean bare hands as the natural oils deposited from the skin may penetrate the fibre or may cause dirt to adhere to the fibre end.
System malfunctions and unnecessary warranty claims can be minimised by following these guidelines:
- After disconnection of any cables, carefully install appropriate dust caps to protect the mating faces of the connectors from damage or contamination.
- Avoid introducing tight bends (less than 30 mm radius) or kinks into the fibre optic cable during service or repair. Tight bends or kinks could impair operation, cause immediate system failure, or future system failure.
- Avoid excessive force, strain or stress on the fibres and connectors, especially permanent stress after reinstallation.