OPTICAL CONNECTOR CONTAMINATION6
What do thestandards say?

What is IEC61300-3-35?

The test procedures specified by 568-C
require tools and procedures for ensuring
connector quality.

•

A set of requirements for Fiber
Optic connector quality.

•

Designed to guarantee insertion
loss and return loss performance•

Used as reference between
supplier & customer•

Used as condition for accurate
testing of components and links.

•••

End faces on cords and trunks
shall be in accordance toIEC 6100-3-35.
Use a microscope that iscompatible with IEC 61300-3-35The microscope must use
adapters that are compatible withconnectors.

Contamination of the ferrule endface >Poor polishing of the ferrule >Mistakes in attaching labels to the cable >Damage to the optical connector >Damage on the ferrule endface >Defective splicing >Excessive bending for the cable >Cable installers

Network installers 0General
AcceptanceCriteria
Separate criteria for different
connector types, and performance.
••
•
•
•

SM-UPC IL <= 0.30dB/RL>55dB
SM-APC IL <=0.35dB/RL>65dB
MM-PC IL <0.35dB
Multi Fiber SM IL <0.50dB/RL> 60dB
Multi Fiber MM IL <0.50dB

In a recent study, 98% of installers(blue) and 80% of network owners(yellow) reported that issues withconnector contamination was thegreatest cause of network failure.
Source of data NTT

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Example of fiber end faces and respective zones
AB
CD

Single mode UPC

MM Connector

Zone NameSCRATCHES

DEFECTS

Zone NameSCRATCHES

DEFECTSA CORE (0-25µm)

None

None

A CORE (0-65µm)

None4<= 5µm
None > 5µm

B CLADDING (25-120µm)

No Limit<=3µm
None> 3µmNo limit< 2µm
5 from 2-5µm
None > 5µm

B CLADDING (65-120µm)

No Limit<=3µm
None> 5µm

No limit< 2µm
5 from 2-5µm
None > 5µm

C ADHESIVE (120-130µm)

No Limit

No Limit

C ADHESIVE (120-130µm)

No Limit

No Limit

D CONTACT (130-250µm)

No Limit

None => 10µm

D CONTACT (130-250µm)

No Limit

None => 10µm

7What happens if the
optical connector
end face becomes
contaminated?

Troubles caused by connector end facecontamination
Light istransmitted
poorly or
not at all

Light isreflected backto connection
point*

Examples of common contaminants adhering to end face:*returning to the transmission
point, causing equipment
breakdown or bit errors

Hand Lotion

Fiber Residue

Dirt and Dust

Optical connectors must have nocontamination prior to mating

Fiber Residue

What can happen when the optical end face is dirty?
The beam of light may not be able to travel through the core.
Optical connectors become contaminated from a variety ofreasons. Usually 2-15 micron sized contaminants will have an
impact on the signal transmission and could cause damage
to the optical end face. The majority of network down time iscaused by optical connector contamination.

Light ray

Light beam is prevented
from passing through due tocontaminants on the end face,resulting in light reflection.

Reflected light8What can happen
when contaminants
adhere to the core?

Mating a clean connector to adirty connector

Clean connector

Dirty or Damaged connector

Dirty connector

When the unclean optical connector
is mated, the contaminant is forced
into the ferrule and may become
permanently damaged. In thissituation, the damage cannot beremoved with an optical cleaner.

When contaminants adhere to the core, they will cause

Contaminant

an increase in signal interruption, an increased amount ofinsertion loss and degradation of return loss. Also, thesekinds of contaminants can cause chips, pits, and scratches in
the connector end face under the pressure of the physicalconnection. Large contaminants can result in gaps in thephysical connection, resulting in increased loss. These kindsof contaminants can actually spread and migrate by thephysical connection.

Light rayContaminants at the side of
the ferrule prevent light fromproperly passing through due
to poor alignment.

9Where High PowerLasers are used

Core damage
caused by highpower laser
in contact
with end facecontaminants

When residue or contaminants adhere to the optical connector,
it will produce heat. This not only could melt the optical fiber,
but could also destroy devices and equipment.

Why not IPA?

Residue remains
after cleaning
with IPA• Infinitely hydroscopic-self contaminating• Slow drying (hangs in slit of alignment sleeve, and guide pinholes in MPO)
• Bottled IPA is easily contaminated during handling• Leaves Residue

The Smart Probe allows technicians
to inspect the fiber endfaces,
providing a high-definition image
with a resolution up to 720px.

Wi-Fi STREAMING

Images are captured digitally and streamedon the monitor of any Android Tablet

3Smart Solutions
for the Fiber Optic Industry
The Smart Probe allows technicians to inspect thefiber endfaces, providing a high-definition image
with a resolution up to 720px.

WIRELESSDEVICE
Wi-Fi
Transmitteron board

Introducing the new cleaners for
MPO, SC, LC optical connectors.
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Images are captured digitally andstreamed on the monitor of any
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for SC, FC, ST, E-2000

for LC, MU

Field Installable Connector
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