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Reference
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
5
Immediately dry the fiber end with a clean, dry, lint-free cotton swab or lens
paper.
6
Blow across the connector end face from a distance of 6 to 8 inches using
filtered, dry, compressed air. Aim the compressed air at a shallow angle to the
fiber end face.
Nitrogen gas or compressed dust remover can also be used.
CAUTION
Do not shake, tip, or invert compressed air canisters. This releases particles
from the can into the air. Refer to the instructions on the compressed air
canister.
7
As soon as the connector is dry, connect or cover it for later use.
If the performance after the initial cleaning seems poor, try cleaning the con-
nector again. Often a second cleaning will restore proper performance. The
second cleaning should be more arduous, with a scrubbing action.
Cleaning an adapter
The fiber-optic input and output connectors on many HP instruments employ
a universal adapter such as those shown in the following picture. These adapt-
ers allow you to connect the instrument to different types of fiber-optic cables.
Figure 6-6. Universal adapters
1
Apply isopropyl alcohol to a clean foam swab.
Cotton swabs can be used as long as no cotton fibers remain after cleaning.
The foam swabs listed in the introduction to this section are small enough to
fit into adapters.
Although foam swabs can leave filmy deposits, these deposits are very thin,
and the risk of other contamination buildup on the inside of the adapters
greatly outweighs the risk of contamination by foam swabs.
2
Clean the adapter with the foam swab.
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