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air . Splicing technicians should seek out cleaning fluids that have been engineered specifically for cleaning splices . The best products are in sealed , nonrefillable containers that prevent cross-contamination and spills . Look for non-flammable cleaning fluids that evaporate quickly , leave no residues and do not contain water .
Sin Two : Use the wrong cutting tools
Cable prep has long been considered an entry-level step , but it is far from that . This step determines how everything else plays out from physical connectivity to performance issues . Get it right , your network will be golden . Get it wrong … well , that ’ s why these sins are called deadly !
The vast majority of experienced fibre techs are comfortable with hook or straight blade utility knives for cable prep . It ’ s the tool they were brought up on . They know the proper pressure to apply when ringing fibre . They don ’ t cut too deeply to avoid damaging the fibre . Using these tools requires skill , training and practice .
It ’ s the 21st century . Today there is a wide selection of safe and highly effective hand tools that do not use open blades . The latest tool designs use protected blades with improved ergonomics including adjustable tension grips and the ability to ring-and-strip the cable all in one swipe
This next generation of tools are engineered to improve operational safety while protecting the fibre in cable . So dump the knives and exposed blade tools and use the modern cutting tools that work for you , minimising training and enhancing
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Cleaning fibre connector with small wipe .
Stripping sheath from fibre .
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safety . These include fibre stripping tools , ring tools , hand scribes , snips and any other tools your specialty requires .
While we ’ re on the subject of hand tools : You need to clean them as well as the fibre . An annoying issue for technicians is breaking fibres during splicing prep ; it effects fibre length and splice tray management . One way to limit fibre breakage is to clean all the operator ’ s hand tools , especially the fibre stripping tools . Wipe them down with a fast drying solvent and a lint free wipe to remove any oils , particulate and residues , particularly the fibre acrylate coating and tight buffer coating debris .
Sin Three : Don ’ t calibrate your fusion splicer
Everybody knows they must keep the fusion splicer , the cleaving tool and the v-grooves clean , and to keep calcium build-up off the electrodes . But many experienced operators also have noticed there are occasional situations when , no matter how many times they try , they cannot get a good splice on a fibre . Some attribute this to imperfections in the glass ; others reclean the electrodes . If it cannot be fixed , the customer ends up with a couple of abandoned fibres . But those field techs might be looking in the wrong place .
It ’ s important to calibrate the fusion splicer itself . Specifically , the ‘ arch power ’ or ‘ applied drive current ’ needs to be adjusted
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occasionally , to ensure the proper amount of current is being applied , so that the splices are mechanically strong and optically perfect . This is particularly true when the barometer changes dramatically or the splicing job is at a high altitude .
The calibration is very simple to perform . On most units , simply load the fibres as if to perform a splice . But instead of splicing , go to maintenance menu and select ‘ arch calibration ’ or ‘ arch burn back test ’. The unit will prompt the operator through any other steps and then conduct the calibration . Upon completion , it will indicate it is properly calibrated or ask the operator to retest the system . If you haven ’ t calibrated before , multiple retests may be required as the unit adjusts itself for the electrical current , atmospheric density ( altitude ) and humidity , all of which must be configured properly for a successful splice .
Sin Four : Micro-bending the fibre
Undetectable microscopic fibre bends (‘ micro-bends ’) are a major issue with fibre cable assemblies when securing slack loops in both premises and outside plant networks . Micro-bending the fibre causes signal degradation but the problem probably will not be detectable by visual inspection . You won ’ t find the trouble until you grab an OTDR .
The most common cause of micro-bends is over tightening cable ties used to secure the cable racking and other securing the cable slack loops . Another source of micro-bending occurs when cables are caught in hinges of panel doors or even stepped on .
Specifically for splice cases , a great option is to use the clear transport tubes that come with many splice cases . The loose buffer tube will form-fit into the clear transport tubes and create a tight seal . The clear transport tube will then be dressed into the splice case tray where it can be secured with a tie wrap . The tie wrap will slide freely on the outside of the hard plastic buffer tube . This will prevent anything from pinching as the fibres shift , avoiding countless other issues .
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March 2017 | 43 |