• Identify Fiber: Fibers can easily and safely be identified either by proper labeling of the cables and connections or by using a Visual Fault Locator that uses a safe visible red laser that can go as far as 3Km. The laser will make the connector end easily visible to the naked eye with out looking directly at the fiber with a scope. It will also allow you to view light escaping the fiber at any point where the fiber may be compromised.

• Confirming Live or Dead Fiber Optic Cable: Before visual inspection, make sure to verify if the Fiber is live or dead. Does it have a signal? Is light or a laser wave present? Failure to identify if a fiber is live or dead can result in significant eye damage! The presence of light or laser light can easily be detected using a visible/ invisible light sensor. This will quickly and easily remove the liability associated with laser light eye damage.

• Cleaning: It is always recommended to clean the fiber connection. Dirty fiber connections are the most common cause of light loss and signal degradation. This can be done with the right combination of cleaning products and tools. Cleaning supplies range from swabs (for cleaning fibers loaded in bulkheads or equipment receptacles) to connector cleaning pads, chemicals and tools. A good variety of cleaning products are recommended to fit your working environment.

• Visual Inspection: Once the fiber has been cleaned now it is time to visually inspect the connector surface. This can be done using a Fiber Optic Scope. Scopes come in a variety of configurations and amounts of magnification. Most common are 200x and 400x magnification direct viewing or video interface. If you are simply trying to verify if the fiber is dirty or has a contaminant obstruction, a 200x scope is sufficient. If the need is for inspection of a fiber after or during termination, a 400x scope would be recommended. If you need to visually inspect a fiber that can not be verified as live or dead, then a scope with a video interface should be used so that there is no direct ocular exposure to the light on the fiber.

• Light Loss Testing: After the Fiber has been identified, it has been verified as live or dead, and the fiber end has been cleaned and visually inspected, it is now time to perform a fiber cable light loss test. The light loss test can help determine light loss due to broken/ fractured/ stressed cable, as well as certify the quality of the connector or connections. There are two parts to a fiber optic light loss test: 1. the power meter and 2. the fiber optic light source.

1. The Power Meter.

a. Fiber optic power meters read the amount of incoming signal or light/ laser light. Power meters can be used as "stand-alones" to read the amount of signal/ light from a cable/ connection or equipment. The most common use would be the reading of light/ signal coming from a fiber optic light source. When performing a pre-test calibration, you will get a control reading to base your test on. You then compare the results from the test preformed on the cable or connection and that calculation will provide the amount of light loss data. Some power meters will calculate this for you and store the test results on the power meter for download or printing at a later time. Most power meters will provide you with the data at the time of the test and you will need to record your results. Most power meters can read both Single Mode and Multi Mode fibers at multiple frequencies. Some are specifically made to read one or the other at set specific frequencies. Fiber optic power meters also come in many different types, connector configurations, options and packages.

2. The Light Source.

a. Fiber optic light sources produce a laser light set at a specific frequency to be shot down a fiber. Fiber optic light sources can come in a variety of configurations: Multi Mode and Single Mode with multiple frequencies. The frequency and type of light source would be dependent on your cable type and testing requirements. Fiber optic light sources also come in many different laser light types, connector configurations, options and packages.

It is recommended to select a light loss test kit that provides you with the Power Meter of your choice and the Light Sources you need as well as any associated accessories. Time Motion Tools can provide you with a custom Fiber Optic maintenance and testing kit based on your exact specifications as well. Combining all the products described in one convenient package.