Pigtails and Patch Cords Cleaning Techniques 

This section describes cleaning techniques for pigtails and patchcords.

Note: No known cleaning methods are 100% effective; therefore, it is imperative that inspection is included as part of the cleaning process. Improper cleaning can cause damage to the equipment.

• Dry Cleaning Technique: Cartridge and Pocket Style Cleaners

This section describes dry cleaning techniques with the use of cartridge and pocket style cleaners.

Tools

• Cartridge Cleaning Tools: OPTIPOP and CLETOP
• Pocket Style Cleaning Tools: CARDCLEANER

Figure1

Caution: Read the reminders and warnings before you begin this process.

1. Make sure that the lasers are turned off before you begin the inspection.

Warning: Invisible laser radiation might be emitted from disconnected fibers or connectors. Do not stare into beams or view directly with optical instruments.

2. Remove the protective endcap and store it in a small resealable container.
3. Inspect the connector with a fiberscope. See the Connector Inspection Technique section.
4. If the connector is dirty, clean with a cartridge or pocket cleaner.
   • For cartridge cleaners, press down and hold the thumb lever. The shutter slides back and exposes a new cleaning area, then go to step 5.
   • For pocket cleaners, peel back protective film for one cleaning surface, and then go to step 5.
   • For manual advance cleaners, pull on the cleaning material from the bottom of the device until a new strip appears in the cleaning window, and then go to step 5.
5. Hold the fiber tip lightly against the cleaning area.
   • For single, non-APC fiber connectors, rotate the fiber once through a quarter turn, 90 degrees.
   • For APC connector endfaces, hold cleaning area at the same angle as the endface.
6. Pull the fiber tip lightly down the exposed cleaning area in the direction of the arrow or from top to bottom.

Caution: Do not scrub the fiber against the fabric or clean over the same surface more than once. This can potentially contaminate or damage your connector.

• For pocket style cleaners, go to step 8.
• For single fiber connectors with the type A CLETOP, repeat the cleaning process in the second clean slot (step 5 and step 6).

7. Release the thumb lever to close the cleaning window, if you use cartridge type cleaners.
8. Inspect the connector again with the fiberscope. Refer to the Connector Inspection Technique section.
9. Repeat the inspection and cleaning processes, as necessary.

Caution: Throw away any used cleaning material, either cards or material cartridges, after use.

• Dry Clean Technique: Lint-Free Wipes

This section describes dry cleaning techniques that use lint-free wipes.

Tools

• Lint-free wipes, preferably clean room quality.

Figure 2

Caution: Read the reminders and warnings before you begin this process.

1. Make sure that the lasers are turned off before you begin the inspection.

Warning: Invisible laser radiation might be emitted from disconnected fibers or connectors. Do not stare into beams or view directly with optical instruments.

2. Remove the protective endcap and store it in a small resealable container.
3. Fold the wipe into a square about 4 to 8 layers thick, see Figure 2.
4. Inspect the connector with a fiberscope. Refer to the Connector Inspection Technique section.

If the connector is dirty, clean it with a lint-free wipe.

 Caution: Be careful not to contaminate the cleaning area of the wipe with your hands or on a surface during folding.

5. Lightly wipe the ferrule tip in the central portion of the wipe with a figure 2 motion.

Caution: Do not scrub the fiber against the wipe. If you do it, it can cause scratches and more contamination.

6. Repeat the figure 8 wiping action on another clean section of the wipe.
7. Properly dispose of the wipe.
8. Inspect the connector again with the fiberscope.
9. Repeat this process as necessary.

• Dry Clean: Lint-Free Swabs

This section describes dry cleaning techniques that uses lint-free swabs.

Tools

• Lint-free swabs, preferably clean room quality

Figure 3

Caution: Read the reminders and warnings before you begin this process.

1. Make sure that the lasers are turned off before you begin the inspection.

 Warning: Invisible laser radiation might be emitted from disconnected fibers or connectors. Do not stare into beams or view directly with optical instruments.

2. Remove the protective endcap and store it in a small resealable container.
3. Inspect the connector with a fiberscope. Refer to the Connector Inspection Technique section.
4. If the connector is dirty, clean it with a lint-free swab.

Figure 4

5. Lightly press and turn the swab to clean the ferrule face.
6. Properly dispose of the swab. Never reuse a swab.
7. Inspect the connector again with the fiberscope.
8. Repeat this process as necessary.

• Wet Cleaning Technique: Lint-Free Wipes

If a dry cleaning procedure does not remove the dirt from the fiber endface, then try the wet cleaning method.

Caution: Improper cleaning can cause damage to the equipment. The primary concern with the use of isopropyl alcohol is that it can be removed completely from the connector or adapter. Residual liquid alcohol acts as a transport mechanism for loose dirt on the endface. If the alcohol is allowed to evaporate slowly off the ferrule, it can leave residual material on the cladding and fiber core. This is extremely difficult to clean off without another wet cleaning and usually more difficult to remove than the original contaminant. Liquid alcohol can also remain in small crevices or cavities where it can re-emerge during fiber connection.

Tools

• 99% isopropyl alcohol
• Lint-free wipes

Figure 5

Caution: On female multifiber connectors, ensure that no alcohol gets into the guide pin holes. The alcohol might come out during mating and contaminate your connection.

Caution: Do not use wet cleaning on E-2000 or F-3000 connectors because the connector can trap the alcohol and re-contaminate the connector.

Caution: Read the reminders and warnings before you begin this process.

1. Make sure that the lasers are turned off before you begin the inspection.

Warning: Invisible laser radiation might be emitted from disconnected fibers or connectors. Do not stare into beams or view directly with optical instruments.

2. Remove the protective endcap and store it in a small resealable container.
3. Inspect the connector with a fiberscope. Refer to the Connector Inspection Technique section.
4. Fold the wipe into a square, about 4 to 8 layers thick. See Figure 5.
5. Moisten one section of the wipe with one drop of 99% alcohol. Be sure that a portion of the wipe remains dry.
6. Lightly wipe the ferrule tip in the alcohol moistened portion of the wipe with a figure 8 motion. Immediately repeat the figure 8 wiping action on the dry section of wipe to remove any residual alcohol. (See Caution).

Caution: Do not scrub the fiber against the wipe, doing so can cause scratches.

7. Properly dispose of the wipe. Never reuse a wipe.
8. Inspect the connector again with a fiberscope.
9. Repeat the process as necessary.

Related Knowledge:

• Reliability of Fiber Optic Patch Cord
• Fiber Optic Patch Cord Management Guide
• Best Practice for Copper Cabling
• Best Practice for Fiber Cabling