Fiber Check
What are fiber optic visual fault locators?
Locators Fiber optic visual fault seekers are also called Visual fault. Are low cost, battery testing tools to find power fiber fiber imperfections, fiber breaks (fiber cutting), microbends and macrobends in optical fiber links. Visual fault locators come in the form of pen or handheld with an adapter-style fiber optic connector to accept different connectors such as FC, ST, SC, LC or MTRJ.
How they work?
Visual fault locators inject a highly visual red laser light in color cables optical fiber. The red light can change between continuous mode (CW) mode or pulse with 1 ~ 2 Hz frequency and duration of 60ms.
The source of light is usually a high power, extra long life, Class 2 laser diode 635. Other available wavelengths are 650nm and 670nm.
The fault locator light injected into fiber cables through a built-in adapter connector. Two types of connector adapters are available: 2.5 mm and 1.25 mm in diameter. Version 2.5 mm accepts FC, SC and ST connectors and accepts the 1.25 mm version of LC and MU connectors.
The installation technician can then look at fiber length fiber cable and bright or flashing light is seen, a break, microbending or macrobending exists.
The tool can be used as a troubleshooting tool are only first base line or in combination with an OTDR to pinpoint faults. It can also be used as a continuity tester.
The construction of a laser fault locator
Laser Fault Locator is a simple and reliable. This is laser light source, modulation pulse circuit board, light coupling lens adapter and fiber optic connector.
Applications
Locators Fiber Optic Visual Fault regularly used for testing and finding breaks in LANs, FDDI, ATM, fiber data links and loops, telephones, ships and other vessels. Applications include industrial fiber optic networking, telecommunications network and CATV network maintenance.
Manufacturer brand names and quality corresponding
Wilcom, Fluke, Noyes, Greenlee, Ideal, WAVETEK all supply high quality visual fault locators. Our preference is Wilcom's products, as they have been in this market longer, and their products are usually of very high quality.
Understanding the specifications
1. Fiber distance
The fiber distance specification tells the maximum length of fiber, where you can still see the light of flight without difficulty. This specification is determined by the power of the laser light. The industry standard specification is 10km multimode fiber and singlemode fiber 5km.
2. Wavelength
Wavelength is not a critical specification. 635 nm, 650 nm and 670 nm are all working well.
3. Output
The output power is an important specification for visual fault locators. The higher output power, the longest distance of fiber can support. This specification is generally close to 0.5mW singlemode fibers and 2 MW of free space (which means no coupling of fiber, only the light output connector adapter examiner).
4. Mode fiber
All visual fault locators can work with both multimode and singlemode fibers. Since multimode fiber has a 50um or 62.5um nucleus which is much larger than the single mode fiber core is 9um, more power of light can be coupled to multimode fiber. That means the longest distance for the fibers multimode fiber, which is usually 10 km. For single-mode fiber, however, fiber distance is only 5km.
5. Modulation frequency: CW and 2Hz
Human eyes are more sensitive to light than a light flashing constantly. Fault locators so Visual provides two modes: continuous wave and light pressed.
In most cases, installation technicians prefer fiber optic light pulse mode that converts the laser source on and off at 2 Hz or 1 Hz frequency.
6. Battery
Normally two AAA batteries alkalescence
Find out even more about fiber optic visual fault finder, fiber optic visual fault locator and optical fiber identifier on Fiber Optics For Sale Co’s web site. FOFS is one of the largest suppliers of fiber optic cabling products.