Things You Should Know About MPO/MTP Connector Cleaning

As a common throughout the high-density network today, MPO/MTP connectors provide IT managers power to add, drop, move and change the network. In order to make them work smoothly, routine inspection and cleaning are very important for these connectors, since every single issue with connector cleanliness and contamination could result in network failure. But many people could be puzzled by how to correctly clean these small but critical components in their networking applications. Just read this post and you will learn some knowledge about MPO/MTP cleaning.

Why Should We Pay More Attention on MPO/MTP Connector?

MPO/MTP connector is the most common multi-fiber connector type, containing one or two rows of fibers (12-fiber MPO/MTP and 24-fiber MPO/MTP) in a single connector, which is widely used in today’s high-density 40G or 100G Ethernet networks. Unlike single-fiber connectors, which has a small ferrule, a MPO or MTP connector has a larger contact area, making it more prone to be contaminated. Besides, the alignment of MPO/MTP fibers is achieved by the connection of a male connector which has outer pins and female connector which has alignment holes(note:male connector has pins and female connector has no pins). We can see these differences from the image below. Additionally, due to the presence of alignment pins, the cleaning of the extreme sides of the MPO/MTP connector end-face is often neglected by users, so when cleaning a MPO/MTP connector, every corner on the connector must be clean for it to function properly.

Which Cleaning Method Should We Use?

Generally, dry cleaning and wet cleaning are two methods used during fiber optic cleaning procedures. Dry cleaning is a type of cleaning method which does not require any solvent, while wet cleaning requires the use of solvent such as isopropyl alcohol.

Dry cleaning is an efficient and preferred method to remove dusts and finger grease due to the possibilities of residue when using alcohol based products. However, dry cleaning method is not always the sufficient to completely remove all the contaminants. If you still inspect that the MPO/MTP connector is contaminated after first dry cleaning, you need to combine dry and wet cleaning method. If you still find contamination on the connector after using the second wet and dry cleaning, you should redo the second cleaning again until the connector is completely cleaned.

Note: 1. Do be careful when cleaning the connector, if the connector is damaged permanently, you need to replace a new one. 2. Always do inspection after every cleaning.

Which Cleaning Tool Should We Choose?

Fiber Optic Cassette Cleaner: Cassette cleaner is an ideal choice for those who need to clean the accessible connector with a wide range of connector styles. It can be reused by replacing the cleaning reel/cartridge, which could save the general cost. But keep in mind that don’t reverse cleaning direction to avoid bringing back the wiped contaminants while using cassette cleaner. The following shows cleaning connectors terminated on the MPO trunk cable.

One-Click MPO/MTP Cleaner: One-click MPO/MTP cleaner is a good choice for those who need to clean both connector and adapter in their system. It is an easy-to-use cleaning tool, which comes with a barrel on the end for cleaning both connectors and adapter. With this type of cleaner, you just need to a simple “one-click”, the cleaning is done.

Besides the cleaner we have mentioned above, there are other accessories available, such as lint-free wipe, optical grade dust remove, lint-free swab, etc. More details can get from the following picture.

Conclusion

Fiber optic connector cleaning is a necessary step to keep the cabling connection working smoothly. Due to more complicated structure and design, we should pay more attention on the MPO/MTP connector cleaning. This post have introduced two methods and several useful tools during the cleaning process. All the tools can be purchased in FS.COM.

How to Clean Fiber Optic Connector

Cleaning fiber optic connectors is necessary to keep the quality connections between all fiber equipment. It is one of the most important preventative maintenance procedures to avoid premature failure of the system. It is known that fiber optic connector terminates the end of an optical fiber and mechanically couples and aligns the cores of fibers so light can pass. Experts studies have shown that one micrometer dust particle can block up to one percent of the light and cause a 0.05dB loss on a single-mode fiber cable. Although a 9-micrometer speck is too small to notice without a microscope, it can block a fiber core. Thus keeping the fiber end face and ferrule absolutely clean is very essential. The following article will provide some detailed information about the tips and procedures for cleaning fiber optic connector. 

Tips Before the Fiber Optic Connector Cleaning

Before the fiber optic connector cleaning, there are some tips which should be kept in mind.

• Disconnect the fiber optic cables from both ends and then turn off any laser source.
• Do not allow the end of the fiber optic cable to make contact with any surface including your fingers.
• Never to bend the fiber cable, which will in turn cause internal breaks along the fiber and cause poor performance or instability.
• Always inspect your connectors or adapters before you begin the cleaning process.
• Store unused protective caps in a reasonable container to prevent any transfer of dust to the fiber.

Fiber Optic Connector Cleaning Process

Step 1—Use a fiber microscope to inspect the fiber end, if it is contaminated as images shown below, it should be cleaned with the dry cleaning method.

Tips: Dry cleaning is a type of cleaning method which does not require the use of any solvent. First, use a reel-based cassette cleaner with medium pressure, then wipe the connector end face with a dry cleaning cloth (single swipe per exposure) in one direction. For angled physical contact (APC) polished connectors, ensure that the entire end face surface mates with the cleaning cloth. Finally, inspect the connector end face for contamination again after cleaning. Dry cleaning method will generally remove airborne contamination and should be attempted first.

Step 2—Inspect the connector.

Step 3—If the connector is dirty, repeat the dry cleaning method and inspect the connector again.

Step 4—Clean the connector with a wet cleaning technique if it’s still dirty.

Tips: Wet cleaning is another type of cleaning method which requires the use of a solvent such as isopropyl alcohol. First, lightly moisten a portion of a lint free wipe with fiber optic cleaning solution (or > 91 percent isopropyl alcohol), then wipe the end face against the wet area, and onto a dry area to clean potential residue from the end face. Wet cleaning is more aggressive than dry cleaning, and will remove airborne contamination as well as light oil residue.

Step 5—Inspect the connector again.

Step 6—If there is still contamination on the connector, repeat these steps until the connector is clean.

Step 7—After cleaning, immediately install a protective cover over the end of the cable to avoid re-contamination or insert the fiber for immediate use.

Note: Do not use a cleaning process that will leave a residue on the end face. Alcohol and wet cleaning procedures are the most common procedures that will leave residue on the surface of the devices.

Summary

Fiber optic connector is an indispensable component of optical network. Therefore, the cleanliness of the connector becomes increasingly important. This passage has briefly introduced the procedures of fiber optic cleaning. If you need to clean your connectors, you can follow my suggestion. In addition, choosing a suitable cleaning tools is also important for fiber optic connector cleaning. FS.COM supplies all kinds of fiber optic cleaner, such as pen cleaner, cassette cleaner, and so on. All of these optic connector cleaners are designed to effectively and quickly clean connector end face, both the unmated patch cord and through the adapter. They are also provided with high quality and reasonable price. If you have any requirement of our products, please visit FS.COM or contact sales@fs.com.