In order for your fiber optic cables to work efficiently and last for a long time, you need to take good care of them. Here are some of the things you can do to take good care of your drives:

How to handle fiber optic cables

How you handle cables has a huge impact on how they work and last. One of the things you need to do is protect the exposed end of the fiber from coming into contact with all surfaces. This is to prevent the chip at the end of the cable from being scratched when it comes in contact with hard surfaces. Also, avoid touching the exposed fiber with your finger to avoid leaving an oil residue.

If your cable is secured with cable ties, avoid over tightening it. This is to prevent the cables from micro-bending and undergoing excessive attenuation. If you don’t know how tight it is, ask a professional for help.

During installation or when making changes, it is common for you to pull on the cable. When pulling the cable, always use the strain relief. You should never pull the cable directly to prevent the glass from breaking.

It is always recommended that you regularly inspect the cable for defects. When inspecting, avoid doing it while looking directly at the end of the fiber while the cable is still connected to the laser source. This is to avoid damaging your eyes. Before inspecting, make sure the fiber is disconnected from the laser source.

Once you are done with the fiber installation, do not use your bare hands to clean the work area. The reason for this is to prevent the piece of glass from getting stuck in your hands. Due to its small size, it may be impossible to remove the glass from your hands. This makes it impossible for you to do your job.

Fiber optic cable cleaning

One of the most important things to do with your cables to keep them working effectively is to clean them regularly. There are many ways to clean cables: you can use compressed air, isopropyl alcohol, or lens paper. When cleaning, make sure that the cable does not come into contact with your fingers and the surface. Also, be sure not to bend the cable, as bending it causes internal breaks. Once you have used a cleaning product, you should never use it again. This is to avoid contamination.