Environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, can influence the performance of SFP+ and QSFP+ transceivers and Fiber-Optic cables, particularly at the elevated temperatures encountered during long-term storage or shipping. Additionally, dust and contaminants on connectors can affect performance.
Cleaning fiber optic components is essential to maintain high signal integrity, prevent damage to the connectors, and extend the their life.
Here’s what you have to remember:
- You must keep optical connections covered if not in use, as dust may scratch the fiber-optic cable ends. Clean all optical connections with a brush and compressed air before use if they become dusty.
- Clean the fiber-optic components frequently to prevent dirt build-up and potential contamination. Clean connectors with a soft brush or air blower.
- Repeated removals and insertions can shorten the useful life of the transceiver. Do not remove and insert a transceiver more often than is necessary.
- Do not touch ends of connectors to prevent fingerprints and other contamination.
- Dust damage can cause fiber ends problems. Inspect the fiber ends under a microscope periodically to ensure they are in good condition.
