Exactly what Is usually A Fiber Optic Continuity Tester? Fiber Optic Technologies Tutorial, Series Two
What is a fiber optic continuity tester?
Fiber continuity tester is also known as fiber optic continuity checker. It is the most straightforward visible take a look at of a fiber optic cable website link.
To operate properly, a fiber optic cable url must be “continuous”, that means no breakage, either inside the fiber cable or in the fiber connectors, need to exist. The easiest and the very least high-priced way to check out is to inject some visual gentle into one fiber end and verify the gentle coming out from the other end.
To execute this process, two varieties of fiber testers are obtainable: a fiber optic continuity tester or a laser visual fault locater.
Variations between a fiber continuity tester and a laser visual fault locator
The most essential big difference is their gentle supply. A fiber continuity tester usually makes use of a crimson or environmentally friendly coloration high depth LED whilst a laser visible fault locator employs crimson coloration semiconductor laser.
Seen lasers create a more effective gentle and can supply more data to the technician than a LED light-weight. By coupling the fiber link to a obvious laser, problems with connectors, breaks in the fiber in close proximity to connectors or splices, and some bend radius violations can be found.
On multifunction cable tester , LED run fiber continuity tester can only validate that mild can travel by means of the fiber url and no more info is obtained. Fiber continuity tester just yields a “no go” consequence. If the light-weight isn’t obvious at the other stop of the fiber hyperlink, then the fiber is unusable in its present state and demands even more testing and fix.
Purposes of a fiber continuity tester
Its ideal application is testing fiber on a reel ahead of you pull it to make positive it has not been destroyed for the duration of shipment. Seem for noticeable signs of damage (like cracked or damaged reels, kinks in the cable, etc.)
The other great application is to examine fiber patch cables at patch panels. When connecting fiber cables at patch panels, use the fiber optic continuity tester to make sure each relationship is the appropriate two fibers!
And to make specified the appropriate fibers are connected to the transmitter and receiver, use the continuity tester in area of the transmitter and your eye rather of the receiver.
Knowing the features of a fiber continuity tester
1. Fiber mode compatibility
Some fiber continuity testers only assist multimode fibers while the others support the two one mode fibers and multimode fibers. So it is very best to check the spec sheet from producers to pick the type you want.
2. Fiber connectors supported
Most fiber continuity testers have adapters offered for screening 2.5mm ferrule connectors these kinds of as ST, SC and FC, 1.25mm ferrule connectors these kinds of as LC, MU and particular types this sort of as SMA connectors.
three. Fiber distance
Most fiber continuity testers have ample gentle electrical power to assistance 2km on multimode fibers.