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The fiber optic connector is defined as the plug portion equipped with a tunable cylindrical ferrule while incorporating unique trigger and latch features. Better connectors lose very little light due to reflection or misalignment of the fibers. The LC Connector is established because of its small size and its very reliable connecting quality. In the last five years it has become the most popular connector in the world. LC stands for Lucent Connector and it was developed by Lucent Technologies. The LC connector has good performance and is highly favored for single-mode.

The LC Connector Product is a robust optical connector designed to support Telecom and Datacom networks. The connector family includes but not limited to Jumper Connectors, Behind the Wall connectors (BTW), Adapters, Attenuators, Jumpers and an assortment of connector modules and panels. LC connector applications include Telecommunications networks, Local area networks, Data processing networks, Cable television, Fiber-to-the-home, and Premises distribution.

Features of LC Connectors：

Half the dimension of regular connectors;
Push & pull mechanism like RJ connectors;
Single set design;
Polarized;
Complies with industry standards;
Detachable clips for simplex as well as duplex connectors.

LC connector utilizes traditional components of a SC duplex connector having independent ceramic ferrules and housings with the overall size scaled down by one half. They make things easier for movements, additions, and modifications, thus preventing additional expenses. The LC Connector uses an enhanced edition of the well-known, user friendly RJ-style telephone connector that offers a reassuring clear click when connected. The latest single set design improves the connector’s strength and complies with side-load requirements of standard 2.5 mm connectors. Jumper LC connectors are equipped with detachable clips, making it easier to rectify polarity inaccuracies during termination or while duplexing simplex connectors in the field.

LC connectors have replaced SC connectors in corporate networking environments due to their smaller size; they are often found on small form-factor pluggable transceivers. LC connectors reduce space requirements by 50%, over 2.50mm ferrule connectors, without sacrificing performance. LC connectors are available in industry standard beige (multimode), blue (singlemode) and green (angle polish) colors, and will accommodate 900μm buffered fiber, 1.60mm, 2.00mm, or 3.00mm jacketed cable. With its six-position tuning feature, the connector may be used to achieve unprecedented insertion loss performance by optimizing the alignment of the fiber cores. Additionally, 45° and 90° boot options are available for 1.60mm and 2.00mm jacketed cable.

As we know, fiber optic connector is an important fiber optic component used to link two fiber optic lines together. Beside connector, there is also another item, which is Fiber optic adapter with panels to connecting multi fiber optic line. Specifically, the fiber optic adapter is a small device that used to terminate or link the fiber optic cables or fiber optic connectors between two fiber optic lines.

A fiber optic connector terminates at the end of a fiber optic cable and is used when you need a means to connect and disconnect the fiber cable quickly. A fiber splice would be used in a more permanent application. The connectors provide a mechanical connection for the two fiber cables and align both cores precisely so the light can pass through with little loss. LC connectors look much like miniature SC connectors. LC connector also has the same push/pull snap-in type locking mechanism. The distinctive mixture of small sizes and the click of connectivity make the LC Connector a perfect pick for today’s high performance networks.

Fluke is the world’s leader of electronic test tools production, distribution and service for many years, which has created a specific technology market over the world. Fluke provides quality testing and detection of faulty products for various industrial fields, and promoted the market to an important position. Almost any new factory, office or facilities are potential users of Fluke test equipment. From the installation and commissioining of industrial control systems to process instrumentation calibration and maintenance, precision measurement, from the laboratory to a
computer network fault diagnosis, Fluke network tester helps the efficient functioning of all walks of life and evolving.

Fluke network tester is widely used by many maintenance works, technicians, engineers or scientific researchers, considering that the specific operation documents may be not familiar to all the peoples, I was glade to write this article about the operation instruction of Fluke test equipment for reference, hope it will do help for readers.

Initialization steps before using Fluke testers:
Charge: Fluke DTX series host, auxiliary power supply adapter for charging until the battery indicator light turns green.

Set the language: Turn to host knob of the Fluke DTX series to the Set Up status, turn on the test by pressing the lower right green button, use the↓arrow and select the third Instrument setting, the machine setting, press Enter to enter the parameter setting. First, select and click the → arrow, when enter the second page, press↓arrow to select English and enter. After finishing the language setting, move to the next step.

Self-calibration: Take fluke DTX series Cat6A/Class EA permanent link adapter installed on the host, auxiliary equipment installed on the Cat6A/Class EA channel adapter. Then plug the end of the permanent link adapter in Cat6A/Class EA channel adapter, open the auxiliary power, after the self-testing of the auxiliary, the PASS lights off after normal auxiliary. SPECIAL FUNCTIONS stalls, turn on the console, the host, auxiliary software, hardware and test standard version (auxiliary information only when the auxiliary boot and host connection), operation interface after self testing, select the first set the reference (If choose the wrong EXIT to exit the repeat), press ENTER key and the TEST button to star sef-calibration, when it dispay “setting the reference has
completed”, it indicate that the self-calibration has successfully completed.

Set the basic parameters of the Fluke tester:
Action: Go to the Fluke DTX Series host knob “SET UP” stalls, use “↑ ↓” to choose the third set the value of the instrument, press “ENTER” to enter the parameter setting, you can press the “← → ” flip “↑ ↓” to select your desired setting parameters, press ENTER to enter the parameter changes, you need to use “↑ ↓” to select parameter settings selected Press ENTER to select and complete the parameter settings.

Fluke tester testing process:
1.Determined according to the needs of the test limit and cable type: channel test or permanent link test? CAT5E or CAT6 or other?
2.After shutdown, install the corresponding adapter of different testing standard in the host and auxiliary, such as select TIA CAT5E CHANNEL testing standards, the host and auxiliary will be installed in DTX-CHA002 Channel adapters, if selecting the TIA CAT6A PERM.LINK, the permanent link test standard, the host and auxiliary should be respectively installed with a DTX-PLA002 permanent link adapters.
3.Parameters that may be often required to change
Dial to “SET UP” stalls, selecting the twisted pair, press ENTER to enter:
Type of cable: press ENTER and then press the ↑ ↓ select the type of cable you want to test, for example I want to test over Category 5 twisted-pair UTP Press ENTER ENTER ↑ ↓ Select Cat 5e UTP press ENTER to return.
Test limit: Press ENTER and then press ↑ ↓ to select the testing standard for the type of cable you want to test, press F1 to select more, generally option for the standard in TIA.

Socket configuration: Press ENTER to enter, general RJ45 crystal head socket using the 568B standard. Others are depending on the circumstances. Press ↑ ↓ to select the standard of the wire to be tested.

4.Connect all the equipments that need to be tested with the corresponding adapter. Press “TEST” to start testing, after a while, it will display FASS or FAIL.

View test results and check failure

After the testing, it will automatically show the result. Use the ENTER key to view the parameter details, F2 for previous page, F3 for the next page, press EXIT and press F3 to view the memory data storage. If the testing result is FAIL, you can check the failure details by selecting X.

Saving the Fluke test result
Select SAVE key to store the test result, use “← → ↑ ↓” key or ← → to move the cursor, F3 key to select the name you want to use, such as 01 and press SAVE to store.

That’s all steps that you should follow when using a Fluke network tester, for more fiber optic test equipment such as network cable tester, cctv camera tester etc. Please visite FiberStore webstore. Follow the instrument document of each to do your testing job.

Fiber optic cleaning is one of the most important procedures in the maintenance of fiber optic system, which need to keep the quality connections between all fiber optic equipment. As we know, the fiber optic connector consists of fiber optic plug and the adapter. The ends of the fiber optic cables are held in the core of ferrule in the plug. Keeping the fiber end face and ferrule absolutely clean is very essential, since any particles on the end face of the fibers will cause problems such as scratching the glass surface, instability in the laser system, and a misalignment between the fiber cores, which may as a result disrupt the light transmission between the fiber optical system.

For proper performance of the SC fiber optic cable, you must keep the SC connector clean and free of dust. Small micro-deposit of oil and dust in the canal of the connector could cause loss of light, reducing signal power and possible causing intermittent problems with the optical connections. Below picture show the part of the end face of an unclean and clean ferrule of SC connectors.

Steps to follow before the fiber optic cleaning

Before cleaning the fiber optic connectors, make sure to 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.

Use the finger cots or powder free surgical gloves to handle the fiber optic cables. use fresh spectroscopic grade Methanol or Isopropyl Alcohol as the only cleaning solvent.

In the daily connection work, a connector housing should be used when plugging or unplugging a fiber. A protective cap should be used to cover the unplugged fiber connectors. In the process of the fiber optic cleaning, the end face of the connector should never be touched and also the clean area of a tissue of swab should not be touched or reused.

Cleaning fiber ends

At the beginning of cleaning job, a fiber microscope should be used to inspect the fiber end, if it is contaminated as either images shows below, it should be cleaned with the dry cleaning method.

1.Blow the fiber surface with a stream of Clean Dry Air (the so called CDA), which will dislodge larger, loose particles. Keep in mind, don’t tip the can of the CDA while blowing. Because the liquid may be released contaminant on the surface of the fiber.

2.Place 1-3 drops of spectroscopic grade methanol or isopropyl alcohol in the center of a lens tissue. Do not use Acetone as a cleaning solvent on the fiber optical surfaces. Besides, to ensure the purity of the methanol or alcohol, you should never insert the lens tissue or swabs into the liguid.

3.Hold the fiber by the connector. Place the wet portion of the lens tissue on the optical surface and slowly drag it across. At this step, don’t use lens paper to dry it because the dry lens paper is extremely abrasive.

4.Examine the surface of the fiber under high density light using a magnifier, an optical loop, or a video inspection tool. If streaks or contaminants still remain, repeat the process using a fresh lens tissue.

5.Immediately install a protective cover over the end of the cable to avoid re-contamination or insert the fiber for immediate use.

FiberStore provides all kinds of Fiber optic cleaner, such as the Cletop Reel Type cleaner, Neoclean-E-Pen Cleaner basic set, Cartridge-Type Cleaner, OAM connector cleaners are also good solutions, all of them are brand new and manufactured following strict industrial standards. You can follow the instruction documents to conduct your fiber optic connector cleaning job with cleaning kit you need.

Fiber optic cleaning is one of the most important procedures in the maintenance of fiber optic system, which need to keep the quality connections between all fiber optic equipment. As we know, the fiber optic connector consists of fiber optic plug and the adapter. The ends of the fiber optic cables are held in the core of ferrule in the plug. Keeping the fiber end face and ferrule absolutely clean is very essential, since any particles on the end face of the fibers will cause problems such as scratching the glass surface, instability in the laser system, and a misalignment between the fiber cores, which may as a result disrupt the light transmission between the fiber optical system.
For proper performance of the SC fiber optic cable, you must keep the SC connector clean and free of dust. Small micro-deposit of oil and dust in the canal of the connector could cause loss of light, reducing signal power and possible causing intermittent problems with the optical connections. Below picture show the part of the end face of an unclean and clean ferrule of SC connectors.
Steps to follow before the fiber optic cleaning
Before cleaning the fiber optic connectors, make sure to 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.
Use the finger cots or powder free surgical gloves to handle the fiber optic cables. use fresh spectroscopic grade Methanol or Isopropyl Alcohol as the only cleaning solvent.
In the daily connection work, a connector housing should be used when plugging or unplugging a fiber. A protective cap should be used to cover the unplugged fiber connectors. In the process of the fiber optic cleaning, the end face of the connector should never be touched and also the clean area of a tissue of swab should not be touched or reused.
Cleaning fiber endsAt the beginning of cleaning job, a fiber microscope should be used to inspect the fiber end, if it is contaminated as either images shows below, it should be cleaned with the dry cleaning method.
1.Blow the fiber surface with a stream of Clean Dry Air (the so called CDA), which will dislodge larger, loose particles. Keep in mind, don’t tip the can of the CDA while blowing. Because the liquid may be released contaminant on the surface of the fiber.
2.Place 1-3 drops of spectroscopic grade methanol or isopropyl alcohol in the center of a lens tissue. Do not use Acetone as a cleaning solvent on the fiber optical surfaces. Besides, to ensure the purity of the methanol or alcohol, you should never insert the lens tissue or swabs into the liguid.
3.Hold the fiber by the connector. Place the wet portion of the lens tissue on the optical surface and slowly drag it across. At this step, don’t use lens paper to dry it because the dry lens paper is extremely abrasive.
4.Examine the surface of the fiber under high density light using a magnifier, an optical loop, or a video inspection tool. If streaks or contaminants still remain, repeat the process using a fresh lens tissue.
5.Immediately install a protective cover over the end of the cable to avoid re-contamination or insert the fiber for immediate use.
FiberStore provides all kinds of Fiber optic cleaner, such as the Cletop Reel Type cleaner, Neoclean-E-Pen Cleaner basic set, Cartridge-Type Cleaner, OAM connector cleaners are also good solutions, all of them are brand new and manufactured following strict industrial standards. You can follow the instruction documents to conduct your fiber optic connector cleaning job with cleaning kit you need.

When you have bulk fiber optic cables on hand and need to terminate it with the fiber optic connectors, there are several options for you to handle this job: Epoxy and polish, mechanical cleave and crimp, and the chemical permanent method, fusing splicing the pigtails. The aim of terminating the fiber optic cables is to provide protections for the stripped fiber end in the connector. Poor termination job will result in large optical loss, even cause damages to the connectors and adapters. Among all the method mentioned above, epoxy and polishing is the cheap, fast and easy and low optical loss, so it is welcomed by most cable installers. Follow the steps and see how to terminate your fiber optic cables with the Epoxy.

First, prepare you cable by stripping the cable down to the bare fibers with a fiber stripper which you can get from FiberStore. After that, mix the epoxy resin and hardener that you have prepared ahead, and load them into a syrine( Ignore this step,if you are using a pre-loaded epoxy syringes). Now, it’s time to injuct the expoxy directly from the syringe into the connector ferrule.

Once you have prepared your connector with the epox, you re read to insert the fiber cable so that the cable is seated inside of the connector wall and the bare fiber core sticks out about a half an inch from the front of the ferrule. If your cable is jacked, you will need to use the cable crimping tool to protect the connector to the jacket and strength members of the cables. Two crimps would be necessary to finish the job properly.

The next step is curing the epoxy in the connectors. You may need to place the connected end into a curing holder first to make sure that the end of fiber will not get damaged in the process of curing. Then place the cable and curing holder into a curing oven, situate the connector to make the end is facing down, by doing which, it will ensure the epoxy does not come out of the back side of the connector and compromise the strength member of the cable. As to the curing time and the temperature,follow the instruction book of your specific epoxy.

Once the epoxy are cured sufficiently, cleave the excess fiber core with a fiber cleaver tools as close to the ferrule tips as possible while avoiding any sort of twisting motion. After that, remember to dispose the fiber clipping, which could easily end up in your skin or even in you eye or respiratory system.

After the cleaving and disposing jobs done, you are ready to move on to the next step, polishing the fiber end to a smooth finish. Get a fiber polishing machine to effectively remove any excess epoxy from the ferrule tip and buff out the imperfections on the face of the fiber. A coarse surface would cause the optical loss when the light is passing through it.

When you are satisfied with your polishing job, you are now prepared to clean the ferrule and fiber tip. With a wiper dipped in 99% reagent-grade alcohol, gently wipe the surface area of the ferrule and fiber tips, then, use another wiper to dry them. Remember, the two wiper should all be lint-free.

Now, your fiber optic cable is terminated. To measure if your job is done well or not, you can use a proper fiber inspection microscope to inspect the tip and then use an optical fiber cables tester for the loss measurement.