Fiber Optic Connector Cleaning Guide

Contaminated or dirty fiber optic connectors can create major issues in your data center or in the field. Even the slightest amount of dirt and dust in the connectors can slow transmission rates substantially. For some perspective, a human hair is typically around 60 micrometers in diameter but it only takes a 9 micrometer speck of dust (not even be visible to the human eye) to totally block a fiber core. Other materials that cause problems with connections include oils from your hands and residues from the environment. Listed below are many of the common fiber optic connections. Click on the connection you are interested in cleaning for for best-practice cleaning techniques and recommended fiber optic cleaning products:

Click here to download full FOCCUS Connector Cleaning Guide.

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2.5 mm Types

ST / BFOC
2.5 mm
Straight Tip / Bayonet Fiber Optic Connector
SC-DC
2.5 mm
 SC - Dual Contact or
 SC-QC(Quattro Contact)
SC
2.5 mm
Subscriber Connector, or square connector, Standard Connector
FJ
Fiber-Jack,  Opti-Jack
ESCON
IBM Enterprise Systems Connection
E-2000
Shuttered 2.5 and 1.25 mm connector
DMI
Diamond Micro Interface
FC
Ferrule Connector or Fiber Channel
F07
OFS Crimp Connector
MT-RJ
Multiple fibers. Simplex or duplex

1.25 mm Types

LX-5
Shuttered connector
LC
Lucent Connector, Little Connector or Local Connector
Suhner Fibergate
Multiple Fibers into one connector
F-3000
Diamond Type Connector
1053 HDTV
Broadcast connector interface
MU
Miniature unit

Multiple Fibers

MT / MPO / MTP
Multiple-Fiber Push-On / Pull-off
38999
Military / DOD / Commercial Aviation

TFOCA-111
Military / DOD / Commercial Aviation

Fiber to Home

Optitip
Used on FTTp: hot connector used by Frontier and many other

Transceivers

SFP
Transceiver
XFP
Transceiver
GBIC
Transceiver
XENPAK
Transceiver

General Reminders When Cleaning:

  • Always turn off power and laser sources before you begin cleaning or inspecting fiber connections.
  • Always wear safety glasses approved for the type of work you are doing
  • Always follow the safety instructions provided with your cleaning products
  • Always dispose of used cleaning supplies properly
  • Never use fiber cleaning supplies around a spark or open flame as some products may be flammable.
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