Visual Tracing

Continuity checking with a visual fiber tracer makes certain the fibers are not broken and to trace a path of a fiber from one end to another through many connections, verifying duplex connector polarity for example. It looks like a flashlight or a pen-like instrument with a light bulb or LED source that mates to a fiber optic connector. Attach the fiber to test to the visual tracer and look at the other end of the fiber to see the light transmitted through the core of the fiber. If there is no light at the end, go back to intermediate connections to find the bad section of the cable.

A good example of how it can save time and money is testing fiber on a reel before you pull it to make sure it hasn't been damaged during shipment. Look for visible signs of damage (like cracked or broken reels, kinks in the cable, etc.) . For testing, visual tracers help also identify the next fiber to be tested for loss with the test kit. When connecting cables at patch panels, use the visual tracer to make sure each connection is the right two fibers! And to make certain the proper fibers are connected to the transmitter and receiver, use the visual tracer in place of the transmitter and your eye instead of the receiver (remember that fiber optic links work in the infrared so you can't see anything anyway.)

December 19, 2011

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