ANALYSIS & OPINION:INSTALLATION
LOCATING A DATA CENTRE FAR AWAY CAN CAUSE PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS INCLUDING LATENCY DELAYS
Multi-fibre connectors Some cable manufacturers are migrating from the traditional 12-fibre arrays to a 16-fibre array using the same 2.5 x 6.4mm standard MT ferrule footprint. Tese connectors are most oſten used on optical backplanes, where the data jumps from the fibre transport into the switch for routing. Not only are these connectors more dense, they are 80 per cent glass to improve thermal expansion control. Tese connectors oſten retain more static electricity than other connectors, making dust particles cling to the connector. Te use of an optical-grade, static-dissipating cleaning fluid is important to dissipate the static-cling and significantly improve cleaning performance of task-built clickers. Te lens array connectors basically are
expanded beam lenses on a microscopic scale. Tese designs collimate the optical signal and eliminate the need for physical contact. Tey use a very small, tightly focused ‘spot size’ beam to pass the signal into the receiving lens. Tis design minimises problems associated with scratching and contamination between the lenses. However, these connectors are typically made from very soſt, easily-scratched moulded plastics, that over time tend to atract dust in the form of a hazy film into the central signal ‘spot-zone’ and can be difficult to clean. To prevent scratching the plastic, the most
effective cleaning method uses a ‘touchless’ process of applying a small dose of high purity cleaning fluid that is fast-evaporating, plastic- safe and static-dissipating, to gently rinse away surface contamination, and then follow-up by blow-drying the connector using a can of optical-grade duster. Te increasing demand for more connectivity
spurred the rise of remote hyperscale data centres. However, with the introduction of UHCF cables, smaller local data centres may now be able to deliver the data speeds and reliability that end-users require. But to obtain the best fibre optic performance, cleaning the fibre end-faces prior to installation will always remain a priority. n
Jay Tourigny is senior vice president at MicroCare
www.fibre-systems.com @fibresystemsmag Issue 26 n Winter 2020 n FiBRE SYSTEMS 33
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