Cleaning Fiber-Optic Array Components with the Dry Cloth Cleaning Tool

If an optical link is not functioning correctly, and you are not able to determine the cause of the problem, we recommend that you clean the fiber-optic array port and the fiber-optic array cable connector.

Note: During maintenance or replacement procedures, small deposits of oil, dust, and debris can enter the fiber-optic array ports, the fiber-optic array cable connectors, and the loopback connectors and adapters used to test the optical connections. These deposits can cause loss of light, reducing signal power and causing intermittent problems with the optical connection.

• Dry cleaning tool (see Figure 1). This tool uses a dry cloth to remove dust and oil from the fiber optics.
• Cleaning tool adapter
• Cleaning tool connector

Figure 1: Cleaning Tool

1. Take the switching plane offline.

   See Taking a Switching Data Plane Offline.

2. Bring the TXP-F13 SIB offline by pressing the SFC ONLINE/OFFLINE button.
3. Bring the TXP-T1600 SIBs connected to the TXP-F13 SIB offline by pressing the LCC ONLINE/OFFLINE button.
4. Disconnect the fiber-optic array cable between the TXP-F13 SIB and TXP-T1600 SIB.

   Warning: Do not look directly into a fiber-optic array port or a connector at the end of a fiber-optic array cable connected to a port. The fiber optics emit laser light that can damage your eyes.

5. Attach an electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding strap to your bare wrist, and connect the strap to one of the ESD points on the chassis.
6. Remove the dust cap from the fiber-optic array port. Open the dust shutter on the fiber-optic array port, and insert a cleaning adapter (see Figure 2).
7. Remove the dust cap from the cleaning tool.
8. Insert the tip of the dry cloth cleaning tool into the cleaning adapter (see Figure 2).

   Figure 2: Inserting the Cleaning Adapter into the Fiber-Optic Array Port and the Cleaning Tip into the Keyed Slot of the Cleaning Adapter

   

   Note: The cleaning adapter is keyed to ensure that the cleaning tip can be inserted in only one way.

9. Rotate the thumb wheel in the direction indicated on the cleaning tool until the thumb wheel clicks to indicate a completed cleaning action (see Figure 3).

   Figure 3: Rotating the Thumb Wheel

   
10. Clean the three visible ferrules in the fiber-optic array port.
11. Repeat these steps for all fiber-optic components that require cleaning.
12. Remove the dust cap from the fiber-optic array cable. Insert a cleaning connector into the fiber-optic array cable (see Figure 4). Insert the tip of the cleaning tool into the cleaning connector.

    Figure 4: Inserting the Cleaning Connector into the Fiber-Optic Array Cable and the Cleaning Tip into the Keyed Slot of the Cleaning Connector

    
13. Replace the dust cap on the cleaning tool.
14. After you clean the fiber-optic array ports and the fiber-optic array cable connectors, reconnect the fiber-optic array cable between the TXP-F13 SIB fiber-optic array port and TXP-T1600 SIB fiber-optic array port.
15. Bring the TXP-F13 SIB and TXP-1600 SIB online.
16. Issue the show chassis sibs command. Verify that the TXP-F13 SIB and TXP-T1600 SIB are online.
17. Issue the show chassis fabric plane extensive command. Verify that the state of each optical link is Links ok.
18. If the state of any TXP-F13 SIB, TXP-T1600 SIB, or link is still incorrect, contact your customer support representative for additional instructions.