Maintain PIC Cables
To maintain PIC cables, follow these guidelines:
- Use the cable management system (shown in Figure 1) to support cables and prevent cables from dislodging or developing stress points.
- Place excess cable out of the way in the cable management system. Do not allow fastened loops of cable to dangle from the connector because this stresses the cable at the fastening point. Putting fasteners on the loops help to maintain their shape.
- Keep the cable connections clean and free of dust and other particles, which can cause drops in the received power level. Always inspect cables and clean them if necessary before connecting an interface.
- Label all PIC cables to identify them, labeling each end of the cable the same.
The following guidelines apply specifically to fiber-optic cable:
- When you unplug a fiber-optic cable from a PIC, always place a rubber safety plug over the transceiver on the PIC faceplate.
- Keep fiber-optic cable connections clean using an appropriate fiber-cleaning device, such as RIFOCS 945/946 Fiber Optic Connector Cleaning System. See Fiber-Optic Connector Cleaning.
- Anchor fiber-optic cable to avoid stress on the connectors. When attaching fiber to a PIC, be sure to secure the fiber so it is not supporting its own weight as it hangs to the floor. Never let fiber-optic cable hang free from the connector.
- Avoid bending fiber-optic cable beyond its bend radius. An arc smaller than a few inches can damage the cable and cause problems that are difficult to diagnose.
- Frequent plugging and unplugging of fiber-optic cable into and out of optical instruments, such as ATM or SONET/SDH analyzers, can cause damage to the instruments that is expensive to repair. Instead, attach a short fiber extension to the optical equipment. Any wear and tear due to frequent plugging and unplugging is then absorbed by the short fiber extension, which is easy and inexpensive to replace.