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.

Quick links:

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.