14 Safety and regulatory informationJob aid: connector cleaning tools and materialsYou need the following tools and materials to clean fiber optic connectors.• Lint-free, nonabrasive wiping cloths• Cotton swabs, with a tightly wrapped and talcum-free tip• Optical-grade isopropyl alcohol (IPA)• Canned compressed air with extension tubeCAUTIONTo avoid contamination, optical ports should only be cleaned whenthere is evidence of contamination or reduced performance, orduring their initial installation.To prevent oil contamination of connectors, do not use commercialcompressed air or house compressed air in place of cannedcompressed air.Do not allow the air extension tube to touch the bottom of theoptical port.Cleaning single SC and FC connectorsClean connectors so that the optical signal is minimally attenuated by theconnector.Procedure stepsStep Action1 Remove dust or debris by applying canned air to the cylindrical andend-face surfaces of the connector.2 Gently wipe the cylindrical and end-face surfaces with a pad or awipe dampened with optical-grade isopropyl alcohol.3 Gently wipe the cylindrical and end-face surfaces with a dry, lint-freetissue.4 Dry the connector surfaces by applying canned air or letting themair dry.To prevent contamination, do not touch the connector surfaces aftercleaning; and cover them with dust caps if you are not going to usethem right away.—End—Nortel Ethernet Routing Switch 8600Installation — SFP, XFP, GBIC, and OADM Hardware ComponentsNN46205-305 01.02 Standard4.1 16 November 2007Copyright © 2007, Nortel Networks.
