Using Fiber Optic Power Meter to Test Optic Power Level

Fiber optic communication equipment is based on the optical power level

between the transmitter and the receiver. The difference of the optical power
level between them is the loss of the cabling plant. To measure the power loss
of them, an optical power meter is needed to conduct a power loss testing.
A fiber optic power meter is typically consist of a solid state detector, signal
conditioning circuitry and a digital display of power. To interface to the large
variety of fiber optic connectors in use, some form of removable connector
adapter is usually provided. The power meter is calibrated at the same
wavelength at the source output such as multimode 850 or 1300nm, single
mode, 1310, 1490 and/or 1550nm, POF. Meters for POF systems are usually
calibrated at 650 and 850nm. The wavelengths used in POF systems.
When performing the test, use the optical power meter adapter to mate to the
connector type on the cable. The connectorized reference patch cables must
be the same fiber type and size as the cable plant and have connectors
compatible to those on the source and cables.
Power meters are calibrated to read in dB reference to one milliwatt of optical
power. Some meters of a relative dB scale also, useful for loss measurements
since the reference value may be set to 0 dB on the output of the test source.
Occasionally, lab meters may also measure in linear units like milliwatts,
microwatts and nanowatts.

Optical Power Testing Procedure:

1:Turn on the power meter to allow time to warm-up.
2:Set meter to wavelength of the source and dBm to measure calibrated
optical power.
3:Clean all connectors and mating adapters.
4:Attach reference cable or fiber patch cord to source if testing source power
or disconnect cable from receiver.
5:Attach power meter to end of cable and read measured power.
To reduce the measurement uncertainty, you must calibrate the optical power
meter according the manufacturers specified intervals. Clean all connectors
and remove the meter adapter periodically to clean the adapters and power
meter detector. To avoid the stress loss, please dont bend the fiber optic
cables during the testing.
Optic power testing is only one the main part of fiber optic testing. Most test

procedures for fiber optic component specifications have been standardized by

national and international standards which are converted in procedures for
measuring absolute optical power, cable and connector loss and the effects of
many environment factors such as temperature, pressure, flexing, etc. Basice
fiber optic testing instruments are the fiber optic power meter, optical light
source, OTDR and fiber inspection microscope and so on.
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