Chemtronics Application Guide - Telecom Equipment and Fiber Optic Connectors

Recovery of Electronics, Telecom Equipment and Fiber Optic Connectors from Catastrophic Water Damage

Overview
Electronics, telecommunications equipment and fiber optic connections can be recovered from catastrophic water damage due to hurricanes, floods, fire suppression and other severe water impact situations. Water can be removed using cleaning solutions and processes that target water and trapped moisture. Once the moisture is removed, the assemblies can be cleaned to remove deposited oil and grease, soot, debris and other soils. While water can cause extensive damage, it does not mean that equipment is lost and cannot be replaced. When used with the following procedures, Chemtronics’ products are an efficient and effective tool for the recovery and restoration of electronic and telecommunications equipment.

Step 3: Remove Remaining Contaminants
Additional cleaning may be necessary to remove other contaminants and excess moisture. Use Electro-Wash® PX Fiber Optic Cleaner (part number ES810) for plastic- safe cleaning. Spray equipment thoroughly and then allow to dry completely. Make sure all contaminated areas have been sprayed and completely cleaned. Use Coventry Econowipes (part number 6709 or 6704) to aid with cleaning and drying. To speed the drying process, use UltraJet® All-Way Duster (part number ES1620) to remove the remaining solvent from components. Use Chemtronics DPL Deep Penetrating Lubricant (part number ES1626) to clean and protect copper connections and switches. It is used to clean, displace moisture, inhibit corrosion, reduce friction and protect metal surfaces in one easy step.

Recovery of Electronics and Telecom Equipment...

Option 1: Choose the appropriate FOCCUSTM Clear Connection Tool (CCT) based on the type of fiber connection. CCT Tools are available for 1.25mm, 2.5mm and MPO connections. CCT tools have an easy to use mechanism that advances fabric over a cleaning tip with just a short push and click of the tool.

• Remove the dust cap from the end of the CCT tool.
• Lightly wet the CCT fabric tip with a Fiber-Wash pen (Part number FW-
  2150)
• Insert the CCT tip directly into the connector. Push in the tool 2-3 clicks,
  advancing the fabric from wet-to-dry. The fabric rotates while advancing,
  adding additional cleaning action.
• Repeat on the next connector until all connectors have been cleaned.
• The end faces of unconnected patch cords can be cleaned by placing the
  dust cap back onto the end of the CCT tool. The dust cap becomes an
  adapter that fits directly over the ferrule of the connector.
• Test connector with a fiberscope and, if necessary, repeat cleaning
  procedure.

• Use the CoventryTM 48042F swab for cleaning 2.5 mm connections and the CoventryTM 26122F swab for 1.25 mm connections.
• Spray a small amount of the Electro-Wash® PX onto a clean QbE® wipe or another clean lint-free wiper (Coventry® 6704 EconowipeTM). Dampen the swab by lightly touching the swab head to the moistened area. Do not over saturate the swab head.
• Optionally, saturate the felt tip of the Fiber-Wash MX pen by depressing it onto a clean wipe. Dampen the swab by touching it to the pen tip.
• Feed the moistened swab tip through the alignment sleeve to clean the backplane connection, Repeat procedure a second time using a dry swab. The use of this process allows the first moistened swab to remove all types of contaminants while eliminating the static bond that holds contaminants to the end-face. The second dry swab removes any remaining solvent.
• Test connector with a fiberscope and, if necessary, repeat cleaning procedure.

• Pull one QbE® wipe from the box over the neoprene platen.
• Spray a small spot (about quarter-size) of Electro-Wash® PX onto one corner of the wipe
• Optionally saturate the corner of the wipe with Fiber-Wash MX pen (Part number FW2150)

Recovery of Telecom Equipment... (cont.)

• Move the end-face of the connector from the wet area of the QbE® lightly across the dry portion of the pad. Make sure to hold the end-face at 90o perpendicular to the platen.
  
• Repeat the wet to dry cleaning motion two more times, and make sure not to retrace your cleaning procedure of previously used areas of the wipe.
  
• Test connector with a fiberscope and, if necessary, repeat cleaningprocedure