What Is Visual Fault Locator And

How To Use It
The Visual Fault Locator(VFL) is an essential tool for every Fiber Optic Tool Kit, it
is like the continuity tester. The VFL is not one of the least expensive tools in your
tool kit. It will allow you to quickly identify breaks or macrobends in the optical fiber,
and identify a poor fusion splice in multimode or single mode optical fiber.
The big difference between the VFL and the continuity tester is the light source and
optical output power of the light source. The VFL typically uses a red (635-650nm)
laser light source. The optical output power of the laser is typically 1mW or less.
Because of the high optical output power, you should never view the output of the
VFL directly.
The Visual Fault Locator is available in different shapes and sizes. Some may look
like a pen, others may be built into an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR), and
some may look like a small test equipment box. There are two types of VFLs: contact
and non-contact. With a contact VFL, the optical fiber under test will make contact
with the VFL. However, with a non-contact VFL the optical fiber under test will not
touch the VFL.
JW3105
Unlike the continuity tester, the VFL is not limited to testing multimode optical fibers
2km or less in length. The VFL can be used to verify continuity of multimode or
single-mode optical fiber longer than 2km. Due to attenuation of the 635650nm
laser light source by the optical fiber, macrobends may not be detectable beyond 1km
in multimode optical fiber and 500 meters in single-mode optical fiber. The same
holds true for finding breaks in the optical fiber through the jacket of the fiber-optic
cable.
How to use Visual Fault Locator
As with the continuity tester, the first thing you will need to do is clean the connector
endface and inspect it with a microscope. If the endface finish is acceptable, the VFL
can be connected to a Fiber Connector should not be viewed directly during this
testing.
The VFL fills the core of the optical fiber with light from the laser. The light from the
laser escapes the optical fiber at a break or macrobend. The light escaping from the
optical fiber will typically illuminate the buffer surrounding the optical fiber.
Macrobends are not always visible through the jacket but are typically visible through
the buffer. Breaks may be visible through the jacket of the fiber optic cable depending

on jacket color, thickness, number of optical fibers in the cable, and amount of
strength member.
The VFL and the OTDR work hand in hand with each other when it comes to locating
breaks in an optical fiber. The OTDR can provide the operator with the distance the
break. The VFL allows the operator to see the break in the optical fiber.
Fiber optic cables are not the only place where the optical fiber may break. The
optical fiber may break inside the connector or connector ferrule. Unless the optical
fiber is broken at the endface of the connector, it is not visible with a microscope.
Usually, students connect cables that look great when viewed with the microscope but
fail continuity testing. When this happens, the hardest part is determining which
connector contains the break in the optical fiber. Without a VFL in the classroom,
students would have to cut the cable in half and use the continuity tester to identify
the bad connection.
The VFL will often identify the bad termination or connector. Looking at the
photograph, you can see VFL illuminating the break in the optical fiber. The output of
the VFL is so powerful that it penetrates the ceramic ferrule.
The visual fault locator can be used to test the continuity of an optical fiber in the
same manner. The first step when using the continuity tester is to clean and visually
inspect the endface of the connector before inserting it into the continuity tester. After
the connector has been cleaned and inspected, you need to verify that the continuity
tester is operating properly. Turn the continuity tester on and verify that it is emitting
light.
The visual fault locator also can be used to locate a macrobend in an optical fiber.
However, macrobends do not allow nearly as much light to penetrate the buffer and
jacket as does as break in the optical fiber. Locating a macrobend with the VFL may
require
darkening
the
room.
Macrobends and high loss fusion splices appear the same on an OTDR trace.
The VFLallows the identification of a high-loss fusion splice.
View : www.fibercasa.com for more information