Seems like only DWDM and CATV use high power laser sources that could really be dangerous to your eyes so I was wondering if they use the same style of connectors as the Class I devices that I use?
Do Class II and higher laser sources have the same kind of connectors as Class I?
LC, SC, ST etc?
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thanks lrmoore,
I have never heard of an engineer getting hurt by working with fiber optics.
Corporations have to provide reasonable protection when using their products.
So if DWDM or CATV fiber optics produce enough focused energy to cause injury I would assume corporations would limit thier liability by using safeguards such a shutters, kill switches, special connectors and warning signs.
>The chance of eye damage is so small, it is not even worth a warning label.
An idiot engineer would have to put the end of the cables right up into their eye and hold it there for some time to have any chance of any damage.
I would tend to agree with you but I have nothing to base it on!
If what you say is true then why do classes, websites and product documentation make warnings about never looking at the laser source?
I look long enough to see if the light is there and both devices are not sending on the same fiber.
Never looking at the laser source and instead using test equipment seems like too much effort and cost if the danger is not there.
I've installed a lot of fiber equipment and here's what I have observed:
Multimode fiber is easy. Look at the ends of the fiber and you will see a red light on one of them. Look at the equipment and you will see a red light on one of the 2 ports. The fiber with the red light goes to the dark port. Done.
single mode fiber with Laser driver - I have never been able to see any light no matter what (and I have tried!). Of course I don't look long due to the dire warnings of potential eye damage, but I do look. If the link does not come up, swap the two connections. If still no link, then call the fiber install team that has the appropriate - albeit expensive - test equipment.
Lasers are indeed dangerous. Coherent light. (Can be invisible light, like UV or infrared. Still dangerous.) Don't look straight into ends. Instead look across (at an angle). Or (for single mode) hold piece of paper out in front and look for the dot on the paper.
When you want to test you can use a flashlight. That you CAN look into. (But be absolutely certain you have the right pair!) Check for laser light first before you look into the end. Do one half of the pair at a time. This will help you identify which leg is which. This can save a call to the fiber install team.
Have a great day.
- Joe
thanks ComputerJoe,
I appreciate your point of view.
The light leaving a fiber cable or port diffuses rapidly so I don't believe you could see a dot on a piece of paper.
I have only been able to see light if I look directly; looking at an angle I can't see any light.
If the light was dangerous and caused injury there would be big lawsuits and case history but there are none to my knowledge.
The only way the attorneys make money off lasers used in communications seem to be in writing warnings that could be used if an equipment malfunction or unknown and adverse health issue is discovered.
I agree it is common sense to limit your exposure and look at what class laser you are dealing with and in what type of environment.
You should not stare at the sun as it can harm your eyes but how many cases of that have you heard of? But if a corporation owned and produced the sun and they could be sued then you would see all kinds of warnings about staying indoors and always wearing sunglasses etc., etc., etc!
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by: lrmoorePosted on 2009-11-08 at 05:11:09ID: 25770355
There are only a small handful of connector types for standardization, but these type devices typically use single mode fiber instead of multi-mode. Connector type is determined by the manufacturer, cable type is determined by the light characteristics of the optical laser. Low-power LED is almost exclusively Multi-mode cable, and higher power laser is almost exclusively single-mode cable. I'm sure there are exceptions everywhere with "mode conditioning" cables and the like.