I work mostly with short range fiber optics from Routers, Swtiches, SANs and NAS and in order to ensure the transmit and recieve are correctly oriented I often look at the light coming out of both connectors.
I also look at them to see if the path is good and the port is activated.
I have read that Class 1 lasers are completely safe to look at and won't hurt your eyes.
A cabling vendor mentioned to me that in classes he takes they always say never look at a laser.
I will not look at a long range fiber leds/laser because I am afraid it has more power and might cause eye damage.
Can you look at these led/lasers safely and if so what kind of markings/labels should I look for?
I also assume that some of the really dangerous lasers have some kind of interlock to prevent you from looking at them.
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Well, any equipment using lasers is supposed to be labeled (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wi
Just because it's a diode does NOT mean it's safe. Depending on output power and frequency, laser diodes can be dangerous.
So your opinion is not to look at any fiber optic connector?
What tools do you use to ensure the connector is not active?
What tools do you use to verify there is light coming to an adapter?
How are you supposed to keep from ever looking at a light?
Seems almost impossible not to ever look before testing.
Does anyone know what classes of lasers are used in network equipment?
Anyone know the odds of a malfunction that could raise the power to Class 4? Better than dying in a plane crash or winning the mega jackpot lottery?
If all lasers used in network equipment are Class I then it seems a bit paranoid to avoid brief exposure based on the fact that the laser could malfunction.
Any cases of engineers getting injured?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wi
Class I
Inherently safe; no possibility of eye damage. This can be either because of a low output power (in which case eye damage is impossible even after hours of exposure), or due to an enclosure preventing user access to the laser beam during normal operation, such as in CD players or laser printers.
From a Cisco fiber amplifier:
"Warning Follow all directions and warning labels when working with optical fibers. To prevent eye damage, never look directly into a fiber or connector. "
"Warning Invisible laser radiation. Do not view directly with optical instruments. Class 1m laser product. "
"Warning Laser specifications:
"Peak power: 500 mW
"Wavelength: 1528 to 1610 nm
"Safety: Class 1M Laser Product per IEC/EN 60825-1/A2:2001 standard "
http://www.cisco.rw/en/US/
There are additional classifications beyond Class I or IM when you get to 500mW and deal with viewing with optics in the field (loupe, microscope).
Concern for injury in communication fiber is the higher power, better "focus" of the beam, and the shift outside of visible spectrum. The blink reflex used to be the safety factor that was supposed to limit exposure to 0.25seconds or less. When you don't blink, damage can occur.
I read a bit of this white paper (a few years old):
http://www.telect.com/down
Table 6 show 0.5W typical laser safe exposure distance is ~12 inches.
Well beyond me, as the closest I come to working with fiber is gracefully tripping on cables placed in idiot-proof locations (like the floor).
table6
thanks aleghart
>"Warning Follow all directions and warning labels when working with optical fibers. To prevent eye damage, never look directly into a fiber or connector. "
I would agree with the above statement if it added at the end; "unless within acceptable emission levels"
very nice information from the the link in the first post of lherrou
" Two types of links have high power, as much as 100 times more than other communications systems, and they are CATV or video links at 1550 nm and telco long distance links using dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM.) The CATV or video links used in fiber to the home (FTTH - read more) may use fiber amplifiers (read more) that boost the power to very high levels, potentially dangerous the eye. Telco DWDM links are used on extremely long distance links (read more). They not only use fiber amplifiers for boosting the power, but they have many different signals operating at different wavelengths carried in one singlemode fiber. Any one wavelength may not be a problem, but the sum of 16, 32 or 64 individual wavelengths can be very powerful."
What Class are DWDM and CATV fiber optic sources?
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by: lherrouPosted on 2009-10-26 at 12:29:26ID: 25665814
Dragon0x40,
From the The Fiber Optic Association, Inc:
"So to sum up what we have said: 1) Most fiber optic links are harmless to eyes 2) Some links may be harmful, however, 3)Never take a chance - check the link before inspecting it!"
http://www.thefoa.org/
There
>> I also assume that some of the really dangerous lasers
Hmm, ever hear that quote about what "assume" does? No interlock on a laser pointer, and we know those can be dangerous.
Cheers,
LHerrou