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| Visual Fault
Locators (VFL) play an important part when working on a fiber optic
network, especially installation, testing, and troubleshooting. The bright red laser
in a VFL allows for quick and easy near-end visual fault
location and visual fiber identification (click examples below for larger
images). |
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| As an option, the
charger port in Micro OWL 2 optical power meters can be replaced by a
precision-coupled Visual Fault Locator (VFL). By integrating a VFL
into the power meter, troubleshooting for near-end faults can be done on
the spot during testing.
OWL precision-coupled VFLs offer two
distinct technological advantages over traditional laser pen-style visual
fault locators.
First, a multi-million dollar
micro-alignment machine is used to place a tiny ball lens between the
laser diode and the output port, allowing for optimum precision-coupling
of optical power into both multimode and singlemode fibers.
Second, red lasers are susceptible to
burnout, which is typically caused by power surging from the battery when
the unit is powered on, especially from new batteries. Over time,
these battery surges can weaken the laser, significantly limiting the
laser's effectiveness. OWL optical power meters contain special
circuitry that protects the red laser diode from battery power surges,
ensuring a stable and consistent source of red light as well as maximizing
the life-span of the laser. |
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