Basic Knowledge about Visual Fault Locators
Application of Visual Fault Locators
Visual fault locators are a kind of test equipment for testing, troubleshooting and measurement. The VFL is an ideal tool for locating a large number of defects that occur at connection and around fiber cabinets which are hidden in an OTDRs "blind-spot" or "dead-zone". Fiber breaks, faulty connector, sharp bends, bad splices and similar faults can be visually located by light radiated outside the fiber when the light is injected into a fiber. Visual fault locators boost productivity in the field by providing fast detection, precise fault location, distance, loss, and ORL measurements.
Features of Visual Fault Locators
Users can change automatically for visual fault locators apply to various types of optical interface such as PC, SC, ST, etc, according to the measured optical interface type. Working along with OTDR, it can locate the fault of OTDR (e.g. EXFO FTB-200) dead zone and measure jumper end, connector defect and breaking point quickly. The fiber testing red light radiating in the fault point makes it reality for you to find out the correct location. Besides, with small size and light weight, they are universally used in emergency and appropriately exploited to construct and maintain optical cable line. Visual fault locators are offered in "hand-held" and "pocket size" versions. With a pocket-size pen-style, this visual fault locator can be carried anywhere easily. Hand-held versions are offered in a range of connector bulkheads styles, from universals to specific connector types. And pocket visual fault locators usually have a universal ferrule adapter and offer a small size that easily fits into a belt or tool case. In conclusion, a visual fault locator is an economical, yet highly effective fault location unit.
Importance of Visual Fault Locators
The complex network integrated by optical fiber, connector and jumper makes you difficult to find the fault location. So the visual fault locator is an essential tool that quickly and easily locates problem areas in fiber cables. By pinpointing the exact location of fiber damage, technicians can diagnose, troubleshoot and fix the problem timely and efficiently. The VFL is also used for conducting continuity tests and performing fiber identification. With these fault locators you can easily isolate high losses and faults in optical fiber cables.
Quality of Visual Fault Locators
A lower cost product does not equal poor quality, but its construction materials matter a lot. Visual fault locators of high quality make use of brass to ensure optimal heat dispersion, an essential aspect in ensuring the durability of a laser, instead of plastic or aluminum parts. Using Smart-click system, some visual fault locators are activated via a single button allowing both constant wave and pulsed modes. And a 650nm fault locator can be used for cable fault detection over short detection to moderate distances, surely working more efficiently than 635nm ones. And a good visual fault locator can locates fault up to 30km in fibre optic cable.
More Information about VFL
Fiberstore, an online store worldwide, which offers reliable quality and cheap visual fault locator in accordance with telecom, military, aerospace and other industry standards. Other common used fiber optic testers also can be offered by Fiberstore, include telephone line tester, EXFO OTDR, Fluke 117 multimeter, Fujikura fusion splicer, ADSL & CCTV Security Tester (e.g. bit error rate tester), and RJ45 tester, etc.