The stainless steel-clad fiber optic cables, offered by Spectral Evolution, consist of 60 individual core fibers. These fibers are extremely delicate
and can be broken if the cable is not handled properly (coiled too tightly or closed in the Pelican case). If it’s believed there are broken fibers in your cable, you can perform a quick test to check.

Begin by removing the bracket holding the fiber optic cable securely in place (as seen below). This is done by loosening the four screws using the #3/32 Allen (hex) wrench that was included in your instruments Pelican case.

Remove the fiber optic cable from the instrument mount by grasping the wide plug end and gently pulling the cable straight out. For further detailed instructions on how to perform this, refer to USER MANUAL-CHANGING THE FIBER OPTIC CABLE.

With the cable now detached from the instrument, hold either the terminating end or the SMA end up to a light source (for instance an overhead office light) and then look at the other end of the cable.

If there are no broken fibers then it would look like one of the images at the top of the page, with all white circles illuminated (the image on the left is of the SMA end of the cable and the image on the right is the terminating end of the cable that was connected to the instrument).

If there are broken fibers, they will appear as black circles when looking at the illuminated end of the cable (See photo below). Point the opposite end of the cable towards the light and check this end for broken fibers, as well. Take a count of these broken fibers (on each side) and report the findings back to Spectral Evolution. We recommend if more than 6% of the fibers are broken, the cable be replaced.

A new fiber optic cable can be ordered from Spectral Evolution, this new uncalibrated cable can be installed in the field. To order a calibrated fiber optic cable, as a spare or replacment, your instrument must be sent back to Spectral Evolution for calibration with the new cable.

For this reason, we often recommend purchasing two calibrated fiber optic cables when purchasing a new instrument.

If your instrument isn’t new, but returns to our factory for a recalibration service, you can purchase a spare cable at this point. This will ensure you always have a calibrated spare fiber optic cable on hand, in the event your cable is damaged and fibers are broken.

Please contact us if you have any questions!