Expanded beam connectors have a high tolerance for dirt and debris, but EB fiber optic systems are not immune to contamination. They should be cleaned routinely but standard fiber optic cleaning tools simply will not work. The Sticklers EB Cleaning Swabs solve this problem.

Expanded beam ("EB") connectors are famous for their high tolerance for dirt and debris, but tolerance does not mean immunity (such as particulate, moisture, haze, etc.). Expanded beam fiber optic connectors are designed to operate in harsh environments such as combat situations or at sea. This category of connectors do not employ the normal "butt-contact" design but feature instead a non-contact technique where the fiber is sealed behind a lens. Clever design minimizes back reflection or insertion losses. But even the best EB connectors, such as the OPTOKON expanded beam system, can suffer from contamination in combat conditions. Best practices dictate cleaning should be performed routinely. Unhappily, the geometry of EB lenses mean that standard fiber optic cleaning tools simply will not work.

The Sticklers CleanStixx EB swab is the best answer for this troublesome problem. The CleanStixx EB 1.2mm tools clean 1.2mm and larger connectors. It has a porous, thermally-sintered, variable-density polymer tip mounted in a sturdy plastic handle. The tip uses a geometry that gracefully fits over the lens of the EB connector and removes liquids and particulate. For best results, use with Sticklers™ Fiber Optic Connector Cleaning Fluid that cleans effectively, dissipates static and leaves no residues. This ensures your EB network will deliver fast, reliable and consistent data speeds with a minimum of maintenance.