Important specifications for fiber optic power meters include wavelength range, optical power range, power resolution, and power accuracy. Some devices are rack-mounted or handheld. Today we will focus on fiber optic power meters.
What does the Optical Power Meter (OPM)mean?
An optical power meter (OPM) is a device used to measure the power in an optical signal. The term usually refers to a device for testing average power in fiber optic systems. Another general purpose light power measuring devices are usually called radiometers, photometers, laser power meters (can be photodiode sensors or thermopile laser sensors), light meters or lux meters.
An optical power meter (OPM) is a testing instrument used to accurately measure the power of fiber optic equipment or the power of an optical signal passed through the fiber cable. It also helps in determining the power loss incurred to the optical signal while passing through the optical media. An optical power meter is made up of a calibrated sensor that measures the amplifier circuit and a display. The sensor normally consists of a silicon (Si), germanium (Ge) or indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) based semiconductor. The display unit shows the measured optical power and the corresponding wavelength of the optical signal.
Explains Optical Power Meter (OPM)
OPM calibrates the wavelength and measures the power of an optical signal. Before testing, the required wavelength is set manually or automatically. Accurate calibration of the signal wavelength is necessary for accurate measurement of power level, otherwise, the test may yield false reading.
Different sensor types used in OPMs have different characteristics. For example, Si sensors tend to become saturated at low power levels and can only be used in 850-nanometer bands, while Ge sensors saturate at high power levels, but perform poorly at low power.
To calculate the power loss, OPM is first connected directly to an optical transmission device through a fiber pigtail, and the signal power is measured. Then the measurements are taken through OPM at the remote end of the fiber cable. The difference between the two measurements displays the total optical loss the signal incurred while propagating through the cable. Adding up all the losses calculated at different sections yields the overall loss incurred to the signal.
Three types of equipment can be used to measure optical power loss:
- Component equipment – Optical Power Meters (OPMs) and Stabilized Light Sources (SLSs) are packaged separately, but when used together they can provide a measurement of end-to-end optical attenuation over an optical path. Such component equipment can also be used for other measurements.
- Integrated test set – When an SLS and OPM are packaged in one unit, it is called an integrated test set. Traditionally, an integrated test set is usually called an OLTS. GR-198, Generic Requirements for Hand-Held Stabilized Light Sources, Optical Power Meters, Reflectance Meters, and Optical Loss Test Sets, discusses OLTS equipment in depth.
- An Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) can be used to measure optical link loss if its markers are set at the terminus points for which the fiber loss is desired. However, a single-direction measurement may not be accurate if there are multiple fibers in a link since the backscatter coefficient is variable between fibers. The accuracy of such a measurement can be increased if the measurement is made as a bidirectional average of the fiber. GR-196, Generic Requirements for Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) Type Equipment, discusses OTDR equipment in depth.
Key Features
It can experiment at Voice, data, and video signal synchronous measurement and display on BPON/EPON/GPON.
Providing simultaneous measurement for all three wavelengths on the fiber (1490nm, 1550nm,1310nm )
Used in Burst mode measurement of 1310nm upstream.
Use the software connect with PC, setting the threshold, data transfer, and calibration the wavelength.
USB communication port enables data transfer to PC.1000measurement items can be saved in 3213 PON power meter or computer for data review.
With optical power meter module, include 850、1300、1310、1490、1550、1625sixs( 3213AP，3213A without 850nm wavelength）；With visual fault locator modual（3213and3213AV）Optical power meter and VFL with one port.（only 3213A）
Optional Chinese/English display.
Offers up to 10 different threshold sets in total, Three status LEDs represent different optical signal conditions of Pass, Warn and Fail respectively.
10 minutes Auto-off function can be activated or deactivated
Good key design, high sensitivity, greatly reducing the volume and weight of the tester.
Different models corresponding to the different function, according to own use to choose.
Summary
When you install and terminate fiber optic cables, you always have to test them. A test should be conducted for each fiber optic cable plant for three main areas: continuity, loss, and power. Fiber-Mart offers a full range of optical power meters to support FTTx deployments, fiber network testing, certification reporting capabilities, and basic power measurements.
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