Your business relies on an intricate network of cables and wires to function, especially if you have a large company or property with multiple buildings on it. The most efficient and effective way to make sure everything runs smoothly is through regular maintenance of your optical cable terminal box and other equipment.
This can be time-consuming but vital, especially in making sure everything works properly and there are no damage or issues that may arise down the line. Here’s what you need to know about regular maintenance on your optical cable terminal box and how it can help keep your business in good shape.
Infrared – Avoiding Heat Damage
The two most common reasons that optical cable terminal boxes fail are water damage and heat damage. Fortunately, both are very easy to avoid.
To protect your cable terminal box from water damage, keep it out of standing water whenever possible, especially during rainstorms. Ensure that any holes you make in your walls or ceilings are properly patched before moving on to more important repairs; holes can let in more moisture than you might expect!
If you do find a leak in your cable terminal box after a storm has passed, use an infrared thermometer to pinpoint its location as quickly as possible and fix it before too much moisture seeps into your junction box or signal gets corrupted by overheating.
Attenuation – Preventing Signal Loss
You should regularly monitor your fiber optic cable terminal box to make sure that no additional attenuation has occurred since your last check. Monitoring is important because attenuation levels can change quickly and easily, meaning you may find yourself with a problem on your hands before you know it.
If a high amount of attenuation is present, it can lead to slow internet speeds or errors in data transmission. Attenuation occurs when light in an optical fiber gets dispersed as it travels through a certain medium, like air or water. The degree of dispersion determines how much signal will be lost in transmission across specific distances; basically, if too much light disperses, then a whole lot more will get dispersed over time until you end up with no signal at all.
Condensation – Avoid Condensation Buildup
Any time that your cable box isn’t actively in use, you should ensure that it’s being stored in a dry area. Extreme heat or cold can lead to condensation, which could damage expensive equipment and disrupt service for hours at a time.
If you live in an extremely humid environment, consider investing in a dehumidifier; otherwise, keep your boxes wrapped loosely in plastic when they aren’t actively in use. You should also take care to never leave liquids or other moisture-based substances on top of your cable box—this is especially important if you have young children or pets.
During storms and power outages, be sure to allow all excess water to drain off of your cable box before powering it back on.
Dust and Dirt – Avoid Dust and Dirt Buildup
Over time, even a well-maintained terminal box will collect dust and dirt. When there is an accumulation of dust and dirt, it can cause a number of problems.
To keep your terminal box operating properly, inspect your terminal box at least once a year and clean it out if needed. If you need to clean your optical cable terminal box, do so with care; do not damage any components or touch electrical wiring.
Also make sure to use only microfiber cloths or paper towels while cleaning your optical cable terminal boxes as chemical residue from other cleaning supplies could potentially damage them over time. Remember that maintenance is key to protecting your investment in electronic equipment; don’t put off routine inspections!
Lightning – Protect Against Electrical Interference
As most IT workers know, electricity can wreak havoc on electronics and optical cables. That’s why it’s essential to ground your electrical system properly. When lightning strikes within a mile of your office or warehouse, a surge protector connected to an ungrounded outlet will not protect against unwanted power surges coming in through your network cable runs.
It’s important to remember that just because you have no power failures at home, doesn’t mean you won’t experience an issue with a power surge in your business office. Grounding protects against short circuits caused by electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). Now is the time to invest in a grounding system that meets all industry standards.
Conclusion
After reading our guide, you’re now aware of some very important facts about your optical cable terminal box. You may even realize that you’ve been using it incorrectly. Whatever your case may be, we hope that you’ve learned something from our post!