Putting Mating Sleeves on Cable Connectors Can End up With Dirty End Face?

by: FOC FAQ

INTERCONNECT: Ask FOC Ask FOC

Published: December 12, 2016

, Last updated: September 18, 2025

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QUESTION: We recently had a customer ask that we put mating sleeves on the cable connectors before we ship to him. I think that he may end up with a dirty end face even though the dust cap will be on the other end of the mating sleeve. The cable assembly will be sealed in a plastic bag. What is your opinion?

ANSWER:

Shipping mating sleeves on the connector ferrules instead of dust caps is very rarely done, and a traditional ferrule cap provides the best protection in most cases. Using a brand new, clean and capped “mating sleeve” (adapter) should not cause any issues.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT & RESOURCES:

Category Resource: FOC Interconnect Page
Find More Information in this Blog: The 101 on Connector Types

Answered by AskFOC Technical Team December 12, 2016

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FOC FAQ Fiber Optic Center has a team of technical experts and marketing strategists with decades of years in the field. This team contributes to the fiber, cable and specialty industries coverage through news, alerts, reports and general media information.

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Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC), is an international leader in distributing fiber optic components, equipment and supplies and has been helping customers make the best cable assemblies in the world for over two decades. Several areas of specialization and expertise, in which they are the industry leader, make them the preferred choice for many of the world’s fiber professionals. In these key technology areas, FOC is "at least as technical as the manufacturer" about the products they sell. Striving to "make the business part easy," they offer outstanding and personal customer service, low or no minimum purchase order values, and from-stock delivery on industry-leading products and technology. FOC is the industry connection to the most innovative optical products, technologies and technical experts who integrate their manufacturing knowledge and vast experience into customers' worldwide operations. @FiberOpticCntr

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