Fiber optic test equipment has a range of important uses as defined by the impressive properties possessed by this very important category of tools. You can use such equipment to measure all kinds of parameters, but one of the most significant measurements is that of temperature as made by fiber optic thermometers. There are many advantages to using this sort of thermometer to measure the thermal energy of objects within the field of avionics.

Measuring Temperature with Fiber Optic Test Equipment

Fiber optic test equipment is a term that encompasses a wide range of measurement devices that rely on the properties instilled in cables which are essentially tubes filled with light. Thermal sensors like fiber optic thermometers are typically used in situations that involve higher temperatures, such as in avionics where the physics of black body radiation is of paramount importance.

For relatively lower temperature test subjects measuring from around 100 to 400 degrees centigrade, fiber optics can be used to activate various kinds of sensor material including liquid crystals, semiconductors and phosphorescent compounds. Given the many advantages of using fiber optics, it’s easy to see why they have become so important in the measurement of thermal energy in cases where black body radiation is a significant factor.

The Main Advantages of Fiber Optics

There are several distinct benefits to be had from the use of test equipment that employs fiber optics. Take a look at some of the most significant of these advantages and you’ll see exactly why the field of avionics makes such use of fiber optics when measuring thermal and other types of energy emissions.

• Electromagnetic interference does not affect the operation of fiber optic tools.
• The kind of radio frequency interference caused by wireless communication devices and lightning strikes does not adversely affect the accuracy of test equipment based on fiber optics. This makes such equipment ideal for use in airplanes and spacecraft.
• By their very nature, fiber optic cables can be maneuvered and placed in a variety of confined spaces. They don’t require much volume at all to work at full capacity. In the same vein, they can be used to measure the thermal energy being emitted from very small areas.
• In areas where explosions are a distinct hazard, fiber optics are perfect. They do not carry an electrical charge, so they won’t act to spark a fire or explosion of any kind.
• Given that they are of the same physical dimensions as typical wires, you can place fiber optic cables where existing infrastructure is already present. There’s no need to undertake large scale construction or modification programs to add measuring equipment that relies on fiber optics.
• High temperature are a fact of life in avionics and fiber optics are perfectly suited for the bill. With the right cable, your equipment can handle constant temperatures of several hundred degrees centigrade. Purging by means of water or air will improve the durability of your cables even more.

Using fiber optic test equipment is a perfect solution for measuring thermal energy output in an avionics environment. Such tools can be used alongside all the usual integrating spheres and anything else that relies upon black body radiation. Take the advantages of using fiber optics into account when you need to measure thermal energy in commercial and military aircraft alike.

Measure temperatures reliably and safely with high quality fiber optic test equipment that is perfect for use in a high stakes avionics environment.