July 19, 2007 -- Tyco Electronics has introduced a handheld Visual Fault Locator (VFL), designed to identify breaks and bending in optical fibers and cabling.

According to the company, the tool's red 650-nm laser provides the ability to locate damaged, broken, or tightly bent fibers that cause undesirable attenuation in systems. The tool's VFL cable jacket glows red at the location of a fault. A flash button allows the user to toggle between continuous or pulsed mode.

The tool's compact, rugged, and balanced design is based upon the popular harsh environment fiber-optic connector, says Tyco. A single AA style battery is sufficient for more than 30 hours of continuous use. An included soft-side protective case with belt loop provides convenient and protective storage.

"Tyco Electronics' VFL provides a cost-effective solution for locating damaged optical fibers, tracing fiber paths, identifying termination errors and for use in continuity testing," comments Dennis Hess, product manager. "This product reflects our commitment to high quality equipment in an affordable and portable package."