EXFO PM Series Benchtop Optical Power Meters
2 models with full specifications from EXFO.
The EXFO PM Series consists of high-performance benchtop optical power meters designed for fiber-optic component testing, power monitoring, and laboratory characterization. The series includes the high-speed EXFO PM-1600 and the single-channel EXFO PM-1100. Both instruments feature GPIB and RS-232 interface capabilities, operate on universal AC power, and are built to assist engineers with precise optical measurements on single-mode and multi-mode fibers. While they share core communication architectures and benchtop configurations, they differ significantly in their sampling speeds, detector configurations, and measurement ranges.
- Supported Interfaces
- GPIB (IEEE-488.2), RS-232
- Operating Temperature
- 0 to 40 °C
- Power Supply Requirements
- 100 to 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
- Series Form Factor
- Benchtop / Half-rack
Models in this series
High-Speed Testing and Resolution Capabilities
The EXFO PM-1600 is optimized for high-performance testing of active and passive fiber-optic components. It provides a sampling rate of up to 4096 samples per second, fast stabilization time, and low polarization dependence. For basic system monitoring and absolute power characterization, the EXFO PM-1100 offers single-channel measurements with a user-selectable resolution of up to 0.001 dB. The EXFO PM-1100 supports multiple measurement units including dBm, dB, W, mW, µW, nW, and pW.
Detector Options and Wavelength Ranges
Detector choice defines the active range and performance limits of each unit:
- EXFO PM-1600 Detector Options: This instrument can be configured with an InGaAs detector (wavelength range of 800 nm to 1700 nm; measurement range of +10 dBm to -80 dBm) or a Silicon detector (wavelength range of 450 nm to 1100 nm; measurement range of +10 dBm to -70 dBm). Depending on the sub-configuration, the active detector area is 1.0 mm (PM-1613 variant) or 3.0 mm (PM-1623 variant).
- EXFO PM-1100 Detector Specs: This meter uses an InGaAs detector operating over a wavelength range of 800 nm to 1650 nm. It features a power range of 10 dBm to -75 dBm and supports single-mode and multi-mode fiber compatibility via a universal FOA optical port adapter interface.
Physical Interfaces and Panel Control
Both instruments are sized for laboratory benches but feature distinct physical attributes. The EXFO PM-1600 has a physical footprint of 222 mm x 117 mm x 333 mm and weighs 2.9 kg, displaying data on a backlit monochrome LCD. The EXFO PM-1100 has dimensions of 213 mm x 89 mm x 356 mm, weighs 3.4 kg, and utilizes a backlit custom LCD. For laboratory integration, the EXFO PM-1100 provides dedicated front-panel keys for nulling, reference power level setting, gain scale adjustments, and wavelength selection, along with a rear-panel analog BNC output port.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the polarization dependence loss (PDL) of the EXFO PM-1600?
- The PDL depends on the configuration. The PM-1613 configuration has a PDL of less than ±0.015 dB at 1310 nm and 1550 nm, while the PM-1623 configuration has a PDL of less than ±0.005 dB at those same wavelengths.
- What is the warm-up time required for the EXFO PM-1600?
- The EXFO PM-1600 has a specified warm-up time of 1 hour.
- Does the EXFO PM-1100 support analog outputs?
- Yes, the EXFO PM-1100 includes a rear-panel analog BNC connector for monitoring and logging purposes.