Which fiber optic power meter detector do I need?

It is very important to correctly match the power meter detector type to the application. 
The correct detector for loss and power measurements on fiber optic communications systems will generally be as follows:

InGaAs (Indium Gallium Arsenide)

• Precision measurement over 850 - 1650 nm.
• CWDM or DWDM bands up to the maximum meter range.

Si (Silicon)

• Precision measurement at 600 - 950 nm.
• POF, HCS, MPO testing up to 850nm. It won't work for eg 1300 nm and longer.

H series / high power (attenuated InGaAs)

• High power measurements.
• These detectors are more expensive and have lower accuracy than normal InGaAs detectors, so only specify them if expecting to measure beyond the range of a non-attenuated detector.
• The peak signal power must be within the meter range.
• High power meters have less AutoTest sensitivity, which is a consideration for loss testing.
• The KI2600-H5 offers the best balance for most high power users, with up to +24 dBm range & reasonable Autotest sensitivity

XL series / large area

• For multi-fiber connector such as MPO, Or POF and other fibers above 200u active fiber core diameter.
• HCS is 200u core diameter, so a standard meter is just OK for HCS installers. A large area Si5 detector will ensure laboratory grade results.
• Select from Si5, Ge5, Ge7 or InGaAs5 using the above guidelines. 
• MPO connectors with 16 and 32 fibers require the larger Ge7 detector, which also works with other MPO fiber counts.
• Large area InGaAs detectors are very expensive, for typical fiber optic applications a Ge detector is adequate.
• The KI2600XL-H3B offers the highest power level of +33 dBm.

What power level is the system?

Maximum system power level expectations

• The large majority of Telco digital transmission systems have maximum power levels below +5 dBm.
• The large majority of LAN transmission systems have maximum power levels below 0 dBm.
• Specialist systems, typically RF or analogue, without an optical amplifier, have maximum power levels below +15 dBm.
• Long distance systems with an optical power amplifier have maximum power levels below +23 dBm.
• On installed single mode systems with standard polished-fiber connectors (SC / LC / FC etc.), total system power per fiber cannot go above +23 dBm per fiber, owing to connector power density limitations. In fact for routine operations, +18 dBm is regarded as a maximum, above which special operational precautions are needed to avoid catastrophic connector / system failure.
• Anything above +23 dBm tends to be a "non-installed" R&D system. Typically either no connector, or expanded beam connectors are used, due to the extreme power density.
  
  

Minimum system power level expectations

• It's rare to encounter system power levels below -35 dBm.
• Use of a fiber amplifier pre-amp can extend recover sensitivity down to between -40 to -45 dBm.
• Use of a power meter on a cabling system below about -45 dBm is problematic, due to the possibility of stray sunlight leaking into exposed cabling.

Useful graphs

Power meter responsivity wavelength dependence 

Ge vs InGaAs responsivity @ long wavelengths

• The above graph shows the room temperature response of power meters with Ge & InGaAs detectors as the wavelength is changed beyond 1500 nm.
• The Ge meter is unsuitable for work on CWDM and DWDM systems above 1550 nm, the InGaAs meter is obviously a much better choice, since it is very stable. This graph uses real measurement data.

Ge response drift at over temperature @ 1580 nm

• The above graph shows how the 1580 nm thermal response of a power meter with a Ge detector changes with temperature.
• This instability makes Ge power meters basically unsuitable for field work on CWDM and DWDM systems above 1550 nm.
• The thermal stability below 1550 nm is much better, around 0.2 dB, however it's never as good as InGaAs. This graph uses real measurement data

More information

• Kingfisher's range of optical power meters
• Optical power meter detector characteristics