Hubbell FHPLCE3MMZ LC Multimode OM3 10GbE Fiber Optic Pigtail

Overview

The Hubbell FHPLCE3MMZ is a 3-meter LC multimode fiber optic pigtail with an OM3-grade 50/125µm fiber core and a Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) outer jacket — a straightforward, reliable termination component for 10GbE structured cabling installations where indoor air-quality compliance is mandatory. If you're splicing into a pre-terminated distribution cable inside an MDA or HDA and need a clean, factory-connectorized end on the LC side, this is the component that closes that loop. Browse the full Hubbell structured cabling line for companion assemblies and panels.

Pigtails like the FHPLCE3MMZ occupy a specific role in the fiber plant: one end arrives factory-terminated with an LC connector, the other is bare fiber ready for fusion splicing into a splice tray or distribution cable. That workflow delivers the optical quality of a factory-polished connector without requiring field termination kits or on-site polishing equipment — a meaningful labor and quality advantage in high-port-count enclosures.

Key Features

• OM3 50/125µm Multimode Fiber: Supports 10GbE at distances up to 300 meters — enough headroom for nearly all intra-building MDA-to-IDF runs. OM3 is the accepted standard for 10G data center and enterprise backbone links, so this fiber grade keeps your plant future-ready for 10G-capable switches without an immediate upgrade to OM4 or OM5.
• LC Connector (Factory-Polished): LC is the dominant connector type in 10G and above enterprise fiber deployments — small form factor, locking tab, and near-universal compatibility with SFP+ transceivers and LC-keyed patch panels. A factory-polished ferrule eliminates the insertion-loss variability that field-polished terminations introduce; expect consistent sub-0.5dB insertion loss performance typical of manufacturer-terminated LC connectors.
• 3-Meter Pigtail Length: Three meters gives you enough slack inside a 1U or 2U splice enclosure to route cleanly through a splice tray, loop once for strain relief, and still reach the organizer ring without tension on the fusion splice point. Shorter pigtails (1m) run tight in deep enclosures; longer ones create bend-radius management issues. Three meters is the practical sweet spot for rack-mounted enclosures in most IDF closets.
• LSZH Jacket: Low Smoke Zero Halogen compounds are required by code in many plenum and riser spaces in Europe and increasingly specified in US data centers, transit facilities, and public buildings. LSZH produces significantly less toxic smoke than standard PVC when exposed to fire — a life-safety consideration in enclosed equipment rooms where personnel may need to evacuate. Verify your local NEC or building code requirements before substituting a PVC-jacketed alternative.
• 10GbE Application Rating: The FHPLCE3MMZ is explicitly rated for 10 Gigabit Ethernet — meaning the fiber grade, connector geometry, and polish quality are validated together for that use case. Don't use OM1 or OM2 pigtails to save cost on a 10G link; the bandwidth-distance product on older fiber grades won't support 10GbE at typical backbone distances.

Integration and Compatibility

The FHPLCE3MMZ pairs with any LC-keyed splice enclosure, fiber patch panel, or distribution frame — including Hubbell's own fiber optic enclosures and patch panels. The bare fiber end is fusion-spliced to the incoming distribution cable inside the enclosure. On the active equipment side, the LC connector mates with any SFP+ or SFP transceiver with an LC duplex interface. OM3 fiber requires 850nm VCSEL-based transceivers (standard for all 10GBASE-SR SFP+ modules); confirm your transceiver is 850nm multimode before installing. For full end-to-end structured cabling solutions, verify that all fiber segments in the link are OM3 or better — a single OM1 or OM2 segment in the run degrades the entire channel to that fiber's lower bandwidth limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What fiber type does the FHPLCE3MMZ use?

A: The FHPLCE3MMZ uses OM3 50/125µm multimode fiber, rated for 10GbE at runs up to 300 meters with 850nm VCSEL transceivers.

Q: Is the LSZH jacket on the FHPLCE3MMZ suitable for plenum spaces?

A: LSZH reduces toxic smoke output but is not a direct substitute for UL-listed plenum-rated (CMP) jacket material under all NEC plenum requirements. Verify with your local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) before installing LSZH cable in a plenum air-handling space.

Q: What transceiver type do I need to use with this OM3 pigtail?

A: OM3 multimode fiber requires 850nm VCSEL-based transceivers — for 10GbE, that means a 10GBASE-SR SFP+ module. Do not use LR (1310nm single-mode) transceivers with multimode fiber.

Q: Can the FHPLCE3MMZ be used in a duplex configuration?

A: A standard 10GbE LC link uses two fibers — one for transmit, one for receive. The FHPLCE3MMZ is a single-fiber pigtail; order two and splice them into a duplex tray, or select a duplex LC pigtail assembly if your enclosure accommodates duplex routing.

Q: Is field re-termination possible if the LC connector is damaged?

A: The LC connector on a factory pigtail is not designed for field re-termination. If the connector is damaged, the correct fix is to replace the pigtail and re-splice at the tray. Attempting to re-polish or re-epoxy a field-damaged LC ferrule typically results in elevated insertion loss and should be avoided on 10G links where loss budget is tight.

Karl Wilson

The FHPLCE3MMZ is the component I reach for when the installation calls for OM3 10GbE backbone links inside a splice enclosure and field termination quality isn't something I'm willing to gamble on. The 3-meter length is deliberate — it gives you a usable service loop inside a 1U or 2U wall-mount or rack-mount enclosure without creating a coil management problem at the patch panel side.

Technical Highlights:

• OM3 Fiber Grade: 300-meter 10GbE distance capability means this fiber grade covers virtually every intra-building horizontal and backbone run without distance-margin anxiety on standard campus topologies.
• Factory LC Termination: Polished at the factory under controlled conditions — insertion loss consistency is materially better than field-polished LC terminations, which matters when you're stacking loss across splice, connector, and cable segments on a tight 10G loss budget.
• LSZH Jacket Compliance: In equipment rooms serving occupied spaces — healthcare, transit, government — LSZH is frequently a specification requirement, not an option. The FHPLCE3MMZ checks that box without sourcing a special-order variant.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your SFP+ transceivers are 10GBASE-SR (850nm multimode) before installing. A single-mode LR transceiver won't drive OM3 fiber correctly and the link will fail.
• LSZH is not automatically plenum-rated under NEC. If your AHJ requires CMP-rated cable in the plenum return air space, verify the jacket rating meets that specific listing — LSZH and plenum are different compliance tracks.

The FHPLCE3MMZ is well-suited for IDF closet splice enclosures on enterprise campus 10G backbone builds — particularly in facilities where LSZH is a base specification requirement and field termination quality control is a concern.