Hubbell DFPCSNLCF2MM LC Duplex OM3/OM4 Plenum Multimode Fiber Patch Cord
Overview
The Hubbell DFPCSNLCF2MM is a 2-meter, duplex multimode fiber optic patch cord built for plenum-rated environments. With LC connectors on both ends and an aqua jacket that signals OM3/OM4 multimode glass, this cord is sized for short equipment-room jumps — panel to switch, switch to server, or cross-connect to horizontal cable — where you need a clean, standards-conforming link that won't require re-pulling if an AHJ inspector checks the ceiling space. Hubbell's structured cabling line is designed for commercial and enterprise installations where build quality and fire rating matter.
Key Features
- Plenum (CMP) Jacket Rating: The plenum-rated jacket meets the NEC CMP classification required for cables routed through air-handling ceiling spaces and HVAC plenums. Installing a non-plenum cord in a plenum pathway fails inspection and creates a fire risk — this jacket removes that concern without requiring conduit as a workaround.
- OM3/OM4 Multimode Glass: OM3 and OM4 glass supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet to 300m (OM3) or 400m (OM4) and 40/100GbE at shorter distances. At 2 meters, you are nowhere near the distance limits — what matters here is that the fiber type matches whatever bulk cable is terminated at the panel, so you don't introduce a mode-mismatch at the connector boundary.
- LC Duplex Connectors: The small-form-factor LC connector is the standard termination for most modern SFP transceivers, patch panels, and active equipment in fiber optic structured cabling deployments. Duplex means one fiber carries TX and one carries RX — required for full-duplex links. Verify your equipment uses LC ports before ordering; if your switch or panel uses SC or MPO, this cord won't mate.
- Aqua Color Coding: The aqua (cyan) jacket is the industry-standard color identifier for OM3 and OM4 multimode fiber, per TIA-598. In a busy patch panel, color coding is the fastest way for a technician to confirm they're touching the right fiber type without pulling documentation — reduces mis-patching in mixed-fiber environments where single-mode (yellow) and multimode are both present.
- 2-Meter Length: Two meters is the most common intra-rack or panel-to-equipment jump length in structured cabling installations — enough slack to dress cleanly in a cable manager without creating a service loop that blocks airflow or catches on adjacent hardware.
- Duplex Configuration: Full-duplex operation across two fibers is standard for all Ethernet and most SAN/storage links. This cord connects directly to SFP+ and SFP28 transceivers running 10G, 25G, or 40G (via breakout) without needing additional adapters, making it compatible with the mainstream of PoE and fiber-uplink network switches used in commercial surveillance and enterprise LAN builds.
Integration & Compatibility
The DFPCSNLCF2MM is engineered to integrate with Hubbell's LGX Max fiber panels and any standards-compliant LC-port equipment. OM3/OM4 multimode fiber is backward compatible — an OM4 cord used on an OM3 link runs at OM3 performance limits, not OM4. If your infrastructure is OM3, either fiber type works; if you're building a fresh OM4 plant, use only OM4 components throughout for full performance. This cord works with any IEEE 802.3-compliant SFP+, SFP28, or QSFP transceiver that accepts LC duplex inputs, including equipment from Cisco, Juniper, Aruba, Ubiquiti, and similar vendors. Review our structured cabling category for compatible panels, cassettes, and bulk fiber to complete the link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between OM3 and OM4 for this patch cord?
A: OM3 supports 10GbE to 300 meters and 40/100GbE to shorter distances. OM4 extends 10GbE to 400 meters and improves 40/100GbE reach. The DFPCSNLCF2MM is rated for both OM3 and OM4 multimode glass. At 2 meters, both grades deliver identical real-world performance — the distinction matters when the overall link distance is near the grade's limit.
Q: Why does the DFPCSNLCF2MM need a plenum jacket?
A: The NEC and local fire codes require CMP-rated (plenum) cables in air-handling spaces — including dropped ceilings used as HVAC return paths. A non-plenum cord in a plenum space fails inspection and poses a fire hazard. The plenum jacket on the DFPCSNLCF2MM satisfies this requirement without needing conduit.
Q: Is the DFPCSNLCF2MM compatible with single-mode SFP transceivers?
A: No. This cord uses multimode (OM3/OM4) glass and should only be paired with multimode SFP or SFP+ transceivers. Single-mode transceivers require single-mode (OS2, yellow-jacketed) fiber. Mixing fiber types degrades the link and can prevent it from establishing.
Q: Can this cord be used in a riser-rated (CMR) pathway instead of plenum?
A: Yes. Plenum-rated (CMP) cable is a higher fire rating than riser (CMR), so it is permitted in both plenum and riser pathways. The reverse is not true — a CMR cord cannot be substituted into a plenum space.
Q: What equipment ports does the LC duplex connector on the DFPCSNLCF2MM fit?
A: LC connectors mate with LC-port SFP, SFP+, SFP28, and QSFP (with LC breakout) transceivers, as well as LC-port fiber patch panels and media converters. Verify your active equipment specifies LC ports — SC, ST, and MPO connectors are not compatible without an adapter.
The DFPCSNLCF2MM covers a specific but common gap in enterprise fiber builds: the short, plenum-compliant jumper between a fiber panel and the active equipment sitting in the same rack or the adjacent one. The plenum (CMP) jacket is the detail that matters most here — a lot of technicians grab the nearest multimode LC cord without checking the jacket rating, and that creates a code violation the moment the cord routes through an air-handling ceiling space.
Technical Highlights:
- CMP Plenum Jacket: Meets the NEC's highest cable fire rating for air-handling spaces — eliminates the need for conduit in plenum pathways and protects the installation from AHJ rejection on final inspection.
- OM3/OM4 Multimode Glass: Supports 10GbE to 300–400m and 40/100GbE at shorter reaches. At 2 meters, you have enormous headroom — the fiber type match to the panel is the real spec to verify, not distance.
- LC Duplex Connector: The standard termination for modern SFP+ and SFP28 ports. Duplex means both TX and RX fibers are housed in a single pull-tab body — faster patching, cleaner cable management than individual simplex cords.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm the OM grade of your existing plant before ordering. Mixing an OM4 cord into an OM3 link is electrically fine, but the reverse (OM3 cord in an OM4 plant) limits the whole link to OM3 performance. Match the weakest element in the channel.
- The aqua jacket means OM3 or OM4 — if your site also runs single-mode (yellow OS2), train technicians to check the jacket before patching. An LC connector fits both fiber types physically; a wrong-fiber connection won't carry traffic and can be misleading to troubleshoot.
The DFPCSNLCF2MM is the right stock item for enterprise MDF/IDF builds where ceiling pathways run through plenum spaces — healthcare facilities, commercial office floors, and campus buildings where the AHJ enforces CMP compliance on every horizontal and equipment-room cable segment.
