Panduit NK6APC1YL NetKey Cat 6A UTP Patch Cord
The Panduit NK6APC1YL is a 1-foot Category 6A UTP patch cord engineered for high-density 10GBASE-T installations where space and accessibility matter. Built on 26 AWG stranded copper with Panduit's tangle-free latching system, this cord delivers full 500 MHz performance in tight spaces—ideal for top-of-rack server connections, patch-panel consolidation, and high-throughput aggregation links. The slender strain-relief boot and snag-resistant latch cut deployment time in dense cabinets, while CM/LSZH jacket rating supports both plenum-adjacent and low-smoke environments. Ships in 10-packs.
Key Features
- Cat 6A performance to 500 MHz — supports 10GBASE-T Ethernet at full wire speed over short-haul data-center and IDF runs
- 26 AWG stranded construction — flexible enough for tight-radius bends in crowded patch fields without kinking
- Tangle-free latch design — patented release mechanism prevents snags on adjacent cables during moves, adds, and changes
- Slender strain-relief boot — easier access in high-density 1U/2U switch and patch-panel arrays than traditional molded boots
- CM/LSZH dual-rated jacket — low-smoke, zero-halogen formulation for installations near air-handling spaces or in jurisdictions requiring reduced-toxicity materials
- PoE++ capable — supports IEEE 802.3bt Type 3 and Type 4 (up to 90W) for powered devices on the same cable plant
- T568A/T568B compatible wiring — works in mixed-standard environments without re-termination
Panduit's NetKey 6A patch cords use enhanced-performance modular plugs that exceed ANSI/TIA-568.2-D and ISO 11801 Class EA specs across the full 1–500 MHz range. The 26 AWG stranded conductors deliver the flexibility installers need in congested cabinets—particularly when dressing cables around sharp panel edges or through vertical cable managers—while maintaining the electrical margins required for 10GBASE-T. Installers working in blade-server chassis, top-of-rack leaf switches, or SAN fabrics benefit from the reduced bend radius and lighter per-cable weight compared to 24 AWG or 23 AWG solid-conductor equivalents.
The tangle-free latch is a field-time saver: during MACs (moves, adds, changes), the recessed paddle design releases cleanly without catching on neighboring boots or cable jackets. High-density 48-port switches often see 40+ cables routed through a single 1U space; traditional snaggy latches turn a five-minute port swap into a fifteen-minute frustration. This latch cuts that overhead. The slender boot profile also improves airflow around densely packed front-panel ports—small but measurable in thermally constrained 1U appliances.
PoE++ (802.3bt Type 3/4) support makes this cord suitable for unified infrastructure: the same cable plant that carries 10G data can deliver up to 90 watts to access points, PTZ cameras, or powered DAS nodes. The U/UTP construction (unshielded twisted pair) works in environments where alien crosstalk is managed at the panel level or where shielded cabling isn't mandated. For installations requiring STP, Panduit offers shielded variants in the same NetKey family. The CM/LSZH jacket is a dual win—meets NEC Article 800 communications riser requirements and satisfies European/international low-smoke specs in a single SKU, reducing inventory complexity for integrators working across jurisdictions.
Exceeds ANSI/TIA-568.2-D Category 6A, ISO 11801 Class EA, and IEC 60603-7. UL Listed (E129886), RoHS compliant. Ships as a 10-pack (minimum order quantity 10 units). When you need a short-haul 10G jumper that doesn't fight you in a crowded rack, the NK6APC1YL is the engineered answer—proven Panduit build quality, field-tested latch mechanics, and the electrical performance to support your next infrastructure refresh without re-cabling.
