Panduit FS2EPKKLKNKM003 OM4+ Duplex LC Keyed/Unkeyed Plenum Fiber Patch Cord, 3M
Overview
The Panduit FS2EPKKLKNKM003 is a 2-fiber OM4+ duplex LC fiber optic patch cord from the Opti-Core™ line, built for structured cabling environments where physical-layer security and high-bandwidth multimode performance both matter. At 3 meters (9.84 ft), it covers standard rack-to-rack and switch-to-panel connections within a single cabinet or adjacent rows. One end terminates with a keyed (K-coded) duplex LC connector in slate; the other end carries a standard unkeyed duplex LC in slate — this asymmetric pairing is the defining feature: it enforces one-directional connection discipline, so ports that should only accept certain patch cords literally cannot accept the wrong one. If you're running color- and key-coded cabling infrastructure and need the final patch cord to honor that scheme without relying on installer compliance alone, this is the cord that closes the loop.
The cable jacket is a 1.6mm zipcord construction in international gray (slate), rated for plenum (OFNP) air-handling spaces — meaning you can run this through ceiling plenums, raised-floor HVAC return paths, or air-handling zones without conduit and without a fire-code variance. It meets RoHS compliance requirements.
Key Features
- OM4+ Fiber Grade: OM4+ supports higher bandwidth-distance products than standard OM4 — relevant when running 40G or 100G multimode links over distances up to and beyond 150 meters. For 10G runs under 100m, OM4+ is well ahead of spec, giving you margin if infrastructure gets repurposed or distances change.
- Keyed LC Connector (End 1) + Unkeyed LC (End 2): The K-coded connector on one end physically prevents misconnection to unkeyed ports and vice versa. In dense patch panels with mixed circuits, this hardware enforcement reduces cross-circuit errors that color-coding alone can't prevent when techs are working fast or in low light.
- Ultra-Low Insertion Loss: Panduit's Opti-Core™ Signature Core™ construction targets ultra-low insertion loss, which translates directly to link budget margin — more headroom for long runs, dirty connectors in the field, or future splices without a link-budget renegotiation.
- OFNP Plenum Rating: The plenum (OFNP) jacket qualifies this cord for installation in air-handling spaces per NEC Article 770. No conduit required in plenum ceilings — saves installation time and avoids conduit-fill calculations in tight spaces.
- 1.6mm Zipcord Jacket: The slim zipcord profile routes cleanly through high-density patch panels and reduces bend-radius concerns in cable managers. Easier to dress than 2.0mm or 3.0mm round cables in crowded cabinets.
- 2-Fiber Duplex Configuration: Standard duplex LC-to-LC geometry — plug-and-play with any SFP+ transceiver, fiber switch port, or LC-terminated patch panel. No adapter required.
- RoHS Compliant: Meets the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive, satisfying procurement requirements for EU-destined equipment or customers with enterprise-wide RoHS mandates.
- Slate (International Gray) Color Coding: The slate jacket and connector boots allow visual identification of OM4+ circuits within a color-managed cabling scheme — distinguishable from aqua (OM3), yellow (OS2 single-mode), or other color-coded tiers in the same panel.
Integration & Compatibility
The FS2EPKKLKNKM003 terminates with industry-standard duplex LC connectors, compatible with any LC-equipped SFP, SFP+, SFP28, or QSFP breakout transceiver operating over multimode fiber. It integrates directly with Panduit's keyed-port LC patch panels and adapter plates as part of a color-and-key-coded physical security cabling system. The unkeyed LC end connects to standard unkeyed LC ports — switches, transceivers, media converters — while the keyed end mates only with keyed-port panels or adapters in the same Panduit coded system. Sold individually (package quantity: 1); available in carton quantities of 10 for project-scale deployments. Length is fixed at 3 meters — verify rack spacing before ordering if you're working with non-standard bay widths.
What's in the Box
- 1x Panduit FS2EPKKLKNKM003 OM4+ 2-fiber duplex LC keyed/unkeyed OFNP zipcord patch cord, 3M (slate)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between the two ends of the FS2EPKKLKNKM003?
A: One end has a keyed (K-coded) duplex LC connector and the other has a standard unkeyed duplex LC connector. The keyed end physically mates only with keyed LC ports in Panduit's coded cabling system, while the unkeyed end connects to any standard LC port such as a switch SFP or transceiver.
Q: Is the FS2EPKKLKNKM003 rated for plenum installation?
A: Yes. The jacket carries an OFNP (Optical Fiber Nonconductive Plenum) rating, which qualifies it for installation in air-handling plenum spaces per NEC Article 770 without requiring conduit.
Q: What fiber type does this patch cord use?
A: It uses OM4+ multimode fiber — a higher-performance variant of OM4 with greater bandwidth-distance capacity. It is appropriate for 10G, 40G, and 100G multimode links and is backward-compatible with OM3 and OM4 infrastructure.
Q: What is the length of the FS2EPKKLKNKM003?
A: The cord is 3 meters (9.84 feet) long. This is a fixed-length product; if you need a different run length, other lengths are available in the Panduit Opti-Core™ fiber patch cord family.
Q: Is this patch cord RoHS compliant?
A: Yes. The FS2EPKKLKNKM003 meets the RoHS directive, satisfying procurement requirements for RoHS-mandated environments or EU-destined deployments.
Q: Can I use this cord with non-Panduit LC equipment?
A: The unkeyed LC end is fully compatible with any standard unkeyed LC port — switches, transceivers, media converters, or patch panels from any vendor. The keyed LC end requires a Panduit keyed LC port or adapter to mate correctly; it will not insert into a standard unkeyed LC port by design.
The FS2EPKKLKNKM003 is a niche-but-important SKU in the Panduit Opti-Core™ line — it's the transition cord between a keyed-port patch panel and a standard LC device. The K-coded connector on end one is not a cosmetic feature: it physically prevents this cord from being plugged into a non-keyed port, which is exactly the point in a coded cabling system where circuit integrity is a physical-security requirement rather than a convention.
Technical Highlights:
- OM4+ Fiber: Exceeds OM4 bandwidth specs — gives you 40G and 100G multimode link support over this 3-meter run with headroom to spare. Relevant when SFP28 or QSFP28 transceivers are in the mix.
- OFNP Plenum Rating: Qualifies for open air-plenum runs without conduit under NEC 770. On a 3-meter cord, this matters most for drops from overhead cable trays into top-of-rack equipment in plenum-ceiling MDF/IDF rooms.
- Keyed/Unkeyed Asymmetry: The mixed-connector configuration is deliberate — it bridges a Panduit coded panel port (keyed side) to a standard vendor SFP port (unkeyed side). Ordering a standard unkeyed cord for a keyed panel defeats the physical security scheme entirely.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify which end of your patch panel uses keyed LC adapters before ordering. This cord is directional by design — the keyed end goes to the panel, unkeyed end goes to the device. Reversing it at installation means the keyed end won't seat in the standard LC transceiver port.
- At 3 meters fixed length, measure the actual cable path — not straight-line distance — between your patch panel and equipment. 3M gives you roughly a meter of slack for cable management; tighter spacing may leave the cord too long to dress cleanly in a 1U or 2U gap.
Best fit for MDF/IDF builds where the structured cabling infrastructure uses Panduit's color-and-key-coded system and the design requires hardware enforcement of circuit segregation — financial, access control, or security-network backbone runs where an accidental cross-patch is a policy violation, not just an inconvenience.
