Panduit FW2ERLNLNSNM020 Opti-Core OM5 Fiber Patch Cord

The Panduit FW2ERLNLNSNM020 is a 20-meter OM5 wideband multimode fiber patch cord engineered for 100G and 400G datacenter backbone deployments. Built on 50/125µm core geometry with LC duplex connectors at both ends, this riser-rated cable delivers the spectral bandwidth required for shortwave wavelength-division multiplexing (SWDM4) while maintaining backward compatibility with OM3/OM4 infrastructure. Standard polarity (Method A per TIA-568) eliminates field guesswork during cross-connect installations, and the 1.6mm cable diameter supports high-density panel packing without exceeding bend-radius limits. Panduit's Opti-Core construction provides mechanical durability and insertion-loss consistency across the full 850nm window, making this the go-to patch cord for structured cabling professionals managing multi-rate fiber plants.

Key Features

OM5 wideband multimode fiber — 50/125µm core supports 100GBASE-SR4 and 400GBASE-SR8 via SWDM4 at 850nm

LC duplex to LC duplex connectors with standard polarity (Method A / TIA-568 key-up-to-key-up)

20-meter (65.6 ft) length suited for datacenter cross-connect, inter-rack, and horizontal backbone runs

Lime green jacket (OM5 standard color code) for instant visual identification in mixed-mode fiber plants

1.6mm cable diameter allows dense panel population while maintaining 30mm minimum bend radius

Riser rated (OFNR) — IEC 60332-1-2 compliant for vertical pathway installations between floors

Duplex LC interface — universal form factor for switches, transceivers, and media converters across all major OEMs

OM5 wideband multimode fiber extends the usable spectrum of traditional OM3/OM4 cable by supporting four discrete wavelengths around 850nm (SWDM4 scheme). This enables 100G and 400G transmission over duplex LC connections without requiring parallel optics (SR10/SR16) or costly single-mode migration. The FW2ERLNLNSNM020 maintains an effective modal bandwidth (EMBc) of 4700 MHz·km at 953nm, allowing 100GBASE-SR4 runs up to 150 meters and 40GBASE-SR4 to 440 meters — well beyond the OM4 ceiling. For integrators managing datacenter refresh cycles, OM5 provides a multi-generation insurance policy: the same cable plant supports today's 10G/25G access layer and tomorrow's 100G/400G spine without a forklift upgrade. The 20-meter length is the practical sweet spot for intra-row cross-connects and MDA-to-EDA links in structured cabling topologies, long enough to route around hot/cold aisles yet short enough to avoid excess loop storage.

LC duplex has become the de facto standard for enterprise and datacenter multimode links, displacing SC and ST connectors due to its small footprint (half the panel density) and positive latching mechanism. Standard polarity (Method A) means transmit on one fiber, receive on the other, with key-up orientation maintained end-to-end — no crossover, no adapter flipping, no field polarity testing with a fiber scope. The 1.6mm round cable construction balances flexibility and crush resistance: tight enough for structured pathway fills (40% maximum per TIA-569), yet robust enough to survive rack-mount equipment moves without kinking. Riser-rated OFNR jacket compound meets IEC 60332-1-2 vertical flame propagation limits, qualifying this cable for installation in vertical shafts, risers, and ducts between floors where plenum rating is not required. For IT/datacenter installers working under BICSI DCDC or TIA-942 design specs, the FW2ERLNLNSNM020 delivers the documented performance and regulatory compliance needed to pass acceptance testing — every time.