Panduit FW2ERLNLNSNM008 Opti-Core OM5 Fiber Optic Patch Cable
The Panduit FW2ERLNLNSNM008 Opti-Core™ duplex fiber patch cable delivers OM5 wideband multimode performance in an 8-meter (26.2 ft) LC-to-LC configuration. Designed for high-bandwidth datacenter and enterprise backbone applications, this lime-green jacketed cable supports shortwave wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM) for 40GBASE-SR4 and 100GBASE-SR4 transmission over multimode fiber. The 1.6mm diameter cable enables flexible routing in high-density rack environments, while OFNR riser rating qualifies the cable for vertical runs between floors in commercial installations.
Key Features
- OM5 Wideband Multimode Fiber: 850-950nm wavelength range supports SWDM for 4x capacity increase over OM4 at equivalent distances, enabling 100GBASE-SR4 transmission up to 150 meters
- Duplex LC Connectors: Industry-standard LC duplex connectors on both ends with precision ceramic ferrules and push-pull tab design for secure, low-loss connections in high-density panels
- 8-Meter Length: 26.2-foot cable length optimized for cross-rack, row-to-row, and room-to-room runs without excess slack management issues
- 1.6mm Cable Diameter: Compact cable profile simplifies routing through tight cable pathways, dense patch panels, and congested rack environments compared to 2.0mm or 3.0mm trunk cables
- Lime Green Jacket: High-visibility lime green outer jacket provides instant OM5 identification per TIA-598 color-coding standard
- OFNR Riser Rating: Plenum-alternative riser flame rating (IEC 60332-1-2 compliant) suitable for vertical runs between floors and general intra-building installations
- Standard Polarity (Type A): Straight-through fiber mapping (A to A, B to B) eliminates polarity reversal complications in duplex transceiver applications
- 50-Micron Core: Standard multimode fiber core diameter ensures compatibility with existing OM3/OM4 infrastructure while future-proofing for higher-speed protocols
OM5 wideband multimode fiber represents the latest evolution in multimode technology, extending the usable wavelength range from OM4's single 850nm band to a wider 850-950nm spectrum. This expanded range enables shortwave wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM), where four separate wavelengths transmit simultaneously over a single fiber pair—effectively quadrupling bandwidth capacity without additional cabling. For 100GBASE-SR4 applications, OM5 maintains the same 150-meter reach as OM4 but opens migration paths to future 200G and 400G protocols using SWDM technology. The precision LC duplex connectors feature ceramic ferrules with sub-micron alignment tolerances to minimize insertion loss and return loss, critical for maintaining signal integrity in high-speed optical links. The push-pull tab mechanism allows tool-free insertion and removal even in fully populated 144-port panels, and the duplex clip maintains correct fiber pair alignment throughout the cable's service life.
The 8-meter cable length addresses a common deployment scenario in modern datacenters: connections between racks in the same row, cross-aisle links in pod architectures, and room-to-room backbone runs in enterprise server rooms. Unlike pre-terminated 5-meter cables that often fall short or 15-meter cables that create slack management headaches, the 8-meter length provides adequate reach with minimal waste. The 1.6mm cable diameter reduces bundle cross-section in high-density environments—ten 1.6mm cables occupy roughly the same space as six 2.0mm cables, a significant advantage when routing through 1U horizontal managers or 4-inch ladder rack. Lime green jacket color follows TIA-598 conventions for instant visual verification during MACs (moves, adds, changes), reducing the chance of unplugging the wrong cable in a sea of aqua OM3 and magenta OM4 jumpers. OFNR riser rating qualifies the cable for vertical installation in return-air spaces and general building pathways, covering the majority of intra-building runs without requiring the cost premium of OFNP plenum-rated cable. Standard Type A polarity—where Fiber A on one end terminates to Fiber A on the opposite end—matches the straight-through wiring expected by duplex transceivers in switches, servers, and media converters, eliminating the need for polarity-reversing cables or crossover adapters in point-to-point links.
Panduit Opti-Core cables are factory-terminated and tested to ensure consistent insertion loss performance across production runs, avoiding the field-termination variability that can plague on-site connector installations. Compliance with IEC 60332-1-2 vertical flame propagation testing provides documentation for electrical inspectors enforcing NEC Article 770 fiber optic cable requirements. Each cable ships individually packaged (carton quantity of 10 for bulk orders), and integrates seamlessly with Panduit's broader Opti-Core fiber system—including FAP wall-mount enclosures, FMP rack-mount panels, NKFP cassettes, and splice trays—for end-to-end single-vendor accountability. When migrating enterprise or datacenter infrastructure to 40G/100G speeds, OM5 provides a cost-effective multimode alternative to singlemode OS2 cabling while preserving familiar LC connector interfaces and installation practices, making it the logical choice for organizations with existing OM3/OM4 plants seeking backward compatibility and forward migration capability in a single cable investment.
