Panduit PWB2X24BL 2" x 24" Wire Basket Tray

Panduit PWB2X24BL 2" x 24" Steel Wire Basket Tray

The Panduit PWB2X24BL is a 2-inch-deep by 24-inch-wide steel wire basket tray designed for overhead cable routing in data centers, connected buildings, and industrial automation installations. Powder-coated black for corrosion resistance and professional appearance, this UL-classified pathway system serves double duty as both a cable support structure and an equipment grounding conductor per NEC Article 392, eliminating the need for separate grounding infrastructure in compliant installations. Ships as a single 10-foot section with hardware for straight runs; pair with Panduit's bracket, splice, and drop-out accessory ecosystem for complete pathway builds.

Key Features

• 2" depth × 24" width × 10' length steel wire basket section for high-density horizontal cable distribution
• UL classified as Equipment Grounding Conductor per NEC 392.3(C) and 392.7(B) — pathway itself grounds rack equipment when properly bonded
• Powder-coated black finish resists corrosion in HVAC-conditioned environments and industrial spaces with temperature swings
• Open-wire construction provides 80%+ airflow vs. solid tray, critical for heat dissipation in densely cabled runs above server racks
• Drop-in compatible with Chatsworth CF54/600BL, Cablofil FT2X24X10-BL, and Legrand WBT2X24BL mounting hardware per competitor cross-reference

Wire basket tray has become the go-to overhead pathway for modern data center builds because it solves three problems solid ladder rack and perforated tray create: heat retention, cable visibility during troubleshooting, and weight. A 10-foot section of 24"-wide wire basket weighs roughly 40% less than equivalent perforated tray, reducing structural load on ceiling grids and T-bar supports. The open-wire design allows installers to visually trace individual cables without removing covers, and passive airflow prevents the hot-spot buildup that occurs when hundreds of Cat6A or fiber trunk cables fill an enclosed raceway. Panduit's 2-inch depth specification handles typical horizontal distribution loads — figure 50–70 cables (mix of Cat6A and fiber) at standard 50% fill — while the 24-inch width accommodates dual-pathway separation (power on one side, low-voltage on the other) when required by AHJ interpretation of NEC 725.136.

The PWB2X24BL's UL classification as an equipment grounding conductor under NEC 392.3(C) means the basket itself can serve as the ground path for rack-mounted equipment, provided all sections are electrically continuous via Panduit's bonding hardware (grounding straps ship separately; see PWB-GKIT). This eliminates the need to pull a separate ground wire inside the basket for racks fed from overhead circuits, a common labor-saver in raised-floor retrofits where underfloor grounding is impractical. Section 392.7(B) further permits wire basket as a grounding means for circuits up to 600V, covering typical 120/208V or 277/480V data center distribution. Note that achieving continuous electrical path requires torquing all splice-plate connections to Panduit's spec (120 in-lbs for steel-on-steel) and using anti-corrosion compound at dissimilar-metal junctions if integrating with aluminum supports.

Installation planning: Panduit wire basket uses a bracket-and-rail suspension system rather than threaded-rod hangers. Ceiling brackets (sold separately; see PWB-BCKT series) mount to structural deck or bar joist, then the basket sections drop into the bracket's formed channel and lock with set screws. Maximum span between supports is 5 feet for the 2" depth model at 50 lb/ft load rating; increase support frequency to 4-foot centers if load exceeds 35 lb/ft or if pathway will be subject to seismic bracing per ASCE 7. Splice plates (PWB-SPL24) join sections end-to-end; radius fittings (PWB-VB24 series for vertical bends, PWB-HB24 for horizontal) maintain minimum bend radius for Cat6A (4× cable OD) and OM4 fiber (20× cable OD). The black powder coat is consistent across Panduit's entire wire basket line, so mixing 2", 4", and 6" depths in a tiered pathway layout presents a uniform appearance. For outdoor or high-humidity environments, specify the hot-dip galvanized variant (PWB2X24HDG) instead; powder coat is rated for indoor controlled-environment use only.

This product ships in cartons of 2 sections (20 linear feet total). Competitor cross-reference confirms mechanical compatibility with Chatsworth CF54/600BL, Cablofil FT2X24X10-BL, and Legrand WBT2X24BL systems — installers extending existing non-Panduit wire basket runs can use Panduit sections as drop-in replacements provided bracket hole-spacing matches (verify 24" on-center mounting-hole pattern before ordering at scale). All Panduit wire basket carries the manufacturer's standard warranty and meets NEMA VE-1 dimensional standards for cable tray systems, ensuring fitment with third-party cable-runway accessories where AHJ or design spec requires source flexibility.