LC to LC Duplex Armored Fiber Patch Cable, OM4, Riser (OFCR)

New Zealand engineering teams can use the documented values below to compare the product with the intended channel and as-built requirements. This duplex armored patch cable terminates two LC UPC connectors on an OM4 50/125µm multimode item wrapped in a helical stainless steel tube. The aqua 3.0mm riser-rated (OFCR) jacket identifies the multimode grade at a glance; at the same time, the steel armor beneath it absorbs the crushing, pulling and rodent damage that interrupts unprotected patch leads. Bend-insensitive OM4 glass keeps the optical path stable where the channel turns tightly through trays and rack posts.

Product Highlights

• Bend-insensitive OM4 fiber, 20/10D dynamic/static bend radius
• Riser (OFCR) flame rating for vertical building pathways
• Insertion loss ≤0.3dB, return loss ≥30dB
• Stock lengths 1m to 30m; custom lengths and jackets on request
• LC UPC to LC UPC duplex, OM4 50/125µm multimode
• Helical stainless steel armor against crush, impact and rodents

Specifications

OM4 multimode for 10G to 100G short-reach links

OM4 is the workhorse multimode grade for 850nm VCSEL optics. It carries 10GBASE-SR to 400m, 40GBASE-SR4 and 25G-class links comfortably, and supports 100GBASE-SR4 breakout pairs and bidirectional duplex optics over the distances typical of data center rows and hardware rooms. The duplex LC interface matches SFP+, SFP28 and QSFP-series ports directly; therefore, one armored cord product line covers most short-reach multimode links without adapters.

Aqua identification in dense patching fields

The aqua jacket follows the industry color convention for OM3/OM4 multimode, which speeds up tracing and reduces cross-joint errors in crowded frames. The steel armor sits invisibly under that jacket: the cord dresses and tags exactly like a standard patch cable, yet survives being stepped on, pinched by floor tiles or dragged across a tray edge during rework.

Why armor a multimode patch cord

Multimode links typically run in the most exposed parts of a building: under raised floors, across warehouse ceilings, through retail or industrial spaces shared with power cabling and foot traffic. Conduit adds cost and locks the channel in place. With the helical steel tube built into the cord itself, the pathway stays flexible, the relevant cable count in the tray stays low, and a damaged optical path typically means re-terminating nothing more than a single replaceable jumper.

Routing and installation notes

The armored cord bends and dresses like a standard 3.0mm jumper, with two differences worth respecting: keep the channel inside the 20/10D bend-radius limits of the OM3/OM4 glass, and avoid crushing the coil under heavier power cables when trays are shared. In under-floor runs, lay the cord flat rather than coiled on edge, and leave the factory coil memory to relax before final dressing. The steel tube holds its shape well, which makes neat right-angle exits from managers easier than with loose-buffered patch leads.

Length range and customization

Regular length versions are stocked for fast delivery: 1m (3ft), 2m (7ft), 3m (10ft), 5m (16ft), 10m (33ft), 15m (49ft), 20m (66ft) and 30m (98ft), covering the common rack-to-rack, access and frame connections this cord is built for. Project-built lengths beyond this range are manufactured to order. Since each extra meter of 50/125µm glass adds attenuation at 850nm, for multimode channels, keeping the cord close to the true channel length additionally protects the loss calculation,. Specifying the particular channel length avoids the two the slack storage problem of an overlong cord and the strain risk of one that is too short.

Optical testing and quality checks

Every cord is terminated with precision zirconia ferrule LC connectors and measured for insertion loss and return loss before packing; the 0.3dB ceiling is a verified test limit. End-face geometry is inspected for consistent physical contact, and ferrules are rated for up to one thousand mating cycles in frequently reconfigured patching fields.

How to Specify and Order

Reference against the LC-LC OM4 duplex armored product line and state the channel length and jacket rating. Non-standard colors, APC polish or alternative connectors are handled through the made-to-order duplex armored program; send the requirement with the enquiry and the factory confirms the manufacturable specification before production is released. New Zealand project orders can include documentation and labeling requirements alongside the technical configuration.