equip LC-ST Duplex Fibre Optic Patch Cable, OM3 multimode 50/125µm, LSZH, 5m, Aqua

The equip 255215 is a 5 m duplex OM3 multimode 50/125 µm fibre optic patch cable with an LC connector on one end and ST on the other, for linking switches, servers, media converters and patch panels in racks and comms rooms.

OM3 is laser-optimised 50/125 µm multimode fibre, recognised by its aqua jacket, and the long-standing standard for 10 Gigabit links inside a building: IEEE specifies OM3 for 10GBASE-SR up to 300 m and 25GBASE-SR up to 70 m.

• 1 × LC-ST duplex fibre optic patch cable, 5 m (package contents as listed by the manufacturer)

• At 5 m it reaches between neighbouring racks or across a small comms room.
• Duplex means two fibres in one cable: one carries transmit and the other receive, so one cable completes one link between two transceivers.
• Because one end is LC and the other ST, it connects two different port types directly, for example an SFP/SFP+ transceiver to an ST patch panel or older ST equipment, with no coupler or adapter in between.
• The LSZH (low smoke, zero halogen) jacket is the usual requirement in offices, data centres and public buildings: in a fire it gives off little smoke and no corrosive halogen gas.
• Keep the end faces covered until you plug in: a dirty connector is the most common reason a new fibre link does not come up.

• Single-mode optics (LX, LR, ER at 1310/1550 nm): they need an OS2 single-mode cable, not multimode.
• Links that are not LC on one side and ST on the other: check both ports before you order.
• Copper RJ45 ports: fibre needs an optical transceiver or a media converter at each end.
• MPO/MTP ports (40G/100G SR4 parallel optics): they use multi-fibre trunk cables, not duplex patch cords.