An LC to SC patch cord is a fibre jumper with a 1.25 mm LC connector at one end and a 2.5 mm SC connector at the other, used to join SFP-type equipment to SC panels and ODFs. Radix Fibrotech makes LC to SC cords to order in Pune, single-mode or multimode, simplex or duplex, UPC or APC, at any length, and tests each one.
Configure your LC to SC patch cord
Every LC to SC patch cord is defined by the choices below. Pick one option in each row and the cord is fully specified.
| Option | Choices | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre type | OS2 single-mode 9/125 µm; OM3, OM4 or OM5 multimode 50/125 µm; OM2 50/125 µm or OM1 62.5/125 µm where still installed | Match the fibre in the link and the optic. Usual jackets: yellow OS2, aqua OM3 and OM4, lime green OM5, orange OM1 and OM2 |
| Fibre count | Simplex (one fibre) or duplex (two fibres) | Most network links are duplex; simplex suits bidirectional optics and test leads |
| LC end polish | UPC or APC (single-mode); UPC (multimode) | Taken from the port it plugs into, usually an LC/UPC transceiver |
| SC end polish | UPC or APC (single-mode); UPC (multimode) | Taken from the panel or ODF adaptor; SC/APC is common in access networks |
| Jacket | LSZH, PVC, riser (OFNR) or plenum (OFNP), armoured | LSZH is the usual indoor choice in India, the UK, Europe and the Gulf; riser and plenum are US NEC ratings |
| Cable construction | 2.0 mm or 3.0 mm simplex; duplex zip cord or round duplex cable | Zip cord can be split at the ends; round cable is tidier in long runs |
| Length | Any length to order | State the tolerance if the length is critical |
| Marking | Labels at each end, custom print on the jacket | Useful where cords are traced across racks |
The full range of connector pairs, including LC to LC and SC to SC, is on the fibre optic patch cords page.
When you need an LC to SC cord
An LC to SC cord joins two connector families that cannot mate directly, because the LC ferrule is 1.25 mm and the SC ferrule is 2.5 mm. The common cases are these.
- SFP equipment to SC panels and ODFs. Switches, routers and OLTs with SFP or SFP+ optics have LC ports, while many patch panels and optical distribution frames are fitted with SC adaptors.
- Migrating older SC infrastructure. Buildings and campuses cabled to SC can take new LC equipment without re-terminating the permanent links.
- Media converters and test sets. Some converters, older line cards and instruments still have SC ports.
A cord is the better answer than a hybrid LC to SC adaptor, which adds a joint, more loss and a weaker mechanical fit. The LC connector guide and SC connector guide describe each end in detail.
UPC, APC or one of each
Each end of the cord takes the polish of the port it plugs into. A cord can be LC/UPC to SC/UPC, LC/APC to SC/APC, or mixed, and the mixed cord LC/UPC to SC/APC is one of the most ordered hybrids: it connects a UPC transceiver to an SC/APC access network panel. APC connectors are normally green, single-mode UPC blue. Never mate an APC connector with a UPC port, which leaves an air gap, raises loss and can damage both end faces. Multimode cords are UPC at both ends. The UPC vs APC guide explains where each polish is used.
Duplex polarity: A to B
A duplex LC to SC cord carries transmit and receive on separate fibres, and they must cross so that transmit at one end reaches receive at the other. ANSI/TIA-568 calls this an A-to-B duplex patch cord: the fibre in position A at the LC end lands in position B at the SC end, and the other fibre does the reverse.
Both the LC duplex clip and the SC duplex holder mark positions A and B. A cord built A-to-A will light the wrong receiver and the link will not come up. If your channel uses a different polarity method, say so on the order and it will be built to match.
Testing and inspection
Radix tests each LC to SC cord before it ships. Insertion loss is measured on every connector, and return loss on single-mode connectors, at the usual wavelengths: 1310 and 1550 nm for single-mode, 850 and 1300 nm for multimode. Each end face is inspected under magnification against the IEC 61300-3-35 criteria for scratches, pits and contamination. The results go with the order, so the cord has a baseline if a link later shows high loss.
If your project sets a maximum insertion loss or a minimum return loss, put the figures on the order and ask for the test report format you need.
What to put in a quote
- Fibre type: OS2, OM3, OM4, OM5, OM2 or OM1.
- Simplex or duplex, and the polarity if duplex.
- Polish at the LC end and at the SC end.
- Jacket type, diameter and construction.
- Length and tolerance.
- Loss limits and test report requirements, if any.
- Labelling or jacket print.
- Quantity for each configuration.
A short table with one row per configuration is the quickest format. Send it through the request a quote page, with a drawing if the cord has non-standard breakouts or marking.
Price on request: what sets the cost
LC to SC patch cords are priced per configuration. The main factors are the following.
- Fibre type. OM4 and OM5 cost more per metre than OM3 and OS2.
- Polish. APC polishing and inspection take longer than UPC.
- Length. Cable is a small share of a short cord and a large share of a long one.
- Jacket. Plenum, armoured and low-smoke jackets cost more than standard PVC.
- Quantity. Many identical cords cost less each than many different ones.
Loss limits, test reports and custom labels add handling. Quotes compare fairly only when every one of these points matches.
Questions buyers ask
Is an LC to SC patch cord the same as an SC to LC patch cord?
Yes. The cord works in either direction, so the name only reflects which end the buyer mentions first. On a duplex cord, check the A and B markings at each end so that the polarity matches the channel.
Which fibre type should my LC to SC cord use?
Use the same fibre as the link and the optic. Single-mode optics need OS2. Short-reach multimode optics need the grade the link was built with, usually OM3 or OM4. Mixing 50 µm and 62.5 µm multimode causes large losses.
Can an LC to SC cord connect an SFP to an SC/APC panel?
Yes, with an LC/UPC to SC/APC cord. The LC/UPC end matches the transceiver port and the green SC/APC end matches the panel adaptor. An all-UPC cord would mismatch the panel and damage its connectors.
Does an LC to SC cord have more loss than an LC to LC cord?
No. Each connector mates in its own matching adaptor, so loss depends on termination quality, not on the connector family. A hybrid adaptor used instead of a hybrid cord is what adds loss.
Can you make armoured LC to SC patch cords?
Yes. Armoured LC to SC cords are made to order for floors, ducts and machinery where a standard cord could be crushed. Specify the jacket, the armour and the length on the quote request.