Superior Essex launches DAS hybrid cable

Superior Essex Inc. had unveiled an indoor plenum fiber and copper hybrid cable for distributed antenna systems (DAS). The DAS hybrid cable consists of two discrete cables, one copper and one fiber, paired beneath an overjacket. This dual-cable design enables the hybrid cable to transmit communications while also providing power to DAS remote units.

Superior Essex says the cables are ideal for distributed antenna systems when the remote units are powered from a centralized source.

Several features of this cable design facilitate efficiency during installations and deployment, the company claims. The two-in-one design enables power and fiber cables to be pulled simultaneously, saving time and labor by eliminating the need for two separate pulls. Unlike round hybrid cables with unjacketed copper and fiber, the discrete copper and fiber-optic cables within the Superior Essex hybrid cable can be easily separated and routed individually. Furthermore, the copper conductors use a black and red color scheme that makes it easier to determine positive and negative connections.

This cable is UL 13 CL2P plenum rated, making it eligible for installation throughout a building, including air-carrying plenum space. When the cable is part of a NEC Class 2 power limited system some local building codes allow it to be installed without being enclosed in a raceway or armored.

“The surge in DAS deployments places an increased demand on contractors to complete installations faster. The Superior Essex hybrid cable helps reduce the installation time by eliminating the need for two separate cable pulls,” said Kim Purdie, director of product management – wireless products, Superior Essex.

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