Universal dropout for cable tray

The Universal Hang On Drop Out (UDO) is now available from Legrand. The company describes the UDO as a “first-of-its-kind cable dropout solution for high-capacity data centers that protects the integrity of trays and cables to help optimize performance.”

The UDO does not require any cutting or modifications to the existing wire mesh cable tray and features a 120-degree bend to ensure cables do not have any potential pinch points or kinds, the company explained. “This will benefit data centers that are challenged with managing the expansive lengths of heavy overhead cabling necessary to meet consumer demand for faster data download, streaming and transfer speeds,” Legrand added.

“Data centers are also increasingly using fiber-optic cables,” the company said. “If fiber is bent at too sharp of an angle, performance can be hampered or the cables can even break.” The UDO can be used with twisted-pair cable as well as fiber-optic cable.

Bob Crain, director of marketing and product development for Legrand’s Cablofil product line, commented, “Trends like cloud computing, online video and mobile technology have led to higher-capacity data centers that are fitting more cables into their spaces. Trays are full and data centers are looking for a new way to drop cables without compromising performance. The Universal Hang On Dropout is the ideal solution.”

The company said the UDO is easy to install; it snaps onto the edge of an existing cable tray.

It is available in 8-, 12-, 18-, and 24-inch sizes with a variety of finishes including electrozinc, white, black, or a customized color. Hardware is included so the user can bolt-down the UDO if desired, and tie-down slots for cables are sized for hook-and-loop fasteners.

“Unlike competitive products, you don’t have to thread the cables or cut the tray, so it’s easy to get cable in and out of the UDO itself,” Crain said. “If the server room is rearranged and cabinets are moved, a person can physically pick up the UDO and move it. This ability to quickly reconfigure is critical in ever-changing data centers.”