PoE vs PoE+: Which Is Better for You?

PoE technology is nothing new to network managers as most of them have already integrated PoE or PoE+ switches into their systems. advancements continue to be made that allow for greater flexibility and expanded device support.  By combining data and power on a single Ethernet cable, it enables new opportunities to improve energy efficiency while simplifies network deployment and management. Cabling professionals sometimes are confused when choosing PoE vs PoE+: What is PoE switch or PoE+ switch? Is there any difference between PoE vs PoE+? This post will provide some indications on that.

What Is PoE and Where to Use PoE Switch?

PoE (power over Ethernet) is defined by IEEE 802.3af standard, which can deliver 15.4w/port at maximum and was originally developed to push power to phones and WAPs (wireless access points). Capable of providing sufficient power for most WAPs, surveillance cameras, and IP phones, PoE is usually applied in places that have no access to AC power supply. Besides this great convenience it brings to network infrastructure, PoE also significantly reduces human labor and the cost involved in managing these devices. PoE switch is well fitted for home network and small business.

What Is PoE+ and Where to Use PoE+ Switch?

PoE+ is defined by IEEE 802.3at standard, serving as a more current standard than PoE. As the name indicated, it is an upgraded version of PoE. Compared to the legacy PoE, this option is more powerful to accommodate increased business requirements. PoE+ enables more power to be carried over a standard Ethernet cable – a maximum wattage of 25.5, thus opening the door to a broader range of devices that can be more integrated into your network. With advancements in client device technology and the amount of power they consume, PoE+ switch is fast becoming the go-to option for PoE deployments.

PoE vs PoE+: Who Is the Winner?

We’ve already got the point that the main difference between PoE vs PoE+ is the max amount of power provided. PoE is the simple, basic way to power networking devices, which can be used in most home networking setups and small business. While PoE+ is more efficient and useful in complex business networking scenarios.

PoE+ will help squeeze even more usefulness out of Cat5e and above cabling infrastructure while expanding PoE’s benefits to a much broader range of applications and powered devices (PDs). If you are considering incorporate PoE+ switch, you need to first figure out what types of devices your network would have, and what kind of power draw these types of devices may create. Choosing PoE+ allows you to adjust with the times: Though PoE+ costs more, it will save you a lot of headaches when devices that require higher power levels do come onto your network. For maximum flexibility and long-term planning, it makes sense to consider the use of PoE+ for your next PoE deployment.

PoE vs PoE+: Mix and Match

All other 802.3af features are carried over to the new 802.3at standard. This means existing Ethernet wiring can be used, 802.3af devices are still supported. So how about mixing and matching POE and PoE+ technology? As you can see from the table below, it works reasonably well.

A PoE+ Ethernet switch can support all the older PoE phones and devices, so it has maximum compatibility but is usually more expensive – all of that extra power capability can’t be for free.

Conclusion

Whether to choose PoE vs PoE+? It is clear that these systems are sure to make your space more efficient and easier to use. If you already have an existing PoE network and it is adequate for your need, PoE switch is a fairly good choice. But if you’re starting to build new network infrastructure, there’s simply one smart choice: take PoE+ switch on your list.

How to Integrate PoE to Your Network?

You may come across the situation when it is needed to install IP telephones, wireless access points or IP cameras to somewhere AC power outlets are not available. What would you do then? As extra power supply and wiring installation can be labor-intensified and time-consuming. The most feasible solution is to deploy PoE (Power over Ethernet)—a system standardized by IEEE802.3 that supplies low voltage power to Ethernet-enabled devices via the communication line. Here we illustrate how to upgrade your existing network to PoE.

PoE Network Explained

As its name suggests, PoE (power over Ethernet) is the technology to supply power directly via data cable, eliminating the need for additional electrical wiring. It makes network planning flexible and independent of switch sockets and cabinets, requiring no extra costs for excess wiring. Thus devices can be installed wherever structured Ethernet wiring is located, without the need for AC power outlets nearby.

Generally speaking, this technology enables network cables carry electrical power. Let’s take surveillance camera for example: it typically requires two connections when it is installed: a network connection to communicate with video recording and display equipment, and a power connection to deliver the electrical power to operate the camera. However, if this surveillance camera is PoE compatible, all we need is the network connection, as it can receive the needed electrical power from the cable as well.

Advantages of PoE Network

We know that powered devices such as surveillance cameras and wireless access points are often located in places where traditional power outlets are difficult to install or even not available. Under such circumstances, PoE functions to facilitate the use of wireless access devices, IP phones, surveillance cameras, the benefits of which is thus obvious.

The advantages of power of Ethernet features that Ethernet is always ubiquitous, hence it greatly increases mobility for end devices. And as no AC power involved, PoE is safer to use. Moreover, it simplifies installation and operation without the need for extra AC power wiring, keeping the cabling secure while not interfering with the network operation. This makes power over Ethernet a much securer, more reliable and cost-saving solution.

How to Integrate PoE to Your Network?

Before upgrading your existing network to PoE-enabled one. You’d better firstly make clear that there are two types of devices involved in this system: power sourcing equipment (PSE) and powered devices (PD). PD refers to a power over Ethernet compatible network end device equipped to accept power transmitted over structured Ethernet cabling. PSE provides DC power to PD. A PSE may be an endspan device or a midspan device. An endspan device typically is a network switch enabled to provide PoE power on each port. A midspan device is connected in-line to each end device and adds power to the line.

There generally exist three routes to achieve power over Ethernet to your network.

1. By PoE switch: a PoE switch is a network switch that with built-in power over Ethernet injection. Simply by connecting other network devices to the switch as normal, the switch will detect whether they are compatible to power over Ethernet and then enable power automatically. This kind of switches are available to suit all applications, from low-cost unmanaged edge switches with a few ports, up to complex multi-port rack-mounted units with sophisticated management.

2. Using midspan: a midspan enables PoE capability to regular network switches. With midspan, one can upgrade existing LAN installations to PoE. Midspan also provides a versatile solution where fewer ports are required. Upgrading each network connection to power over Ethernet is as simple as patching it through the midspan.

3. Via a PoE splitter: it is also feasible to upgrade powered devices (PDs) to power over Ethernet enabled ones by splitter. This splitter is patched into the camera’s network connection, and taps off the PoE power, which it converts into a lower voltage suitable for the camera.

Conclusion

The simplicity of combining signal and power in one Ethernet cable connection makes PoE technology an ideal solution for enterprise network. In this case, PSE can provide power to a wide variety of PD in areas with no access to AC power. Deploying this technology in your network will lead to a safe, reliable, and economical way to deliver consistent and dependable power to common networking devices.

Source: http://www.fiber-optic-solutions.com/integrate-poe-network.html

Fundamentals of Power over Ethernet (PoE)

With the introduction of new Ethernet-enabled devices expanding geometrically, the need to power these devices from standard AC power outlets has become a limiting factor. IP telephones, wireless access points, IP cameras and device servers are examples of devices limited by the need to have an AC power outlet nearby to plug in a DC power adapter. At best, power supply installation and wiring adds labor and results in the mess of extra wiring; worst case, the lack of nearby AC power means devices cannot be installed where they are needed.

In response to this need, IEEE developed IEEE802.3af to standardize a system of supplying low voltage power to networked devices via the communications line. It is more commonly referred to as Power over Ethernet (POE). This article focus on introducing some fundamental elements about PoE.

Basic Concepts of PoE

PoE is defined across a single network link that includes three basic components. The first one is an equipment delivering power to the cable (often referred to as a PSE, which stands for power sourcing equipment). The second component is a device receiving power from the cable (also known as a powered device, or PD). The third is the cable itself.

Typical PDs include IP cameras, wireless access points, and the PSE would normally be a PoE switch or a midspan power injector, patched in to add PoE capability to a non-PoE network switch channel or similar. These two configurations are shown in the following picture.

Advantages of PoE

The most prominent advantages of PoE are time saving and cost effective. By reducing the time and expense of having electrical power cabling installed, network cables do not require a qualified electrician to fit them, thus it can be located anywhere. Besides, it has great flexibility. Without being tethered to an electrical outlet, the PDs (IP cameras, wireless access points) could be located wherever they are needed most. Safety is the third advantage. PoE delivery is intelligent and it is designed to protect network equipment from overload, or incorrect installation. Also it has reliability and scalability. PoE power comes from a central and universally compatible source, rather than a collection of distributed wall adapters. It can be backed-up by an uninterruptible power supply, or controlled to easily disable or reset devices.

Applications of PoE

The original PoE application is VoIP phones, which have a single connection to a wall socket, and can be remotely powered down, just like with the older analog systems. PoE could also be used in IP cameras. It is ubiquitous on networked surveillance cameras where it enables fast deployment and easy repositioning. Wifi and bluetooth APs and RFID (radio frequency identification devices) readers are commonly PoE-compatible, to allow remote location away from AC outlets, and relocation following site surveys.

How PoE Works

PoE is designed to operate over standard network cable: Cat 3, Cat 5, Cat 5e or Cat 6 (often collectively referred to as Cat 5), using conventional RJ45 connectors. The principles of carrying electrical power over Cat5 are of no difference to those of other power distribution systems, but as the power is being transferred over light-duty cable for long distances, the effects of the power loss and voltage drop become significant.

The arrangement and connection to the cabling used for PoE also differ slightly from conventional power wiring, in order to work around the existing standard for Ethernet data. Cat 5 network cables contain a bundle of eight wires, arranged as four twisted pairs shown in the following picture. In the most common type of Ethernet, 100BASE-T or Fast Ethernet, only two of the four pairs are used to carry data; each pair carrying a signal in one direction. These are known as the data pairs, and the remaining two are unused and are referred to as the spare pairs.

Although each data signal can be carried within a single pair, PoE treats each pair of wires as a single conductor (a reason for this is that using both wires halves the overall resistance). As electrical current must flow in a loop, two pairs are required to allow power to be carried by the cable, and either the data or spare pairs can be used for this. The PD must be able to accept power from whichever pairs the PSE delivers it to.

Conclusion

PoE is a convenient and now ubiquitous method for delivering power to a wide variety of loads on standard Cat 5 Ethernet cables. It is no doubt that Power over Ethernet will become increasingly important in the near future.

First published: http://www.fiber-optic-components.com/fundamentals-of-power-over-ethernet-poe.html