Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a revolutionary technology that transmits power and data to networked devices through the same Ethernet cable, which realizes a more stable and reliable power output from a centralized point rather than a collection of distributed wall outlets and greatly simplifies the networking procedures. Along with the development of PoE technology comes the flourishing of various kinds of PoE devices, such as IP surveillance cameras and wireless access points. To power these devices, PoE power is demanded. However, the older network switches without PoE capability in most cases support data connectivity only. Extra power cabling is oftentimes required to supply power to the terminal devices, which causes great inconvenience in installation and highly limits its application in places where the AC outlet is unreachable. So is there any way to break the power limit of the non-PoE switches?
Luckily for you, here is an outstanding solution for you to upgrade the existing network infrastructure. Use a PoE injector to take advantage of PoE technology.
PoE injector: the savior of outdated network switches
Evidently, replacing the non-PoE compatible switch or installing a new power outlet is not a viable choice, nor is the unnecessary dual-cabling or re-wiring, while PoE injector, one of the best inventions in PoE applications, offers a practical and economical solution to make the non-PoE network switch able to work with the PoE-compatible devices, saving both time and money. As its name implies, the PoE injector injects PoE capability to the regular Ethernet switch and makes it possible to deploy PoE-compatible devices in hard-to-reach areas with greater flexibility of placement. It’s of great help when installing a wireless access point in the ceiling where there is no available power or network. Like any other PoE equipment, it transfers power and data to the powered devices (PDs) on a twisted-pair cabling system at a maximum distance of 100 meters, eliminating the need for additional power cabling.
The PoE injector offers a versatile solution to power the terminal device. It is a powerful device to deliver higher power output with improved network speed and less latency in long-distance deployments. It has a smaller footprint taking less equipment to deploy the remote devices, which makes it ideal for situations where only a few PoE ports are demanded. As the demand for higher power per port increases, the regular PoE switch fails to provide sufficient power to the edge devices due to the severe voltage drop or power loss during the long-distance transmission. Thereby, installing a PoE injector near the edge device will be a better solution to set up an uninterruptible power link between the power sourcing equipment (PSE) and PD. It can also work with the PoE switch to provide power to the high-powered devices at higher output. The PoE injector from Fastcabling supports 10 Gigabit network speed with a total power budget of 95W and works perfectly with both PoE and non-PoE switches.
Note: Beware the PoE injector is NOT able to function independently. As midspan to enable the existing network to support PoE and supply power to PoE-enabled devices, it is usually used together with an Ethernet switch (whether it be PoE or non-PoE network switches) or a router for network connection and data uploading. Without the network station, it’s only a power supply device.
How does the PoE injector work?
It needs to be powered up by the outer alternating currents (AC power) so as to trigger the PD to start up. The IEEE 802.3af/at/bt compliant PoE injector will not damage any equipment, even those not for PoE applications, because it will simultaneously convert the AC power to DC power (direct currents) before it sends the power to the terminal device. It shares the same working principle as the PoE switch by initiating a handshake procedure to identify whether the connected device is PoE-compatible or not and decide how much power is required. The PoE injector first sends a low-voltage pulse to the device, which is harmless to any connected device, and gradually rises up to 48V. And if the handshake procedure fails for any reason, the power will be cut off. Additionally, it usually works with a PoE splitter to deliver power to the non-PoE devices especially in scenarios where there are no AC outlets nearby. After receiving the power and data transmitted from the injector, the PoE splitter will separate the power from the data in a different line to power remote non-PoE devices. And for data uploading and networking, the injector needs to work with a network switch (PoE or non-PoE) to transmit the signals to the connected device.
What are the advantages of using a PoE injector?
PoE injectors offer a great solution to make full use of the existing network infrastructure. Here are some reasons why you should choose the PoE injectors over traditional re-wiring.
Reliability: A constant power delivery is guaranteed with an uninterruptible power source from a centralized point rather than multiple adapters and sockets. Power conversion from AC to DC ensures lower risks of power outrages, over/under-load, and permanent electrical damages to the PD if the wrong voltage is transmitted. And the point-to-point PoE connection dramatically reduces the chances of power failure with a minimal impact on other connected devices, while other PSE devices will shut down the whole PoE system when they experience power failures. Moreover, the power supply will be immediately cut off if the handshake procedure doesn’t carry out successfully or the PD is broken or short-circuited.
Simplicity: Like any other PoE equipment, the PoE injector features a simple plug-and-play installation for high-speed network connection without software configuration. Everyone can set up the power/data link themselves to add PoE capability to the regular switches and maintain high-level PoE performance with no technical support demanded. Just follow the instructions on the user guide and connect the PoE injector to the edge device and to the network switch for power and data connection. It is hot-swappable, which gives you great flexibility on installation and reposition without taking the device offline.
Cost-effectiveness: The PoE injector is a money-wise investment. The delivery of power and data over the same Ethernet cable eliminates the need for extra AC/DC power supplies and outlet installation, which dramatically lowers the costs of hiring an licensed electrician for installation in areas where no power is present. Typically, installing or replacing electrical outlets will cost you nearly $185 per unit, let alone the costs of breaking through the walls and running cables along the ceilings, while utilizing a PoE injector will save you a large sum of money considering no additional labor or power infrastructure is required. And regular Ethernet cable is rather inexpensive and oftentimes is already installed in the location.
All-in-one and compact design: The PoE injector leaves a rather small footprint, a compact device that will not take too much space for installation. In fact, it can be considered the mini version of a PoE switch but in a more compact size with fewer PoE ports, but without the management function. It integrates power conversion (AC to DC power), power management (PoE injectors compliant to IEEE 802.3 standards) and power/data connection all in one unit. Power consumption can be monitored in real time with LED indicators. It takes fewer devices to get your PoE system running, reducing job stress. It is a great alternative to PoE switches when fewer devices are installed.
How to use the PoE injector: key elements to make a better installation
The PoE injector has three ports: a power input port, a data input port and a PoE port (power and data output). Simply run an Ethernet cable from the regular/PoE switch or a router to the injector and plug it into the data input port for data transmission. Plug the power cord into a local electrical outlet to activate the injector. Then use a second Ethernet cable to connect the injector and the PoE-enabled powered device. As previously mentioned, if you’re gonna power a non-PoE device, a PoE splitter is needed to separate the power and data into different cables so as to deliver power for non-PoE devices. No special cable is needed for installation. But it’s highly recommended to choose pure copper cables over copper clad aluminum (CCA) cables because the latter suffer considerable depreciation than the former, resulting in significant attenuation and re-transmission. Besides, CCA cables have severe DC resistance with more power dissipated as heat during transmission. Solid copper cables suffer less signal and power loss as the distance increases with great immunity to adverse weather conditions or corrosive elements. Standard Cat5/5e/6 cables are recommended for PoE installation.
Things to consider before buying a PoE injector
Number of PDs: If you only plan to connect one or two new PoE-enabled devices to your regular network switch, using PoE injectors is a practical solution. Installing 2 PoE injectors is relatively inexpensive with a smaller footprint. But if you want to connect more IP devices, it’s highly suggested to replace the network switch with a PoE one, which boasts of more PoE ports and reliable power and data connection. If you apply a PoE injector for each device, you’ll need more electrical outlets to power up the injector and the connected cables will quickly become messy and tangled up if not well maintained.
PoE standards: There are several PoE standards: 802.3af (PoE), 802.3at (PoE+) and 802.3bt (PoE++) available in the PoE injectors. Make sure the one you choose is compliant with your terminal devices. When irresponsibly used, the PD will get damaged or cannot receive power to start up. For example, you’re gonna power up high-power equipment, such as POS system and LED lighting, a PoE++ injector is needed to ensure the ongoing functionality of the connected device with a maximum power supply of 100W at the PSE.
Voltage output: PoE injectors can be mainly classified into 12V, 24V and 48V in accordance with the voltage output they can provide. Before purchasing a PoE injector, double-check if the injector is compliant with the voltage requirement of the PD. A false match will lead to operation failure and overload or underload which will cause irreversible damages to the PD.
