It is a fact that in various fields, people rely on IP devices or so-called networked devices to enhance security, efficiency as well as convenience. Furthermore, PoE technology has shown great ease and flexibility on the cabling infrastructure setup for low voltage IP devices, especially for the most common ones, such as security cameras, wireless access points, VoIP phones, etc. While in this post, we mainly focus on the PoE system that using fiber optic with power to solve unusual applications specifically in real life, which may need to achieve greater distance, higher bandwidth, or better reliability.
PoE Brief Introduction and Limitation
PoE stands for Power over Ethernet, which is an advanced cabling method enabling Ethernet network cable to transmit power at the same time. Only requiring one pull, one network cable is running between the powered devices(like IP camera) and power sourcing equipment(like router，network switch). That said, it is no need to run an extra power cable to an AC power outlet at the edge device end as the power will be transmitted from the main network end, offering great flexibility on the placement of the powered devices.
However, there are quite a lot of situations demanding a long range installation for PoE powered devices, and which occurs in applications like installing devices at outbuildings, or in another premise, or at a different floor where the distance is generally far away from the main network. It is important to know that actually, PoE comes with its limitation on transmission distance, as Ethernet cable can only reach a distance of 100 meters(328 feet) or less due to power loss and voltage drop. With this inherent drawback, long distance installation sometimes can be a big headache to many installers, especially for consumers who are new to PoE or networking.
Two Popular Ways to Extend Ethernet or PoE Distance
To deal with long distance deployment, finding ways that can help extend Ethernet or PoE is the ultimate answer. Here we list two that are being applied popularly by now. One is PoE extenders using copper cabling, and the other is media converters adopting fiber cabling. Let’s get a closer look into them.
Ethernet Extender/PoE Extender
PoE extender can be regarded as an upgraded version of Ethernet extender that supports PoE capability to receive PoE from the PSE and send it to the connected PD. These devices are the most common type of Ethernet extension tools, it can repeat the receive date and power over a longer length breaking the 100 meters transmission distance with a simple plug-and-play connection. One unit of PoE extender can add 100 meters distance, for those daisy types, up to 4 units are able to build a maximum of 500 meters run between the main PSE and remote PD. In this way, only continue to use copper Ethernet cable, such as Cat5e, Cat6 network cable as transmission media.
Apparently, PoE is a good solution to solve the power and data issues for IP devices within a short length. As a matter of fact, fiber optic is also deemed to be an alternative media for Ethernet extension. Fiber optic network features numerous benefits in IP device long distance deployment. Fiber optic cable is slim and makes use of light to realize signal transmission, providing a faster network speed with low latency and few electromagnetic interferences over a greater distance. It is lauded for the flexibility, security, and reliability on the system.
Fiber Media Converter
Fiber media converter is a kind of media conversion tool, which makes copper convert to fiber or vice versus, as you know that copper wires and fiber optic are two completely different media, the former carries the digital signal, while the latter is transmitted over the optical signal. Data in these two different signals can’t talk to each other directly, that’s the reason why fiber media converters are designed and applied. In this way, the installers or consumers can keep the original infrastructure to obtain long distance Ethernet transmission for the remotely powered devices. When the transmission media is changed from copper to fiber, the deployment distance can easily reach 1 km, 20km, or even 80km, which depends on which types of fiber optic cable and SFP modules are chosen.
To utilize fiber optic network for long distance PoE device deployment, there is one issue that needs additional consideration, which is the power issue. Below you are able to find the diagram of a traditional fiber optic link that using a media converter to install an IP security camera over 100 meters.
It is of crucial significance to be aware that fiber optic links are only about the business of data transmitting, in other words, power needs to be dealt with separately. You can see from the above picture that the power of the media converter is getting from the local power source, it is because fiber optic cable is made from glass or plastic that doesn’t allow the electric current to be carried. Does it mean there is no way to get power from the remote main network end? Whereas it is not. Actually, power can be run together with the fiber optic cable. In this way, the installers can make use of fiber just like the way of benefiting from PoE, achieving great flexibility on installation or placement and easy management with the centralized power.
Fastcabling launched PoE over Fiber with DC Power System, which aims at serving an easier, more reliable, more cost-effective way to set up long distance PoE system using fiber optic network. In the following content, we are going to cover you detailed information about the system, range from what is, and why use, to how to.
PoE over Fiber with DC Power System
Definition
Power runs together with fiber, up to now, indeed it could be an unprecedented rare concept that is out of imagination to most people, as it seems an impossibility to get power together with data. But this system makes it come to reality. Fastcabling’s PoE over Fiber with DC Power System is a PoE networking system that meets the need of ultra long range IP devices deployment by using fiber optic link with DC power. In short, it is a system that allows the installer to get PoE at a remote location for powered devices to receive both power and data with only one cabling from the main control center. It simply puts the power supply at the back end away from the remote end, runs power cord and fiber optic cable together, eventually distributed and managed in the termination box.
Features or Benefits
This system benefits remote IP devices from a variety of aspects in practice. For the starter, building a fiber PoE system with remote power is definitely a perfect solution for some applications required to be installed at places where may be hard to access local AC power outlet, or lack of safe condition for power storage and management, or other similar situations. The power along with the cabling is low voltage DC power, which does no harm to human safety, thus it can be handled by the different installers despite of their electrical knowledge or skills.
PoE over Fiber with DC Power System tends to define a brand new impression to the fiber optic system setup, for the majority of people, who are inclined to think that fiber optic is quite a complicated and hard work to be done by themselves with ease. To utilize this system, you can finish the setup with a simple plug-and-play installation when adopting the pre-terminated type connection.
And it is not some kind of thing that could be too expensive to afford for most common homes or small installers. You may have heard of the composite fiber optic cable that allows fiber optic cable to take power over the same cable with a unique structure that making a power cord laid between fiber optic cable, something like power over Ethernet, and it may call power over optical fiber. Undoubtedly, it offers convenience on cabling, but it also shows it drawback on stability and utility, because as long as the fragile fiber optic cable is damaged, then the whole cable is useless to some extent. Additionally, there is some equipment with specific components that enables the fiber to be converted to electric current at a low wattage for some special applications. For these two examples, it is no denying that they suppose to cost a high investment.
In addition, the system provides extreme Do-It-Yourself setup as the installers are capable to choose the customized connection part accordingly by considering the distance, devices quantity, and budget, and so on. You can choose a thicker power cord, or multiple strands of fiber optic cables as the linked part supplying power and data.
What’s more, it is opted to build a true gigabit fiber PoE network by using point-to-point gigabit fiber media converter deployment to satisfy applications with demanding bandwidth requirements, such as WiFi 6 access point, Pan-tilt-zoom security camera, and cell station, etc.
Constitution and Setup
Only several key devices or tools are used to realize PoE extension using fiber with power.
A Pair of Fiber Media Converters
Fiber media converters, as talked about earlier, they are signal converter tools, converting copper to fiber and vice versus. One is used in the main control room, and the most situations are indoor deployment, the 5850-34 Compact Media Converter is suitable. With regard to the other one, adopting the 5844-46 Waterproof Industrial Hardened Grade Fiber PoE Media Converter. It accepts a wide input voltage range to adapt to different applications that vary from power transmission distances. As you know that the longer the distance, the more power voltage loses in wires. To ensure sufficient power supply for the remote media converter and power devices, the 5877-46 gives high flexibility. And remote end generally means outdoor or harsh deployment environment, its IP68 waterproof and dust-proof rating, and rugged housing show its reliability.
Two Fiber and Power Termination Boxes
Fiber and power termination box is a tool that can reduce cabling mess and improve protection on the cable and connectors (fiber and power). It is a useful tool to help route, distribute and manage the cables to get a clean setup. One is placed where is close to the back end, the other is placed where is close to the remote end. Only one pull of customized power cord and fiber optic cable between the two termination boxes, which can be regarded as a fixed power networking infrastructure, only need to add proper network devices when the plan to install desired PoE devices. The distance between the two boxes is completely self-determined.
External AC-DC Power Supply
Most fiber media converters don’t equip with a built-in power supply, so an external AC-DC power supply for each media converter is necessary. The power supply comes in different types and with different voltage and wattage, which type to choose depends on the installation environment, the connected devices, and so on. 6235-69 DC 12V Waterproof 60W Power Supply, 6235-39 DC 48V Waterproof 60W Power Supply, and 6235-19 DC 48V Waterproof 150W Power Supply are alternatives to fits the above mentioned media converters.
If you encounter a similar situation and want to turn to fiber optic network for help, welcome to contact Fastcabling to get more detailed information about PoE systems using fiber with power.
