Easy as PoE

July 28, 2010 by John Porter
Filed under: CCTV Articles, CCTV Camera, General Technology, Power Supply, Security Camera, Security Camera Packages, Security Camera System, Security DVR 

PoE Injector and SplitterThere are several reasons why many customers want to move from there current DVR and analog systems into the world of network security. Better picture quality and the ease of merging into the IP world, are just a couple of reasons. One of the reasons the conversion to IP cameras and network security is so appealing is the ease of installation. In the past when you wanted to add a camera to a system you had several things to consider. One of the most important was how to get power to that device.

In the past cameras required two cables, one for data and one for power. With security camera systems constantly expanding, the demand for using only one cable to manage both data and power increased. The solution to this problem is Power over Ethernet (PoE). PoE is the ability to power a device through an Ethernet cable.

There are a couple of things that you will need to know about PoE, if you don’t already. First of all, not all network switches provide PoE, but they are becoming more popular and far more cost effective. PoE switches come in a variety of sizes and prices to fit your security budget. Some switches offer power through all ports, while others only offer power from a few ports.

When purchasing a PoE switch be sure you know what you need and what you are getting. Some switches have limitations, which could conflict with the goals you have for your security system. If you happen to have a switch that does not provide power to your device, all is not lost. These devices can have an injector put in-line to provide power. PoE injectors come in single port and multi-port configurations just as a switch does. Injectors will add cost to your project so be certain that they are required.

As with any project, planning is everything. If you are using PoE be sure to make sure the cameras are PoE compliant and then determine if your switch will be providing that power or if you will need injectors for your project. Installation time can be greatly reduced when using PoE devices, but these same devices can cost quite a bit more than a standard analog systems. Take some time to do the proper research before you commit to a security system and you might save yourself time, money, and a few unnecessary headaches.

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Comments

13 Comments on Easy as PoE

  1. Diane on Wed, 28th Jul 2010 1:01 pm

    2. Good information for the un initiated.
    Thanks

  2. Dawn Hass on Fri, 30th Jul 2010 8:45 am

    3. I love having the ability to power over my cat5e cable. Its so much nicer and a cleaner run

  3. Ben Stevens on Fri, 30th Jul 2010 1:54 pm

    4. Sounds easy enough!

  4. Neal Bennet on Tue, 3rd Aug 2010 2:03 pm

    5. I think this is a great advantage to the old school cabling with running two cables, great info.

  5. Larry J. on Thu, 5th Aug 2010 5:45 pm

    6. PoE is the only way to go!!!!

  6. Anthony on Sun, 8th Aug 2010 9:56 pm

    7. Very informative. I’ve used these injectors and they are simply the best accessory when working with network cameras.

  7. James K. on Thu, 19th Aug 2010 4:29 am

    8. I would much rather install an IP based system any day rather than analog and because not all cameas are true PoE compliant, the injectors are the best and nost convenient way to power my cameras.

  8. Angie L. on Thu, 2nd Sep 2010 9:13 am

    9. I like PoE. Once I figured out which part I needed for which cameras. You have to watch and make sure the camera has PoE capability.

  9. Mark S. on Mon, 11th Oct 2010 6:57 am

    10. Remember, PoE is an option. If you can power your camera locally, sometime it is easier and more cost effective to do so.

  10. Danny W. on Tue, 19th Oct 2010 9:47 pm

    11. PoE makes life as an installler so much easier!!

  11. Adam on Wed, 17th Nov 2010 12:49 pm

    12. ok, but what about distance? can anyone elaborate on this? gauge wire. DISTANCE… 24v and 12v
    Can anyone comment on this?

  12. Jeff B on Thu, 18th Nov 2010 7:28 am

    13. @Adam – PoE does not have a specification on distance. IP traffic over CAT5e is specified at 100 meters (310 feet). PoE is run over the network cable that provides network traffic. Please take a look at the following link and see if that helps: http://www.apexcctv.com/driver.aspx?Topic=242d

  13. Cord Blood on Wed, 1st Dec 2010 3:14 pm

    14. ehternet cables are still the ones that i use for my home networking applications *-~

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