What is PoE used for?
PoE is used to supply power to most wired IP cameras on the market. It makes installation much easier with less cabling and less need for electrical outlets, for example. PoE is usually supplied from a video storage device that supports PoE or a special PoE switch. There are also variants with PoE injectors that connect as a splice on a network cable.
How does PoE work?
PoE is an abbreviation of Power over Ethernet, which means that power is transmitted via the network cable. It is a smart way to power, for example, IP cameras that are still connected to the network. The technology comes in different variants depending on how much power it can output. The most common is called PoE, which follows the IEEE 802.3af standard and can deliver up to 15 W. It works for most cameras except the most power-hungry ones, such as PTZ cameras with night lights. The next variant is called PoE+ according to the IEEE 802.3at standard and can deliver twice as much power, 30 W, and is suitable for power-hungry cameras. In addition to these standardised variants, there is also UPoE, which can deliver up to 60 W for really power-hungry devices such as traffic cameras and the like with extra IR light, for example. To be able to deliver that power, UPoE uses dual wire pairs for power delivery.
Which devices have PoE?
Most of AVTECH's IP cameras support PoE, as does their 8-channel video storage unit, which even delivers PoE+. All switches from AETEK are specially developed for camera surveillance and have PoE in different variants for very smooth power supply.