When is a PoE Injector Practical?
A PoE (Power over Ethernet) splitter is a device that allows you to separate the power and data signals from a PoE-enabled Ethernet cable. It takes a combined power and data input and splits it into two separate outputs: one for power and one for data.
The PoE splitter is typically used when you have a PoE-enabled Ethernet cable but need to power a device that does not have built-in PoE capabilities. It allows you to provide power to non-PoE devices, such as IP cameras, wireless access points, or VoIP phones, that require a separate power source.
The power output of a PoE splitter is usually in the form of a DC power connector that can be connected directly to the non-PoE device. This enables you to power the device using the PoE infrastructure, eliminating the need for an additional power source or separate power cables.
The data output of the PoE splitter is an Ethernet port that can be connected to your network switch or router. It ensures that the non-PoE device receives the necessary data connectivity for seamless network integration.
By using a PoE splitter, you can leverage the convenience of PoE technology to power and connect devices that lack built-in PoE support, making your installations more flexible and efficient.
PoE injectors are wonderful when you need to install a low powered device in a hard-to-reach location without a power outlet nearby.
Hiring an electrician to install a power outlet is expensive on its own, not to mention the cost of breaking through walls, installing cables, etc.
PoE installation usually doesn’t require a professional, nor will it break the bank.
PoE injectors allow the installation of PDs in remote locations without costing a fortune or taking ages to successfully install.
Unfortunately, PoE injectors aren’t always a practical solution.
Take a large office building, for instance. Most offices have dozens of powered devices, such as IP phones, IP cameras, and Wireless Access Points, just to name a few.
If you didn’t want to upgrade your non-PoE enabled network switches, you’d have to use a PoE injector for every single device on the network.
Sure, this wouldn’t be an issue if you were setting up a home network with only a few devices – on the other hand, as the network scales and more devices must be added, trying to use PoE injectors to solve the problem would quickly turn into a big jumbled mess of wires.
Evidently, a jumbled mess of wires and power cables is the problem that PoE aims to solve in the first place.
Fortunately, there is another solution for large enterprise networks known as a PoE hub.