Table of Contents
Advertisement
Powered Source Equipment (PSE)
Power sourcing equipment (PSE) is a device such as a switch that provides
(sources) power on the Ethernet cable. The maximum allowed continuous output
power per cable in IEEE 802.3af is 15.40 W. A later specification, IEEE 802.3at,
offers 25.50 W. When the device is a switch, it is commonly called an End-span
(although IEEE 802.3af refers to it as endpoint). Otherwise, if it's an intermediary
device between a non PoE capable switch and a PoE device; it's called a Mid-span.
An external PoE injector is a Mid-span device.
Powered device
A powered device (PD) is a device powered by a PSE and thus consumes energy.
Examples include wireless access points, IP Phones, and IP cameras. Many
powered devices have an auxiliary power connector for an optional, external,
power supply. Depending on the PD design, some, none, or all power can be
supplied from the auxiliary port, with the auxiliary port sometimes acting as
backup power in case of PoE supplied power failure.
How Power is Transferred Through the Cable
A standard CAT5 Ethernet cable has four twisted pairs, but only two of these are
used for 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX. The specification allows two options for using
these cables for power, shown in Figure 3-1 and Figure 3-2:
The spare pairs are used. Figure 3-1 shows the pair on pins 4 and 5 connected
together and forming the positive supply, and the pair on pins 7 and 8 connected
and forming the negative supply. (In fact, a late change to the spec allows either
polarity to be used).
POWER SOURCING
EQUIPMENT (PSE)
+
-
48V
Figure 3-1: Power Supplied over the Spare Pins
4
5
SPARE PAIR
1
TX
2
SIGNAL PAIR
3
RX
6
SIGNAL PAIR
7
8
SPARE PAIR
POWERED DEVICE
(PD)
4
5
1
RX
2
DC / DC
3
Converter
Converter
TX
6
7
8
19
Advertisement
Table of Contents
