Industrial PoE has achieved tremendous momentum in the commercial sector. Reports show that its value will grow to around USD 1,223 million by 2025, an immense increase from 2020’s USD 636 million.
Industries are increasingly adopting PoE primarily because it provides power and connectivity through a single ethernet cable. That means companies don’t have to set up two cabling networks — one for data connectivity and the other for electricity.
Nonetheless, cutting down installation expenses for data and electric cabling is not the only benefit companies reap from PoE. Several other benefits include streamlining operations, cutting costs, and improving productivity.
Read on to understand the full benefits of industrial Power over Ethernet.
What Is Industrial PoE?
Industrial Power over Ethernet uses a duo function cabling to provide electric power and data connection. Unlike the regular PoE, the industrial standard delivers high wattage, sufficient to run power-hungry systems in commercial settings.
Primarily, industrial Power over Ethernet is the IEEE 802.3bt standard, which delivers up to 100W power and superb bandwidth. With the wattage, this PoE standard can power high voltage systems like monitors, security systems, access control systems, and human-machine interfaces.
Unlike when people considered PoE an unreliable technology for less-demanding settings, today, any company can use it. Already, it is common in demanding commercial environments like mining, healthcare, robotics, transport, and technology sectors.
What Are the Benefits of Industrial PoE?
Industrial Power over Ethernet is a package of several benefits for commercial settings. It reduces the costs of installing data and electricity cabling by 50%, a considerable saving for large commercial settings. Besides slashing down installation costs, industrial Power over Ethernet has several benefits, including:
PoE Is Safe
In industrial PoE, the power sourcing equipment (the power supply) develops a “handshake” with the endpoint equipment before delivering power. During the handshake, the power sourcing equipment (PSE) determines the energy the endpoint equipment requires.
For instance, if end equipment needs 20 watts of power, the power sourcing equipment will deliver just 20W. That means your powered devices won’t blow up due to receiving more than the needed electrical power.
Without a handshake, the PSE will not deliver any power to the powered device. What’s more? The PSE keeps monitoring the amount of wattage sent to the PD. In case of a high or low voltage, the PSE shuts down the power supply.
Industrial PoE Is Economical
Since PoE transmits electricity and data connectivity through a single ethernet cabling, companies do not incur the labor costs of installing two separate cabling for power and data connectivity. A single ethernet cabling network provides electric and data transmission.
Besides reducing labor costs, industrial Power over Ethernet cuts down the costs of materials like cabling, switches, and other materials that companies would spend installing power and data cabling separately. On average, installing power over Ethernet reduces material and labor costs by 50%.
In addition to slashing material and labor costs, industrial Power over Ethernet offers advanced management capabilities that enhance energy efficiency. For instance, with PoE, network administrators can monitor and regulate energy consumption to keep costs at a minimum.
PoE Is Flexible
In 2003, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers started standardizing the switches, splitters, cables, and sockets used in PoE. The standardization made it possible for hardware from various companies to work harmoniously.
Since then, companies have had the freedom to buy and use PoE hardware from any vendor providing better deals.
Apart from standardization, PoE is flexible in terms of installation. Companies can install and uninstall the duo-purpose ethernet cabling easily. The single cabling can power electrical and network devices like WiFi routers, sensors, computers, and displays.
For devices that are not PoE-ready, companies can use a PoE splitter to provide a suitable power outlet for that powered device. So, industrial Power over Ethernet is flexible enough to power virtually all devices in a commercial setting.
Industrial PoE Is Reliable
A few years back, people regarded PoE as an unreliable source of power and bandwidth designed for less-demanding settings. However, that is not the case today. Power over Ethernet is highly reliable in industrial power and data connection.
As a power supply for industrial systems, this technology provides around 100 watts, enough to power several appliances in a commercial setting. Commercial settings have used it to power:
Large displays.
Door access systems.
Computer monitors.
Digital signage.
Laptops.
PTZ cameras.
Video phones.
Point of sale systems.
Hardened for Harsh Environments
The hardware used in industrial PoE will withstand the most demanding environments, typical in industrial settings. For instance, they can endure exposure to extreme temperatures, moisture, and corrosive chemicals for a reasonable period. With the superb resistance to elements, industrial Power over Ethernet has become valuable in:
Extreme temperature environments: Extremely high or low temperatures make cables stiff or brittle, accelerating degradation. However, PoE can operate from temperatures as low as -40 degrees to as high as +85 degrees Celsius without stiffening, cracking, or becoming brittle.
Chemical environments: The cables used in industrial Power over Ethernet are highly resistant to harsh chemicals like solvents, oils, and cleaning solutions. The endurance makes PoE an excellent solution for laboratories, manufacturing industries, and other settings where the chances of chemical exposure are high.
Outdoor applications: PoE is ideal for use in outdoor environments with high exposure to UV sunlight. The cables used in this technology will not fade, crack, or degrade, even after several months of exposure.
Applications for Industrial PoE
Industrial Power over Ethernet is suitable for industrial applications that need large data transfers coupled with a flexible power source. It powers and connects both low and high-energy equipment, including:
Security Cameras
Industrial-grade PoE is a significant part of surveillance security cameras. It makes wiring easier since most cameras are where it could be labor-intensive to install two cabling systems for power and Ethernet. Besides simplifying installation, PoE provides the high bandwidth cameras need to function optimally.
Automation Equipment
Geo scientist Dave Waters once said, “The world is changing, whether you like it or not.” PoE is one of the technologies changing the world through automation. It provides industries with the power and bandwidth needed to run automation systems like programmable logic controllers, industrial robots, and radio frequency identification.
Other PoE-ready Equipment
Apart from automation equipment and security cameras, commercial settings use PoE in lighting systems, smart signage, point of sale kiosks, attendance systems, visual/audio systems, rugged VoIP, and more.
Conclusion
Since it is reliable, safe, hardened for harsh environments, economical, and flexible, industrial PoE is ideal for full-scale use within commercial settings. It provides 100 watts of power, sufficient enough to power almost all systems that need power and an ethernet connection. Forward-looking companies are already using it to power access control systems, digital signage, automation systems, and computers.
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