PoE, PoE+, PoE++ switches: How to choose?

PoE (or Power over Ethernet) is a proven time-saving and money-saving technology that safely transmits data and power for a local area network (LAN) over the same Ethernet cable. In the current market, if you look at the types of Power over Ethernet switches, you will find PoE switches, PoE+ switches, and PoE++ switches. But how much do you know about these three types of PoE switches? What are the differences between PoE, PoE+, and PoE++? And how can you make the right choice among them?

What is PoE and PoE switches?

What is PoE? PoE technology was defined by the IEEE 802.3af standard in 2003. According to the standard, PoE allows a PD (Powered Device) such as a VoIP phone to receive up to 12.95W of PoE power, utilizing only two of the four twisted pairs available in Ethernet cabling.

So what is a PoE switch? A PoE switch is an application of PoE technology. As a type of PSE (power supply equipment), a PoE switch can power PD devices through Ethernet cables to achieve network interconnection. Generally speaking, an 802.3af switch supports a maximum power consumption of 15.4W per PoE port and a voltage range of 44V to 57V. The voltage range of a PD connected to a PoE switch is 37V to 57V.

What is PoE+ and PoE+ switches?

PoE+ technology (IEEE 802.3at standard) is an upgraded version of PoE technology and was released in 2009. PDs on the market often require higher wattages, for example, wireless access points require more than 12.95W of PoE wattage to work properly. To solve this problem, PoE+ technology came into being, which can support high power consumption.

Like a PoE network switch, a PoE plus switch also delivers power over two pairs, but it adds an extra power level capable of delivering up to 25.5W to PDs with voltages ranging from 42.5V to 57V. A PoE+ switch delivers a maximum of 30W per port with voltages ranging from 50V to 57V.

What is PoE++ and PoE++ switches?

In order to provide more power for a wider range of device applications, the IEEE 802.3 standard once again required the upgrade of its PoE+ technology to PoE++ (IEEE 802.3bt standard) in 2018. PoE++ can be divided into two types: Type 3 and Type 4. Type 3 enables two or all four twisted pairs in the copper cable to provide up to 51W of power to the PD. Type 4 provides up to 71W of power to the PD through four twisted pairs in the Ethernet cable.

PoE++ network switches are the next generation of PoE+ technology. PoE++ switches support up to 60W per port at Type 3 and provide the highest level of power for Power over Ethernet switches - up to 100W per PoE port at Type 4.

PoE, PoE+ and PoE++ switches: Which one should you choose?

Since the selection of PoE switches needs to be based on different requirements, this section provides the best selection information for four types of Ethernet power supply switches from two aspects: specifications and applications.

Specifications of PoE, PoE+, PoE++ switches

Based on the above introduction, a reference chart is given below, summarizing the detailed specifications of PoE, PoE+, and PoE++ switches.

Note: The figures provided are only theoretical values, and the total power capacity of the PoE series switch in the application will be oversubscribed, and many devices will use less than the maximum power of the port. For example, if your switch is equipped with all PoE++ Type 4 ports, it does not mean that you will use all these ports at 24×7 maximum load. Therefore, you need to calculate the power requirements of all powered devices planned to be connected to the switch and select the corresponding jumpers for your PoE design.

Application of PoE, PoE+ and PoE++ switches

Obviously, the main difference between PoE and PoE+ and PoE++ switches is their operating mode and power supply, which is reflected in their applications.

(1) PoE switch

802.3af switches, also known as PoE switches, are typically used to support devices with a power output of less than 15.4W:

• Basic VoIP telephony that runs over the public internet
• Dual-antenna wireless access point for small networks
• Fixed security camera without pan, tilt and zoom
• Sensors, instruments, etc.

(2) PoE+ switch

A PoE+ switch with an output power of 30W can power Type 2 devices such as:

• IP telephony with fax, text messaging, and voice calling
• Six-antenna wireless access point
• Remote control of pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) surveillance cameras
• Biosensors that collect biometrics

(3) PoE++ switch

PoE++ Type 3 switches provide up to 60W of power to power the following devices:

• Two-way video phone calls in conferencing systems
• Building management equipment, such as gates or door controllers
• Thin client remote connection to server-based computing environment
• Remote patient monitoring equipment

PoE++ Type 4 switches can support devices such as laptops and TVs.

If the low standard power level is sufficient for your data center's needs, a PoE switch is a good choice. Otherwise, when a more powerful and high-performance network with multiple different devices is needed, a PoE+ or PoE++ switch is better without considering port limitations. They are also a wise choice for building a more demanding infrastructure and upgrading planning. Of course, you can keep the existing PoE network design if it is sufficient and meets your needs.

FS PoE++ Switch

The main features of the three FS PoE++ switches are as follows:

in conclusion

The growing demand for power has led to the development of PoE technology from PoE to PoE+ and PoE++. PoE-based switches have also been upgraded from PoE network switches to PoE+ switches and PoE++ switches. This article explains the differences and applications between PoE, PoE+ and PoE++ switches. I hope this article can give you some inspiration on choosing the right PoE network switch.