If you've previously tried to power more than four devices with a PoE+ injector, you know how quickly it reaches its limits. Standard PoE injectors on the market have a maximum of one to four injectors. Power is always supplied via an external power source.
For the few devices with more than four channels, the responsibility previously fell to the user to perform a complex configuration to determine the amount of power to be delivered to each channel. This configuration was always tied to a budget predefined by the manufacturer for the PoE injector. This requires distributing the power across the channels. In practice, this means that just because an injector has eight outputs doesn't mean it can supply eight loads with 30W each.
Using conventional PoE solutions outside of a regulated IT environment isn't always feasible. An industrial warehouse or an infotainment panel on a train platform, for which most commercially available PoE injectors are optimized, doesn't have much in common with the "information technology world." In IT environments, such as server rooms and offices, stable environmental conditions and consistent network quality prevail. When used in industrial or outdoor applications, devices must be able to withstand fluctuating power supply quality, severe temperature variations, and vibrations or shocks.
This means that many PoE injectors also fail to meet the user's actual requirements in terms of reliability, durability, and efficiency.
Industrial PoE+ injectors as a solution
PULS has analyzed customer requirements and developed a new product range with innovative Power-over-Ethernet solutions. The goal was to combine PoE technology with the efficiency, reliability, and durability typical of PULS' DIN rail power supplies. The result is user-friendly PoE injectors with or without an integrated industrial power supply. The 4- or 8-channel devices offer a guaranteed 30W per channel (IEEE 802.3at standard) and a fast data transfer rate of 1000 Mbit/s. This means that up to eight PoE/PoE+ loads can be reliably powered using a single injector.
The injectors are suitable for both industrial Ethernet solutions and typical PoE applications in facility control (access points/wireless access systems), security technology (video cameras), display boards, touch screens, point-of-sale systems, healthcare devices, and much more.
PoE injector with integrated high-end power supply
One innovation is the all-in-one device with an integrated 240W power supply. It can be connected directly to the AC mains, enabling a simplified system structure where previously at least two devices were needed to achieve the same result (see Figure 2). This saves costs and DIN rail space, especially since the PoE injector with integrated power supply is only 77mm wide. Costs are reduced, and installation is faster. There are also advantages in terms of purchasing and storage. Only one type of device needs to be stocked and one part number managed.
The underlying CP10.481 power supply provides 95.5% efficiency and a minimum lifespan of 109,000 hours at 230V AC, full load, and an ambient temperature of +40°C. This high efficiency translates to low power losses as heat, positively impacting the durability and reliability of the PoE injector and nearby system components. The PoE device's operating temperature range of -25°C to +70°C is optimized for industrial applications.
Total power across up to eight channels
The PoE injectors deliver up to 30W per channel continuously and without restriction, meeting the 25.5W output defined by the IEEE standard. The outstanding data rate of 1000Mbit/s per channel makes this device unique in the market. The integrated, efficient PULS power supply further enhances the efficiency of PoE systems. Since most PoE loads are powered on continuously, the energy-saving PULS solution helps reduce operating costs.
Plug-and-play instead of a complex setup
The injectors have been optimized for plug-and-play use, making them easy to operate right out of the box. The devices automatically detect the performance class of the connected components (IEEE 802.3at or IEEE 802.3af). This feature also helps protect the device in case of a malfunction. If there is a short circuit in one of the connected Ethernet cables, for example, the injector responds immediately by automatically limiting the current and shutting down that channel.
The injector checks for short circuits at regular intervals, and the channel is only re-enabled and powered once the fault has been rectified. The remaining 7 channels are unaffected by this safety measure and remain fully operational.
Furthermore, the devices are protected against digital tampering attempts. The integration of an ASIC component into the switch design makes external attacks impossible.
Future-proof, cost-optimized PoE solutions
With PoE injectors, users save money in every way. One injector can power up to eight 30W devices simultaneously, whereas previously at least four-channel injectors were required. The injector with its integrated power supply also replaces two components in the system at once. This saves on initial purchase and installation costs. It also saves valuable system space and reduces administrative workload.
Thanks to their high performance (PoE+ and Gigabit Ethernet), durability and efficiency, as well as the robust design of the device, PULS injectors are ideal for use in industrial infrastructures, as well as in all common PoE applications.
