Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology can provide data connectivity and DC power to AI cameras and smart edge devices through a single cable, modernizing security facilities. However, a critical power gap is emerging, threatening the reliability and performance of the system.
The traditional PoE standards, such as IEEE 802.3af and IEEE 802.3at, can meet the power requirements of early IP cameras ranging from 8-30 W. However, advanced PTZ cameras with AI capabilities require much more power, up to 50 W or higher.
The gap between traditional PoE infrastructure and the growing demand for feature rich security cameras has led to power shortage issues. At first, power mismatch may be a minor inconvenience, but it can fundamentally hinder the reliable operation and functionality of the system. The actual power consumption of a device is never a static number, but a function of its current activity.
The main solution to this mismatch is hardware upgrade, which means upgrading the network infrastructure to a higher power standard that can meet the dynamic requirements of monitoring technology. To address the power gap and build a highly reliable monitoring network, engineers can adopt various hardware based solutions, including upgrading network cabinets, deploying targeted PoE++power supplies, or optimizing cabling solutions.
Engineering solution for old PoE infrastructure
1. Use Poe++power supply (Figure 1)
For example, if an AI camera that expects PoE++is inserted into the PoE/PoE+port, it may not be able to power on at all or start in a reduced functionality mode. Some smart cameras will engage in power negotiation, and if full power is not provided, they will enter a limiting mode, such as disabling infrared lighting, heaters, or edge processing, to keep the power below 30 W.
Figure 1: Phihong USA's POE60U-1BTE-R single port multi gigabit Ethernet power supply IEEE802.3bt power supply, capable of providing 60 W of power (Image source: Phihong USA)
In many upgrade solutions, the simplest way to solve the power shortage of ports is to add a PoE++power supply (mid span) to provide the necessary 802.3bt power between the switch and the device. For small-scale deployment, this may be a direct solution, as 802.3bt can provide up to 60 W or higher power across each port, making it a feasible choice to install high-power cameras on networks where switches only support 802.3af/at.
2. Plan power budget
The integrator is facing a total budget limitation for PoE on the switch. For example, all ports of a traditional PoE switch share a power budget of 150 W, which can provide sufficient power when each connected camera consumes 5-10 W of power. However, if the power consumption of an AI camera is 25-50 watts, only a few AI cameras can easily deplete the power designed specifically for older devices. If there is no plan, adding high power consuming cameras may exceed power limits and cause certain ports to shut down.
Engineers managing these budgets need network management with PoE capabilities to prioritize critical ports, implement load shedding, and allocate budget margins to prevent all ports from reaching maximum capacity simultaneously.
3. Upgrade cable settings
Using existing wiring settings can also expose weaknesses. The standard Cat5e/Cat6 cables used in most CCTV installations (Figure 2) are technically capable of transmitting PoE++power, but under high load conditions, the voltage drops and heating becomes more pronounced. The long cable that delivers high power to the camera will lose several watts due to heat generation and will also be affected by resistance.