PoE Plus has arrived
August 2011
IT in Manufacturing
Alvis Chen, product manager, Moxa
The latest developments in PoE technology.
An industry-wide Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard was officially ratified in 2003 with IEEE 802.3af, and since then the use of PoE technology has grown rapidly. Analysts estimate that by 2012 one quarter of all Ethernet ports will be PoE enabled. As knowledge of PoE’s capabilities and benefits has spread, more and more system operators have taken advantage of PoE technology. However, the IEEE 802.3af standard has a few limitations that make it unsuitable for certain demanding applications. In response, the IEEE 802.3at standard, also known as PoE Plus, was ratified to expand the scope and capabilities of standardised PoE devices further.
This white paper will identify the key advantages offered by PoE Plus and explore the enormous potential of this new technology in scenarios that previously could not take advantage of PoE.
PoE – A brief history
Ethernet technology has been used for decades and Ethernet cables can now be found in enterprise offices, residential homes, and industrial automation. In most systems Ethernet cables already go nearly everywhere, so it would naturally be more efficient if these Ethernet cables could deliver both data and power. This would completely eliminate the need to find a local power supply for each device, dramatically expanding deployment flexibility and eliminating power cabling costs. The PoE idea was so promising that many vendors, such as Cisco, 3Com, and Intel, developed proprietary PoE technology. Users who adopted proprietary solutions were on the ‘bleeding edge’ of technology – while they enjoyed the benefits of PoE technology, they also needed to deal with countless headaches such as interoperability and compatibility issues, vendor lock-in, and inconsistent support. The fact that these proprietary solutions were used at all, despite their many hazards, testifies to the fundamental usefulness of PoE technology.
Fortunately, in 1999 the IEEE began to work on a PoE standard, which was finalised in 2003 with IEEE 802.3at. With a standardised, documented, and widely available technology, PoE truly took off. PoE can supply power to devices in locations where it was previously difficult, if not impossible. Examples of such devices include remote network switches, security cameras, and outdoor WLAN access points.
Readers wanting to find out more about the limitations of IEEE 802.3af and how IEEE 802.3at (PoE Plus) transforms the situation can visit: http://instrumentation.co.za/+C14513
Further reading:
Optimising the product design process
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
OPmobility is partnering with Siemens to adopt its Teamcenter X Product Lifecycle Management software. OPmobility’s increasingly complex products now include electronics and software, to create energy storage systems, which include battery and hydrogen electrification solutions and fuel tanks.
Read more...
Smart milling for resilient, sustainable food production
IT in Manufacturing
As the global demand for food continues to rise due to increasing urbanisation, the milling industry faces the challenge of balancing efficiency with sustainability. Bühler is committed to making milling more energy-efficient while maintaining high operational performance. Its solutions allow mills to reduce energy costs and ensure long-term sustainability.
Read more...
The evolving landscape of data centres in the age of AI
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The data centre industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven primarily by the explosive growth of AI. It’s clear that the demands of AI are reshaping the very foundations of data infrastructure. This isn’t merely about incremental upgrades; it’s a fundamental shift in how we design, power and operate these critical facilities.
Read more...
SA Food Review
IT in Manufacturing
Food Review is a monthly trade journal for South Africa’s food and beverage manufacturing industry, for industry professionals seeking detailed information on trends, technologies, best practices and innovations.
Read more...
Keeping an eye on oil consumption with moneo
ifm - South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Manufacturing companies in the metal industry need oils and other fluids that are consumed by their machines. To make this consumption transparent and to establish a link to the ERP system, Arnold Umformtechnik relies on the IIoT platform, moneo, in combination with the SAP-based software solution Shop Floor Integration (SFI) – both from ifm.
Read more...
AI accelerates energy transformation
RJ Connect
IT in Manufacturing
With the rapid expansion of generative AI applications, data centre power demand is reaching unprecedented levels.
Read more...
Revolutionising mining operations with MineOptimize
IT in Manufacturing
Now more than ever, mining and mineral processing companies need to boost productivity, ensure safety, and protect the environment. ABB’s comprehensive electrification, automation and digital solutions portfolio is ideally positioned to meet these challenges across all mining processes, from mine to port, transforming performance in a digital world.
Read more...
Buildings in Africa’s urban evolution
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Africa is now an urban continent. How does the continent mobilise to accommodate urban dwellers and maintain and implement critical infrastructure that allows for this expansion? Building management systems provide a tangible solution to optimise resource use, lower operations costs and ultimately contribute to a growing continent that also employs green practices.
Read more...
TwinCAT Vision functionality extended
Beckhoff Automation
IT in Manufacturing
The image processing and camera integration capabilities of Beckhoff’s TwinCAT 3 Vision software have been expanded.
Read more...
Automation software to future-proof your operations
Adroit Technologies
IT in Manufacturing
As the official partner of Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation, Adroit Technologies empowers businesses with cutting-edge solutions that reduce costs, improve quality and increase productivity.
Read more...
printer friendly version