Industrial Ethernet Modernization with PoE Injectors
Key Highlights
- PoE reduces installation time and material costs by combining power and data transmission over a single Ethernet cable.
- PoE injectors allow existing non-PoE switches to support PoE devices, facilitating network upgrades without replacing infrastructure.
- Simplified cabling improves maintenance and future scalability of industrial Ethernet networks
Across manufacturing facilities and infrastructure, Ethernet-connected devices have become increasingly common. As networks expand to support more connected equipment, the need to deliver both data and power to distributed endpoints continues to grow. Running separate power and data cables to each device can increase installation time, material cost, routing complexity, and maintenance requirements. Power over Ethernet (PoE) simplifies the connection by delivering power and data over the same Ethernet cable. In existing networks, PoE injectors provide another benefit by enabling PoE functionality without needing to replace non-PoE switches. This blog examines the deployment challenges facing industrial Ethernet networks, as well as the changing connectivity needs in these environments and how PoE injectors can support network modernization.
The Deployment Challenge Behind Industrial PoE
Separating power and data cabling complicates industrial network deployments because each additional cable must be routed, installed, and maintained. This increases installation time and the amount of infrastructure surrounding the connected equipment. As networks expand, those additional runs can add material and deployment costs and make future changes to physical layouts more difficult. Using a single Ethernet cable for both power and data can reduce the cabling burden and simplify connections to distributed devices.
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About the author
Alex Pluemer is a senior technical writer for Wavefront Marketing specializing in advanced electronics, emerging technologies and responsible technology development.
Phoenix Contact is a global market leader and innovator in the electrical engineering and automation sectors. Founded in 1923 the family-owned company from Blomberg, Germany, now owns an international distribution network providing guaranteed proximity to its customers. Phoenix Contact offers innovative products and solutions around industrial connection technology, automation, interface-systems and surge protection. The product range includes sensors, controllers, modular terminal blocks, splash-proof machinery connectors, wireless Ethernet products for up-to-date control cabinets, and custom solutions for various applications.
