802.3at is the latest of the IEEE's Power over Ethernet (PoE) standards. Although it was released in 2009, it is still very relevant today.
Why? It offers up to 25-50 Watts of DC power to attached devices via a single Ethernet cable.
With the advent of 802.3at, a completely new class of devices could be powered directly via an Ethernet network interface. This PoE standard can be used with pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) IP cameras that require more power than stationary IP cameras, as well as other devices including dual radio WiFi access points, video phones, and laptops.
PoE enabled networking devices such as PoE IP Cameras, PoE Wireless Access Points and PoE IP Phones have become main stream in many networks because of the convenience of easy installation and great cost savings by not having to run AC power outlets.
Commonly referred to as PoE+ or PoE plus, 802.3at also has embedded intelligence via a newly defined data link layer (layer 2) protocol. The Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) allows the power source equipment to discover devices on the network and communicate with them to enable dynamic allocation of power levels.
PoE’s greatest benefit is that by utilizing its technology, both data and power can be sent to an Ethernet device via standard Cat5e/6 cabling. This means you do not need to install a power outlet at the device location and you can use readily available, relatively low cost Ethernet cabling.
If you’re looking to incorporate 802.3at technology into your application, here are a few products we suggest (all 802.3at compliant):
Single-Port Passive Gigabit Midspan/Injector with Hi-Pwr CAT6 Surge Protection
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BT-CAT6-P1-HP Injector Kit with 48VDC @ 48 W Power Supply
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