Of course, there are two sides to everything in tech and today; we’ll look at the advantages of having Power over Ethernet instead of several AC adaptors for the same function.

What is Power over Ethernet (PoE)?

When electric power and data are transmitted using that same device (twisted-pair Ethernet cabling), that is called Power over Ethernet.

This means that a single cable provides both data connection and electric power to devices such as WAPs (wireless access points), IP cameras (internet protocol cameras) and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phones.

How is PoE better?

PoE makes it easier to centrally manage the devices mentioned above versus an assortment of individual AC adaptors that can not be centrally managed.

This all sounds awesome, so why would someone be against it?

Critics say that PoE may be less efficient than AC power due to the lower voltage, which is made worse by the thin conductors of Ethernet.

Advocates argue that the point above is a worst-case scenario regarding cable quality, length and power consumption by powered devices.

Also, because the central PoE supply replaces several dedicated AC circuits, transformers and inverters, the power loss in cabling is justifiable.

To top it off, cutting down several other devices and consolidating them into one PoE device is also very eco-friendly (and cost-effective).

Over the last century, technology has only improved, and even though the critics of PoE may have issues now, they would likely run out of arguments soon enough – why? Because technology is constantly evolving and improvements are inevitable, if not today, then tomorrow.

In the meantime, let’s make the more eco-friendly choice because, without our Earth, there is no tomorrow.

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