Copper cable

Copper cable uses electrical signals to pass data between networks. There are three types
of copper cable: coaxial, unshielded twisted pair and shielded twisted pair. Coaxial
degenerates over long distances. Unshielded twisted pair is made by twisting the copper
cables around each other and this reduces degeneration
Ethernet

What is Ethernet
Ethernet, IEEE 802.3, is one of the most widely used standards for computer networking and
general data communications. It is widely used in all forms of data networking from connecting to
home Wi-Fi hubs to business data networks and telecommunications networking.

The Ethernet standard has been used for many years, being steadily updated to meet the
requirements of growing technology. Data communication speeds have steadily risen and Ethernet,
IEEE 802.3 has increased its speeds accordingly.

Although to many, Ethernet is familiar because Ethernet connections are widely used for in the
home for wired connections between computers and broadband hubs, but they also provide the
essential connectivity for data networking systems used in large enterprises.

Ethernet is probably most widely known because of the short Ethernet patch cables with their RJ45
connectors which are used to connect most desktop computers to data network routers. These
make Ethernet connections very easy to make, thereby increasing the ease of use and popularity
of Ethernet technology.

Accordingly, Ethernet forms the basic technology for connectivity for most local area networks
these days. Versions of it have also been devised for larger enterprises. Carrier Ethernet is one
example of how the technology has been adapted for use by network operators or carriers.

Ethernet network topologies

There are several network topologies that can be used for Ethernet communications. The actual
form used will depend upon the requirements.

 Point to point: This is the simplest configuration as only two network units are used. In this
simple structure the cable is known as the network link. Links of this nature are used to transport
data from one place to another and where it is convenient to use Ethernet as the transport
mechanism.
 Coaxial bus: This type of Ethernet network is rarely used these days. The systems used a
coaxial cable where the network units were located along the length of the cable. The segment
lengths were limited to a maximum of 500 metres, and it was possible to place up to 1024 DTEs
along its length. Although this form of network topology is not installed these days, a very very
few legacy systems might just still be in use. In view of the way in which it operates, with several
nodes on the same leg, the CSMA/CD anti-collision scheme is used.
 Star network: This type of Ethernet network has been the dominant topology since the early
1990s. It consists of a central network unit, which may be what is termed a multi-port repeater
or hub, or a network switch.
 Typical Ethernet data networking topology All the connections to other nodes radiate out from
this and are point to point links. It is this type of network topology that is used and extended.
Connections tend to extend out from a central hub using a series of routers or switches to
divert the data to the required end node.
Ethernet cable basics

The Ethernet cables for connectivity in most office and home environments rely on twisted wire
pairs within an overall cable - Cat 5, Cat 6 and Cat 7 all used this format. Twisting the wires together
enables the currents to balance, i.e in one wire the current is moving in one direction, and int he
other wire of the pair the current is going in the other, enabling the overall fields around the twisted
pair to cancel.

In this way, data can be transmitted over considerable lengths without the need for undue
precautions.

As several twisted pairs are contained within a particular network cable, the number of twisted per
unit length is arranged to be different for each pair - the rate being based on prime numbers so that
no two twists ever align. This reduces crosstalk within the cable.

The Ethernet cables are available in a variety of lengths as patch cables, or the cable itself is
available for incorporating into systems, buildings, etc. The terminations can then be made to the
required connector using a crimp tool. These network cables are available in a variety of lengths -
long Ethernet cables are available, some of the longest being up to 75 metres.

Earlier network cables were unshielded, but later ones were shielded to improve the performance.
For example an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable may be satisfactory for a short run between a
computer and router, but a foil shielded cable, FTP, is best longer runs or where the cable passes
through areas of high electrical noise.

Flat Ethernet cable and connector

There are different methods that can be used for shielding Ethernet cables. The most common is
to place a shield around each twisted pair. This not only provides shielding for the cable externally,
but also reduces crosstalk between the internal twisted pairs as well. Manufacturers can further
enhance the performance by placing shielding around all the wires in the cable just under the cable
sheath. There are different codes used to indicate the differs types of shielding:

 U/UTP - Unshielded cable, unshielded twisted pairs

 F/UTP - Foil shielded cable, unshielded twisted pairs
 U/FTP - Unshielded cable, foil shielded twisted pairs
 S/FTP - braided shielded cable, foil shielded twisted pairs
Where: TP = twisted pair, U = unshielded, F = foil shielded, S = braided shielding.

A further difference within the Ethernet cables whether Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6e, or Cat 7 can
be whether solid or stranded wires are used within the cable. As the description implies, a solid
cable uses a single piece of copper for the electrical conductor within each wire of the cable whilst
stranded wire uses a series of copper strands twisted together. Although when buying a patch
cable, it may not be necessary to know this, when installing a long cable run it may be important
as each type is slightly more suitable for different applications.

 Stranded cable: This type of wire is more flexible and it is more applicable for Ethernet cables
where the cable may be moved - often it is idea for patch leads at desks or general connections
to PCs, etc where some movement may be needed and expected.
 Solid cable: Solid cable is not as flexible as the stranded type, but it is also more durable. This
makes it best for use in permanent installations like cable installations under floors, embedded
in walls and the like.
Categories for Ethernet cables

A variety of different cables are available for Ethernet and other telecommunications and
networking applications. These network cables that are described by their different categories, e.g.
Cat 5 cables, Cat-6 cables, etc, which are often recognised by the TIA (telecommunications
Industries Association) and they are summarised below:.

 Cat-5: This is not recognised by the TIA/EIA. This is the network cable that is widely used for
100Base-T and 1000Base-T networks as it provides performance to allow data at 100 Mbps
and slightly more (125 MHz for 1000Base-T) Ethernet. The Cat 5 cable superseded the Cat 3
version and for a number of years it became the standard for Ethernet cabling. Cat 5 cable is
now obsolete and therefore it is not recommended for new installations.

Cat 5 cable uses twisted pairs to prevent internal crosstalk, XT and also crosstalk to external
wires, AXT.

Although not standardised, the Cat 5 cable normally uses 1.5 - 2 twists per centimetre.
 Cat-5e: This form of cable is recognised by the TIA/EIA and is defined in TIA/EIA-568, being
last revised in 2001. It has a slightly higher frequency specification that Cat-5 cable as the
performance extends up to 125 Mbps.

Cat-5e can be used for 100Base-T and 1000Base-t (Gigabit Ethernet). Cat 5e standard for Cat
5 enhanced and it is a form of Cat 5 cable manufactured to higher specifications although
physically the same as Cat 5. It is tested to a higher specification to ensure it can perform at the
higher data speeds. The twisted pairs within the network cables tend to have the same level of
twisting as the Cat 5 cables.
  Cat-6: This cable is defined in TIA/EIA-568-B provides a significant improvement in
performance over Cat5 and Cat 5e. During manufacture Cat 6 cables are more tightly wound
than either Cat 5 or Cat 5e and they often have an outer foil or braided shielding. The shielding
protects the twisted pairs of wires inside the Ethernet cable, helping to prevent crosstalk and
noise interference. Cat-6 cables can technically support speeds up to 10 Gbps, but can only do
so for up to 55 metres - even so this makes them relatively long Ethernet cables.

The Cat 6 Ethernet cables generally have 2+ twists per cm and some may include a nylon spline
to reduce crosstalk, although this is not actually required by the standard.
 Cat-6a: The “a” in Cat 6a stands for “Augmented” and the standard was revised in 2008. The
Cat 6a cables are able to support twice the maximum bandwidth, and are capable of maintaining
higher transmission speeds over longer network cable lengths. Cat 6a cables utilise shielded
which is sufficient to all but eliminate crosstalk. However this makes them less flexible than Cat
6 cable.
 Cat-7: This is an informal number for ISO/IEC 11801 Class F cabling. It comprises four
individually shielded pairs inside an overall shield. It is aimed at applications where transmission
of frequencies up to 600 Mbps is required.
 Cat-8: Cat 8 cables have now been released and provide a huge step up in data rate /
bandwidth. Accordingly these Cat 8 cables are geenrally more expensive than the older versions
like Cat 6, or even Cat 7.
Further descriptions of Cat-5 and Cat-5e cables are given below as these are widely used for
Ethernet networking applications today.

ETHERNET CABLE PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

CATEGORY SHIELDING MAX TRANSMISSION SPEED (AT 100 METERS) MAX BANDWIDTH

Cat 3 Unshielded 10 Mbps 16 MHz

Cat 5 Unshielded 10/100 Mbps 100 MHz

Cat 5e Unshielded 1000 Mbps / 1 Gbps 100 MHz

Cat 6 Shielded or Unshielded 1000 Mbps / 1 Gbps >250 MHz

Cat 6a Shielded 10000 Mbps / 10 Gbps 500 MHz

Cat 7 Shielded 10000 Mbps / 10 Gbps 600 MHz

Cat 8 Shielded 25 Gbps or 40Gbps * 2000 MHz

* 25 Gbps for Cat 8.1 and 40 Gbps for Cat 8.2.

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Ethernet cable connectors

The RJ45, Registered Jack 45 connector is used almost universally as the physical connector used
on Ethernet cables, and with networking cables in general. From Ethernet Category 3 right through
to Cat 6, the RJ45 is the format that is used. Cat 7 Ethernet cables can be terminated with RJ45
connectors but specialised versions called GigaGate45 (GG45) are often used. Fortunately these
are backwards compatible with the RJ45 so there is no need to have a completely new installation
when migrating to Cat 7.

Ethernet RJ45 connector on an Ethernet cable

The RJ45 connector used on the ends of Ethernet cables are small plastic plugs with a retaining
catch that can be released when the cable needs to be removed. The term plug refers to the male
end of the connection on the network cable, and the jack refers to the port or female and normally
located on the equipment.

The RJ45 connector has eight pins that are spaced around 1 mm apart, and the wires are inserted
and crimped to provide a reliable connection. The actual connector type is known as an 8P8C -
eight position - eight contact.

Strictly speaking the actual connector type should be reared to as an 8P8C, and the wiring pattern
is RJ45, but in reality the term RJ45 for Ethernet cables is used almost universally.

Ethercon connectors

Although the RJ45 connector is ideal for most applications, it is not particularly robust. It is suitable
for office, datacentre and home connections where robustness is not an issue. However there are
a number of scenarios where a more robust connector is needed - applications like audio visual,
stage audio and lighting, etc where Ethernet is used need a much more robust connection.

To address this problem the Ethercon connector is used. The Ethercon connector can be likened
to a combination of an RJ45 with an XLR connector. As the Ethercon connector has a circular metal
outer protection combined with the RG45 style inner, it provides the required connectivity wit the
robustness required for applications like stage and other audio visual areas where Ethernet
connections are required.

It is possible not only to obtain the Ethercon connectors on their own, but also ready made Ethercon
leads as well.

Ethernet cable pinout

Although the wiring and the cable manufacture details may vary between the different cable
categories, the basic connectivity remains the same. In this way Ethernet cables can be used
reliably to make connections between items of equipment, etc.
 A summary of the signals carried and the relevant wires and connections is given in the table below:

RJ-45 / CAT 5 / CAT 5E PINOUT & WIRING

PIN TELEPHONE 10BASE-T 100BASE-T 1000BASE-T POE POE

NO MODE A MODE B

1 +TX +TD +BI_DA 48 V out

2 -TX -TX -BI_DA 48 V out

3 +RX +RX +BI_DB 48 V return

4 Ring +BI_DC 48 V out

5 Tip -BI_DC 48 V out

6 -RX -RX -BI_DB 48 V return

7 +BI_DD 48 V return

8 -BI_DD 48 V return

In the table, TX is transmitted data, and RX is received data. BI_Dn is bi-directional data, A, B, C,
and D.

There are two standard RJ45 pinouts for the individual arrangement of the wire connections to the
RJ45 connectors within an Ethernet cable: the T568A and T568B standards.

One or other of the conventions should be followed, as this will ensure the required connectivity,
although as it is just a colour convention and the same wires and pairs are connected to the same
pins, it does not matter which one is followed. In practice T568B is the more commonly used, and
therefore it is probably best to use this one. The standard used may also be indicated on the sheath
of ready made Ethernet cables.

RJ-45 PINOUT & WIRING

PIN T568A T568B

1 White with green stripe White with orange stripe

2 Green Orange

3 White with orange stripe White with green stripe

4 Blue Blue

5 White with blue stripe White with blue stripe

6 Orange Green

7 White with brown stripe White with brown stripe

8 Brown Brown
 Ethernet cable with outer sheath stripped back to show the internal twisted pair wires

Ethernet Cat 5 crossover cables

There are a number of different configurations of cable that may be employed according to the
equipment and the requirement. The most common type are the straight through cables which are
wired in a 1 to 1 configuration. However Cat-5 crossover cables are also required on occasions.

Typically a Cat-5 cable used to connect a computer (PC) to a switch will be a straight through cable.
However if two computers or two switches are connected together then a Cat5 crossover cable is
used.

Many Ethernet interfaces in use today are able to detect the type of cable, whether it is a straight
through or crossover cable, and they are able to adapt to the required format. This means that the
requirement for Cat-5 crossover cables is less than it might otherwise be.

When using Cat-5 Ethernet crossover cables, they are not marked with the fact that they are
crossover cables. Accordingly, it is often wise to mark them to avoid confusion later.

Ethernet cable maximum lengths

Often it is necessary to use long Ethernet cables, however there are limits to the distance over
which the data can be reliably carried. When long Ethernet cables are used, additional noise is
picked up, and the data eventually becomes distorted by the cable.

A summary of Ethernet cables and their maximum operating lengths is given below:

MAXIMUM LENGTHS FOR LONG ETHERNET CABLES

SPECIFICATION CABLE TYPE MAXIMUM LENGTH

10BaseT Unshielded Twisted Pair 100 metres

10Base2 Thin coaxial cable 180 metres

10Base5 Thick coaxial cable 500 metres

10BaseF Fibre optic cable 2000 metres

100BaseT Unshielded twisted pair 100 metres

100BaseTX Unshielded twisted pair 220 metres

Lengths provided are those generally accepted as the maximum, but are not included in the IEEE
standard
100 Mbps Ethernet: Fast Ethernet & 100BASE-T
Fast Ethernet was able to deliver data at a rate of 100 Mbps which was a significant improvement
over the original 10 Mbps Ethernet systems. It was released under IEEE 802.3u in 1995.

Although technology has moved on significantly to standards like 1000Mbps or 1 Gb Ethernet and
even 10 Gb Ethernet, but still the old Fast 100 Mbps Ethernet its seen, especially in the guise of
100BASE-T which was for Ethernet over copper and used with Cat5 cables.

100 Mbps Ethernet / Fast Ethernet can still be seen on legacy equipment like old computers,
Ethernet switches and Ethernet routers, printers etc.

At the time of its release, Fast Ethernet represented a very fast medium for data transfer, and it
was widely used for local area networks and many other applications including local and wide area
networks, especially when using the fibre based media.

However it was the 100BASE-T version that took off for home and local area networking, and it laid
the foundations for the use of future releases of the Ethernet standard.

As 100 Mbps Ethernet was backwards compatible with 10 Mbps ports, computers, printers,
Ethernet routers and Ethernet switches, etc were marked with 10/100 Mbps to indicate that both
standards could be used.

10 Gigabit Ethernet, 10GE

10 Gigabit Ethernet is an Ethernet standard that can carry data at a rate of 10 gigabits per second.

10 Gigabit Ethernet can be a little long to write and so it is often shortened to 10GbE, 10GE or 10G
Ethernet - any of these abbreviations refers to the same standard.

Although initial use was in core networks and then in large data networks, the standard is now
gaining acceptance local area networks and even in some more commonplace areas where cost
may have been prohibitive before.

Need for 10 gigabit Ethernet

When the 10 gigabit Ethernet standard was published in 2002 it took some years before it started
to gain traction on the wider community as a result of cost. Some of the components required to
build 10 Gb Ethernet interfaces were very costly and this limited its use. Accordingly the min use
for many years was in the core networks for large scale providers where performance issues meant
costs could be justified.

Now with the costs of the components and hence the interfaces for 10 Gb Ethernet falling, its use
has entered many other areas of data networking, down to even small local area networks.

As the name of the standard implies, it provides a ten fold increase in data speed over that of 1
gigabit Ethernet. It can transfer 1 gigabit per second and this equates to 1 250 MB per second.

Many ordinary computers would struggle to cope, and 1 GE is more than fast enough. However,
some local area networks using video applications may benefit from it where sharing of very large
data files might be needed. Also with technology moving forwards and faster Internet and other
connections being needed, 10GE will eventually become the standard.

For now there are several areas where 10 Gb Ethernet is a real benefit, specialist video applications
aside.

With more services like cloud services being used and more computers are using more data
intensive applications, and this means that far higher levels of data are being transferred. As a
result 10 GE may be a necessity even now. Take the example of a business network where there
are 10 computers on communicating with the same server. All these computers need to share the
bandwidth, effectively giving each computer a throughput of 100Mbit/s using 1 GE. As the number
of computers increases, so the bandwidth available falls and Gigabit Ethernet cannot really meet
the speed requirements, and 10Gbit Ethernet starts to look far more viable, or even essential.

Also 10 gigabit Ethernet is used for data network backbones. Using the older 1 GE, it is quite likely
that data bottlenecks will occur in the local area network. Installing 10 GE will make a significant
improvement.

In addition to this, 10 Gb Ethernet is also used for long distance fibre links where it provides very
significant speed improvements over what was previously available. It is in areas like these that 10
Gb Ethernet has been in use for many years.

10 Gigabit Ethernet basics

10 gigabit Ethernet is used in a number of areas. In view of its extreme speed, it is used in the more
demanding areas that require fast data delivery.

10 gigabit Ethernet only supports full duplex mode. The CSMA/CD anti-collision technique used to
gain access to the physical medium, and supported in previous versions is not supported in
802.3ae. In reality CSMA/CD was used less as many links were point to point and not the multiple
stations on a coax line and therefore CSMA/CD was used less anyway.

The main specification for 10 gigabit Ethernet is IEEE 802.11ae. This was released in 2002 and
covers the fibre based technologies. The specification applies to a variety of different fibre types,
different descriptors being used according to the fibre type, mode, etc.

Then in 2004 a version of 10GE was released for twin-axial cables. This was released in 2004
under IEEE 802.3ak. This version of 10GE was developed to use four twin-axial cables, but using
copper as opposed to fibre the distances that could be supported for these high data rates and the
resulting signal frequencies meant the distance was limited and the applications aimed at linking
switches and storage devices in data-centres, etc.

One important facet of using 10GE is that the data frame format remains the same as for the other
versions of Ethernet. This enables seamless integration of 10 gigabit Ethernet into existing
networks.

As full duplex operation is the only form of duplex that is used, the link distance does not affect the
MAC frame size. The minimum MAC frame size will be made equal to 64 octets as specified in the
previous Ethernet standards.

Gigabit Ethernet, & 1000BASE-T

Gigabit Ethernet, 1GE, is the next development of the Ethernet standard beyond the popular 100
Mbps Ethernet that was often used in the form of100BASE-T version.

As the name suggests, Gigabit Ethernet, 1GE, allows the transfer of data at speeds of 1000 Mbps
or 1Gbps. It is particularly easy to install because the 1000BASE-T variant is designed to run over
Cat 5 UTP (unshielded twisted pair) Ethernet cables that are widely and cheaply available.

Whilst the copper wire version of 1Gb Ethernet is the most commonly known, fibre versions are
also available and widely used, particularly in local area networks for home and business
applications.

Gigabit Ethernet is now the main standard for new equipment like computers as well as small
business and home Internet routers and Ethernet switches offering speed improvements over
previous versions that make it compatible with the requirements of the faster data transfers needed
today.
Power over Ethernet
Power over Ethernet, PoE, sometimes also called Power over LAN, PoL is a technique that allows
power to be supplied to end devices over the Ethernet cables connecting the data.

This approach of providing power over the Ethernet cable can significantly simplify installations for
small devices that would require the use of an additional power supply. Particularly when they may
in less accessible positions where power may not be easily accessible, or in areas where further
wiring can be an inconvenience, power over Ethernet is an ideal option.

Originally the concept was defined under IEEE 802.3af, but after its initial introduction the standard
was refined and released with many enhancements as IEEE 802.3at. By having the standard
defined by the IEEE, the organisation that controls the other Ethernet standards, it means that
products from different suppliers will all work together.

Concept of Power over Ethernet, PoE

Reasons for using Power over Ethernet

The use of Power over Ethernet, PoE gives a number of advantages for both installation and use:

 Time & cost savings: The use of power over Ethernet can give some significant cost savings
in terms of installation and maintenance. If a separate power supply is used,, wiring for this will
need to be run to the remote device. This will mean that there is additional time required, and
the cost of the additional supply. Although Ethernet switches and routers with PoE cost a little
more, this will be much less than the cost of installing two separate lines and the use of an
additional supply.
 Flexibility & ease of installation: The use of Power over Ethernet provides a significant
increase in flexibility as it is not necessary to consider how to run power to the device - it is
simply a matter of connecting the PoE system together using the data cables.
 Safety: Power delivery using PoE is intelligent as it is protected from overload, short circuits,
etc. Installation is foolproof as only the data cables need to be connected.
 Reliability: As there are no small power supplies required for the devices and the power is
supplied centrally, reliability is significantly improved.
 Scalability: Using power that is delivered from a central point means that the system can be
scaled up very easily.
Devices that use Power over Ethernet

There are many different devices that use Power over Ethernet as it provides a cost effective and
easy solution to powering small remote devices.

Typical examples of devices that use power over Ethernet include:

 VoIP phones: The use of VoIP phones is growing, especially for offices. When separate
phones are used (unlike the phone capability incorporated into computers, power is needed for
the phones. It is far easier to provide power for these phones using a central supply in an
Ethernet switch, than have a host of small power supplies around the office that are easily
broken.
 IP Cameras: With cameras being increasing used for security and other applications, and
many of these cameras using Ethernet to send back the video signals, using Power over
Ethernet significantly simplifies the installation as it is only necessary to route one cable to the
device.
 Wireless access points: In some applications, wireless access points will be mounted,
possibly in large offices or even cafes, shopping malls, etc and these will be connected by
Ethernet to the main router. Power is conveniently supplied using PoE.
 RFID readers: Many RFID readers use an Ethernet connection to link them to a central
database or computer system. Again using Power over Ethernet with power supplied by the
Ethernet switch means that installation is considerably simplified.
 Other devices: There are many other devices that use PoE including wall clocks (that us
network time protocol), IPTV decoders, access control systems, and even some microwave
point to point radio systems, although these often use proprietary PoE schemes.
These are but a few examples of the devices that can use power over Ethernet. In reality there are
very many more items that can use power over Ethernet to simplify installation and overall provide
a better level of reliability and reduce the cost of installation and maintenance.

What devices provide power for PoE

The main devices that are used to provide power in a PoE system are Ethernet switches. For
example VoIP phones in an office environment will each be connected to an Ethernet switch, so it
is these devices that normally provide the power.

Typical block diagram for a PoE system

Another approach is to use what is termed a Power over Ethernet injector. Although Ethernet
switches are available with PoE capability, millions of regular "non-PoE" switches are already
installed. The PoE injector fits neatly into the line between the Ethernet switch and the device to be
powered and it provides the power that can be passed long the cable.

Typical block diagram for a PoE system using a PoE Power Injector"
There are various standards for PoE:

 IEEE 802.3af: The 802.3af standard was the first to be released and this provided for power
levels of up to around 15 watts to be accommodated. Most devices use up to this amount. More
exactly PoE devices can supply a maximum of 15.4 watts, but over a length of cable this will
reduce and the minimum guaranteed power per port is 12.95 watts. Devices that conform to
802.3af are also known as Type 1 devices.
 IEEE 802.3at PoE+: IEEE 802.3at was an update to the original specification and is sometimes
referred to as PoE plus or PoE+. It can supply up to a maximum of 30 watts per port, although
over the cable length this can be reduced to a minimum guaranteed power level of 25.4 watts.
Devices conforming to this standard are sometimes referred to as Type 2 devices.
 IEEE 802.3bt: IEEE 802.3bt 4PPoE was released in September 2018 and provides increased
power capability. The standard introduces two additional power types:

 Type 3: These devices are up to 55 watts.

 Type 4: These devices are up to 90 - 100 watts.
For these devices, each pair of twisted pairs needs to handle a current of up to 600 mA for Type
3 and 960 mA for Type 4.
 In addition to the higher current capabilities, support is added for power over Ethernet within
2.5Gb, 5Gb and 10Gb Ethernet copper based systems.
There have been some misconceptions about the ratings in some quarters, that the 13 or 25.5
watts must be consumed by the device being used, and using an PoE Ethernet switch or other
device that can supply more power than is needed will result int he device being overloaded and
destroyed. Simply the device will draw as much current as it needs, and no more. Having a PoE
supply that can supply more than is needed will not result in any overloads.

What Ethernet cable to use for PoE

One of the real advantages of using Power over Ethernet is that the standard Cat 5, Cat 6 or even
Cat 7 cables can be used. The very old Cat 3 cables can even be used if low power is all that is
needed, but Cat 5 and above are much easier to obtain these days and perform better for Power
over Ethernet. These cables all use the normal RJ45 connectors used on these Ethernet cables

Typical Ethernet cable can be used for Power over Ethernet

This means that if there is a change from using a system without PoE to one that uses it, the cabling
does not need to be replaced, provided that is uses the standard cable types.

By adopting the use of standard cables, this means that PoE can be installed very easily and with
the minimum of additional cost.

PoE Development

With Ethernet now an established standard, one of the limitations of Ethernet related equipment
was that it required power and this was not always easily available. As a result some manufacturers
started to offer solutions whereby power could be supplied over the Ethernet cables themselves.
To prevent a variety of incompatible Power over Ethernet, PoE, solutions appearing on the market,
and the resulting confusion, the IEEE began their standardisation process in 1999.

A variety of companies were involved in the development of the IEEE standard. The result was the
IEEE802.3af standard that was approved for release on 12 June 2003. Although some products
were released before this date and may not fully conform to the standard, most products available
today will conform to it, especially if they quote compliance with 802.3af.

A further standard, designated IEEE 802.3at was released in 2009 and this provided for several
enhancements to the original IEEE 802.3af specification.
 PoE technology

The standard allows for a supply of 48 volts with a maximum current of 400 milliamps to be provided
over two of the available four pairs used on Cat 3 or Cat 5 cable. While this sounds very useful with
a maximum available power of 19.2 watts, the losses in the system normally reduce this to just
under 13 watts.

The standard Cat 5 cable has sets of twisted pair cable, and the IEEE standard allows for either to
be used for 10Base-T and 100Base-T systems. The standard allows for two options for Power over
Ethernet: one uses the spare twisted pairs, while the second option uses the wires carrying the
data. Only one option may be used and not both.

When using the spare twisted pairs for the supply, the pair on pins 4 and 5 connected together and
normally used for the positive supply. The pair connected to pins 7 and 8 of the connector are
connected for the negative supply. While this is the standard polarity, the specification actually
allows for either polarity to be used.

When the pairs used for carrying the data are employed it is it is possible to apply DC power to the
centre tap of the isolation transformer that are used to terminate the data wires without disrupting
the data transfer. In this mode of operation the pair on pins 3 and 6 and the pair on pins 1 and 2
can be of either polarity.

As the supply reaching the powered device can be of either polarity a full wave rectifier (bridge
rectifier) is used to ensure that the device consuming the power receives the correct polarity power.

Within the 802.3af standard two types of device are described:

 Power Sourcing Equipment, PSE This is the equipment that supplies power to the Ethernet
cable. A variety of devices can act as a PSE: Ethernet switches are very common forms of PSE.
It is also possible to use a power injector in a line where there is no other PSE.
 Powered Devices, PD This is equipment that interfaces to the Ethernet cable and is powered
by supply on the cable. These equipments may range from VoIP phones to remote cameras for
security to other small devices like RFID readers, etc..
Power over Ethernet connections

It is useful to have the connections for the power on an Ethernet cable or connector for using PoE.

ETHERNET CABLE PINOUT & DETAILS

PIN COLOUR 10 / 100BASE-T 1000BASE-T POE POE

NO MODE A MODE B

1 White / green +TX +BI_DA 48 V out

2 Green -TX -BI_DA 48 V out

3 White / orange +RX +BI_DB 48 V return

4 Blue +BI_DC 48 V out

5 Blue / white -BI_DC 48 V out

6 Orange -RX -BI_DB 48 V return

 ETHERNET CABLE PINOUT & DETAILS

PIN COLOUR 10 / 100BASE-T 1000BASE-T POE POE

NO MODE A MODE B

7 White / brown +BI_DD 48 V return

8 Brown -BI_DD 48 V return

Power Sourcing Equipment, PSE

This needs to provide a number of functions apart from simply supplying the power over the
Ethernet system.

When looking at the power budget for the system, although the maximum per port may be 15 watts
for a PoE device and 30 watts for a PoE+ device, check the overall power budget as the Ethernet
switch or other device supplying the power may not be capable of providing the maximum power
to all of its ports at the same time. For example an Ethernet switch may have 8 ports, and each be
capable of providing a maximum of 15 watts, but the total power for the Ethernet switch may only
be 100 watts, 20 watts short of the power required to supply each one with the maximum. This is
perfectly legitimate because it is unlikely that each port will be required to provide the full power for
each port.

One requirement for PoE PSEs is to check that no damage is possible to any equipment that may
be present on the Ethernet system. The nominal 48 volts provided is fine for PoE devices and PoE
compatible devices, but for some, this level of voltage could damage the circuitry.

To overcome this issue, the PSE first looks for devices that comply with the IEEE 802.3af
specification. This is achieved by applying a small current-limited voltage to the cable.

The PSE then checks for the presence of a 25k ohm resistor in the remote device. If this load or
resistor is detected, then the 48V is applied to the cable, but it is still current-limited to prevent
damage to cables and equipment under fault conditions.

The PSE will continue to supply power until the Powered Device, PD is removed, or the it stops
drawing its minimum current.

Powered Device, PD

The powered device must be able to operate within the confines of the Power over Ethernet
specification. It receives a nominal 48 volts from the cable, and must be able to accept power from
either option, i.e. either over the spare or data cables.

Additionally the 48 volts supplied is too high for operating the electronics to be powered, and
accordingly an isolated DC-DC converter is used to transform the 48V to a lower voltage. This also
enables 1500V isolation to be provided for safety reasons.

Power over Ethernet, PoE classes

Power over Ethernet enabled devices are assigned classes according to their power. The four
classes are broadly, very low power, low power, and medium power. The high power class is
reserved for use in association only with PoE+ PSEs.
 POWER OVER ETHERNET POE CLASSES

POE POWER CLASS PSE POWER AVAILABLE MAX PD POWER

1 4.0 3.84

2 7.0 6.49

3 15.4 12.95

4 30 25.5