Introduction

Do you own a business firm and search for cost-effective and time-saving switches for your company? Of course, a PoE switch or Power over Ethernet technology can be the best option for you. But are you stuck in the selection between PoE+ and PoE++ switches? If yes, then follow this post till the end.

So, let me begin by explaining a simple PoE switch. What is a PoE? An advanced switch delivers data and power safely over the Ethernet cable for the local area network. If you want to power multiple computer devices simultaneously in the same network, you must go for the PoE switches.

The PoE switch has been available on the market since 2003, with the standard of IEEE 802.3af. It is a power sourcing equipment that helps you supply power to the network connectivity and power devices over an Ethernet Cable.

There are varieties of PoE switches available on the market. For example, you can find the PoE switch, PoE+ switch, and PoE++ switch. So, you must choose a suitable switch that fits your requirements.

Many users ask me what type of PoE switch should I buy. And I tell them to check the power requirement and select as per your device’s demand. Don’t worry! In this post, I will give you comprehensive information about PoE+ and PoE++ switches.

What Is a PoE+ Switch?

A PoE+ switch is an advanced form of PoE technology developed in 2009. Powered Devices like wireless access points require more PoE wattages of over 12.95W to function normally.

Hence, PoE+ technology came on the market to solve the high wattage issue. It is an upgraded form of PoE technology that can support high power consumption.

PoE plus technology is more like PoE technology. It supplies power to the power terminal device through a network cable. But, the difference is that it provides 30W power for each port, and the power supply voltage can be 50V-57V.

Thus, the power receiving device can receive a maximum of 25.5W, increasing the voltage to 42.5V-57V. Thus, PoE+ can be the best option for medium-scale enterprises.

What Is a PoE++ Switch?

PoE++ is an advanced form of PoE+ technology that came into existence in 2018. This switch adds more power to broader device applications.

New generation devices like faster Wi-Fi access points with higher power radio arrays and signal processors need higher power standards. Thus, after a six-year gap between PoE and PoE+ technology, we got the PoE++ standard switch.

It is more complex and advanced as it has two different types to 802.3bt, and it is known as Type 3 and Type 4 PoE. Thus, PoE++ technology is an upgraded form of the PoE+ switch that provides more power to advanced devices and endpoints.

Here are some short and clear explanations of the two branch types of the PoE++ switch.

PoE++ Type 3

PoE++ Type 3 uses two or four twisted pairs of the same network cable. It can provide input power up to 51W to the power receiving device. Besides, a PoE++ Type 3 switch port can run over 60W and 50-57V.

PoE++ Type 4

PoE++ Type 4 is another advanced switch that needs to supply power to the PoE terminal device through all pairs of network cables. It can provide input power up to 71W. It requires four pairs of wires, so it supplies more power to the devices.

How to Choose Between PoE+ and PoE++ Switches?

There are many differences between PoE+ and PoE++ switches. But, both switches have their importance. Thus, you must evaluate and examine the power requirements of your devices.

Some vendors advertise the PoE+ switch as a PoE++ even if not all ports are PoE++ capable. Thus, if you are looking for the PoE++ switch, you must check how many ports are PoE++ and what standard other ports use.

You also need to check the type. Many vendors use PoE++ Type 3 or Type 4 or state PoE and wattage, making you slightly harder to see.

I know you are looking for the crucial differences between PoE+ and PoE++ technology. So, let’s talk about the differences between these switches.

Key Differences

1. PoE++ switches supply a maximum power of 100 watts to each switch port, whereas PoE+ switches supply a total power of 30 watts to each switch port.

2. Also, the PoE++ switch uses four pairs of twisted cables. Likewise, the PoE+ switch uses two pairs of twisted cable

3. PoE++ switch complies with the IEEE 802.3bt standard, PoE+ switch complies with the IEEE 802.3at standard.

4. The PoE++ switch supplies a maximum power of 71W to the powered devices, but the PoE+ switch supplies a maximum of 25.5W to the powered devices.

5. PoE++ switches are suitable for devices that require premier power to function. But both technologies support Cat5 cable.

6. PoE++ technology is made mainly for large enterprises, whereas PoE+ is suitable for medium-scale enterprises.

7. Both switches use different injectors. For example, the PoE+ injector and PoE++ injector are different.

How to Buy PoE Switches Compared to PoE+ and PoE++ Switches?

If you are searching for the best PoE switches for your enterprise, you must first decide your requirements. For example, do you have high-end devices that require excess power to function, or do you have medium devices that require medium power requirements?

Evaluate your needs and examine your devices before selecting PoE technology. For example, choosing a PoE switch over a traditional wall socket would be an excellent decision. But never select the switch looking at others. Different people have different requirements for power.

There are many differences between PoE+ and PoE++ technology. Still, the crucial difference between these two technologies lies in their working mode and power supply.

If you want to connect gadgets like complex cameras that zoom or tilt, Video IP phones, and wireless access points with six antennas, then you can go for a PoE+ switch.

If you want to connect devices requiring eminent power like TVs and laptops, you can choose the PoE++ Type 4 switch. On the other hand, PoE++ Type 3 switch is suitable for building maintenance devices and video conferencing system components.

Final Thoughts!

That’s it! As the requirement for power is increasing day by day, PoE technology is growing with the trend. Thus, you can see the change from the PoE network switch to PoE+ and PoE++ switch.

There are many differences between PoE++ and PoE+ switches. But, like said earlier, the fundamental difference is the power supply capacity. In short, the PoE++ switch gives higher power to connect your high-end devices like TVs and laptops.

Cameras, Video IP Phones, and Alarm systems use PoE+ technology. So first evaluate your requirements, and choose the technology that fits your needs.

Throw the traditional wall sockets and choose the modern switch to power your multiple devices. PoE technology provides a reliable and flexible connection. Hence, it has simplified our work.

In this article, I talked about the differences between these two technologies and their mode of application. I hope you got enough information, and you will choose the appropriate PoE network switch to connect your devices.