With the demand for always-on connectivity growing, power and data delivery choices matter. The distribution methods you implement can impact reliability, efficiency, operating costs, and even safety.
As more systems and devices require both power and data to function, the lines between them are blurring. The rise of smart buildings, automation, and modern infrastructure has brought about innovations like Digital Electricity™ and Power over Ethernet (PoE), which offer new choices for power and data distribution.
While they may seem like distinct offerings with distinct purposes, Digital Electricity and PoE can work together to create powerful and integrated networks.
What Is Power Over Ethernet?
PoE technology enables power to be transmitted on twisted-pair Ethernet cabling instead of using standard electrical wiring. Because PoE uses Ethernet cabling, power and data can both be transported along the cable at the same time. There’s no need for separate wiring to support power and data.
PoE became a standard in 2003, recognized by IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). The first iteration of PoE, known as Type 1, could deliver approximately 15 W of power per port. Since then, PoE technology has evolved. Today, Type 4 PoE is the latest standard, offering the ability to deliver 100 W of power per port.
Until Digital Electricity came along, PoE was one of the only remote powering technology options for networked devices.
What Is Digital Electricity?
Digital Electricity is a type of fault managed power (also known as Class 4 power). Developed by VoltServer, it distributes power using built-in intelligence to manage and mitigate fault conditions. It became part of the National Electrical Code in 2023 and is recognized by UL.
Fault managed power combines the convenience and safety of low-voltage power with the power and distance capabilities of traditional AC power, which means it can carry more power over longer distances than PoE. Its ability to transmit power in a digital format, similar to how data packets travel over a network, is what creates such safe and efficient distribution.
Because it can be supported with data cabling, it also has the capacity to transmit data and power using the same cable, similar to PoE.
Integrating PoE and Digital Electricity: Huge Potential Awaits
With PoE and Digital Electricity clearly defined above, you can see that each one has its purpose. Imagine the possibilities that await if you use them together. Devices can be powered without dedicated power lines running to each device location, which offers greater flexibility.
Picture a Class-A corporate high-rise. Using Digital Electricity and PoE together could enable a flexible, reliable, and integrated approach to power and data distribution. While Digital Electricity provides a high-power solution for large-scale systems that may be located far from power sources, PoE can support lower-power devices effectively—up to 100 meters from a power source.
For example, Digital Electricity could be used to transmit power from a central power source to various floors or departments within the high-rise. It could also be used to power systems that require significantly more energy than PoE can deliver, such as HVAC systems, building-wide lighting systems, building automation, or EV charging infrastructure. And because it can also carry data via a single hybrid cabling infrastructure, it’s easier and more cost-effective to install than conventional AC systems.
Meanwhile, PoE can be used to continue the flow of power on each floor—along with data—to end devices that are located closer to existing telecommunications rooms, such as sensors, surveillance cameras, wireless access points, VoIP phones, intercoms, and digital displays.
These possibilities extend beyond high-rise offices to many types of environments. For instance, Digital Electricity and PoE can team up in stadiums and arenas, with Digital Electricity powering scoreboards, the Wi-Fi network, and distributed antenna systems, while PoE handles cameras, point-of-sale systems, and emergency communication devices.
In manufacturing plants and industrial sites, Digital Electricity could be relied on to power robotic arms, industrial equipment, production lines, and access control systems, while PoE could power sensors, environmental controls, smart meters, and asset tracking devices.
Using PoE + DE to Reduce Costs
Both technologies make installation faster, simpler, and more affordable; they reduce the need to install separate power and data wiring. By using a single cabling infrastructure for data and power, you can lower labor and material costs. This also makes it easier to expand your network without major infrastructure overhauls. You can simply add or swap out devices as your needs change.
Finally, both technologies offer the ability to come together on a centralized dashboard for remote monitoring and control of power and data distribution. With real-time visibility into things like power usage and allocation, data traffic and patterns, and device status, you can make better decisions about your network and infrastructure.
Learn More About Bringing These Technologies Together
By taking advantage of the ways in which Power over Ethernet and Digital Electricity can complement one another, you can build power and data networks that meet the demands of today’s digital environments and are ready for the technologies of tomorrow.
