Intelligent connection

Data and power supply for up to 26 devices by Power over Ethernet

Siemens is expanding its Scalance X portfolio with the new Power over Ethernet (PoE, power and data via one cable) variants of the Scalance industrial Ethernet switches XC-200PoE, XR-100PoE WG, and XR-300PoE WG. With this solution up to 26 end devices can be supplied with data and power via one data cable. All new PoE switches supports the latest IEEE 802.3bt standard and provide up to 30 watts of power per port. Using the 10 Gbit/s copper ports of the Scalance XR-300PoE WG products even up to 60 watts per port are possible.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a method to provide network end devices with power and data via one cable. The power and data transmission takes place via the applied Ethernet cables, which connect the individual network components. Since this enables a quick and wiring-free installation of various components such as wireless LAN access points as well as IP cameras and IP phones, PoE is an essential part of digitalization in modern companies.

Industry uses the technology known from the office and home and adopts it into industrial components such as industrial Ethernet switches, Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) gateways and identification components. The new PoE switches expand the Scalance X family's product portfolio and provide the right solution for every area of the industrial network.

PoE power management ensures that sufficient PoE power per port is always available based on standardized Power over Ethernet performance classes. In order to optimize this line budget allocation, additional performance settings can be made for each Power over Ethernet port for the end device. The individual PoE-capable Scalance X products can supply the end devices without an additional PoE power supply unit.

If the available power from the switch is insufficient, with e.g. Scalance XR-300PoE WG and the new power supply Scalance PSR9230PoE a total power of up to 600 W can be provided. Furthermore, all new Scalance X-Power over Ethernet variants with fiber optic interfaces have two ten gigabits per second (Gbit/s) ports for connecting the devices to higher-level network structures over larger distances. The ten Gbit/s ports of the XR-300PoE WG devices are additionally equipped with combo ports and can also be used to supply end devices with data and power via Power over Ethernet.

Due to the simple and quick commissioning and the large product range, Power over Ethernet is increasingly being used in industries such as automation technology, intralogistics, infrastructure, and tunnel applications, as well as in transportation and building automation. The steadily growing range of industrial applications ranges from the connection of high definition (HD) cameras for tunnel monitoring, through optical identification systems for quality control of individual components, to the wireless networking of amusement parks via wireless LAN access points.