As industrial automation continues to increase, industrial all-in-one computers are crucial equipment, and their power supply method is crucial. POE (Power over Ethernet), also known as grounded power supply, has gained widespread adoption in industrial all-in-one computers due to its outstanding advantages.

Ⅰ. Significant Advantages of POE Power for Industrial All-in-One Devices

1. Significantly Simplified Wiring and Significantly Reduced Costs: Traditionally, powering industrial equipment requires separate power and data cables, creating a complex and tedious wiring project. POE technology enables data and power transmission over a single Ethernet cable. For example, in industrial automation production lines, a large number of sensors, industrial all-in-one devices, and other equipment would require extensive cabling and labor if powered by traditional power sources. However, POE power only requires Ethernet cables, significantly reducing wiring workload and cabling costs by approximately 30%-50%. This also saves on auxiliary materials such as cable ducts and conduit, as well as the time and labor associated with manual wiring.

2. Flexible and convenient deployment, with no location restrictions: In industrial environments, equipment layouts often change due to production process adjustments. POE power supply frees industrial all-in-one computers from dependence on the location of power outlets. In the storage and logistics areas of smart factories, when moving or adding industrial all-in-one computers for cargo information collection and processing, as long as there is an Ethernet network access point, the equipment can be easily deployed. There is no need to find a suitable power outlet for the equipment or re-plan the power lines as in traditional methods, which greatly improves the flexibility and convenience of equipment deployment.

3. Efficient remote management and easy maintenance: In industrial production, some equipment is installed in remote areas or in harsh environments, making maintenance inconvenient. POE power supply combined with the remote management function of industrial all-in-one computers can remotely control power supply, monitor status, and maintain equipment through the network. For example, at remote pipeline monitoring points in petrochemical enterprises, staff can remotely restart faulty industrial all-in-one computers from the control center or view equipment operating parameters in real time without having to send personnel to the site, saving maintenance time and labor costs and improving the stability and reliability of equipment operation.

4. Stable and reliable power supply, safer system: The POE power supply system has a complete power supply management mechanism that can monitor the power requirements of the powered equipment in real time and dynamically adjust the power supply. When the load of the industrial integrated machine changes, it can quickly provide stable power to avoid problems such as voltage fluctuations and current instability that affect the normal operation of the equipment. In addition, POE power supply equipment usually has overcurrent, overvoltage, and short-circuit protection functions, which can effectively protect the industrial integrated machine and other powered equipment, reduce the risk of equipment damage due to power failures, and improve the safety and stability of the entire industrial system.

II. Considerations for POE Power Supply for Industrial All-in-One Computers

1. Choosing the Right POE Standard: The IEEE has established multiple POE standards, such as 802.3af (maximum power of 15.4W), 802.3at (maximum power of 30W), and 802.3bt (maximum power of 60W or 90W). When choosing a standard, accurately match it to the power requirements of the industrial all-in-one computer. For example, if the all-in-one computer requires 20W, choosing 802.3af will result in insufficient power and device malfunction. While choosing 802.3bt will meet power requirements, it will increase costs. Therefore, consider factors such as cost while ensuring the device‘s power requirements are met.

2. Ensure device compatibility: The POE power supply system consists of power sourcing equipment (PSE) and powered devices (PD), and both must be compatible. Some non-standard POE devices may cause power supply anomalies due to incompatible communication protocols. When purchasing equipment, choose products that comply with IEEE standards and have undergone compatibility testing. For example, in industrial monitoring projects, if the industrial all-in-one machine is incompatible with the POE switch, problems such as power failure and repeated device restarts may occur. You can confirm device compatibility by checking the device manual or consulting the manufacturer.

3. Pay attention to the quality and length of the network cable: The quality and length of the Ethernet cable will affect the POE power supply effect. Poor quality network cables have high resistance and large power loss during transmission, which may lead to insufficient power supply voltage. Category 5e and above standard network cables are more suitable for POE power supply. At the same time, POE power supply is limited by the length of the network cable. Generally, the effective power supply distance of a standard Ethernet cable is 100 meters. If this distance is exceeded, the voltage will drop significantly, affecting the normal operation of the equipment. In actual applications, if the distance between the industrial all-in-one machine and the POE switch exceeds 100 meters, repeaters, fiber optic transmission, etc. can be used to solve the problem.

4. Ensure Power Supply Planning and Management: In industrial production, different equipment has varying power requirements and operating hours. POE power supply systems must be carefully planned and managed based on the power requirements and operating hours of industrial integrated circuits and other powered devices. For example, the power management function of a POE switch can be used to rationally allocate power to each port to prevent overloading of a single port and impacting other equipment. Scheduled and grouped power supply can also be configured to achieve energy savings and optimize equipment management.

PoE power supply for industrial integrated circuits offers significant advantages, but only by fully understanding and adhering to the following considerations can a stable and efficient POE power supply system be ensured to provide strong support for industrial production.