Guides
Power over Ethernet for camera systems
Power over Ethernet sends both data and electrical power down one network cable, so a camera needs a single run instead of separate video and power cables. It removes the need for a socket at every camera position, simplifies fault-finding, and makes long runs cheaper to install.
One cable, one fault point
Separate power and video runs double the number of joints that can corrode or work loose. PoE halves it, which matters more than it sounds on a system that has to last ten years outdoors.
Distance limit
Standard PoE runs to about 100 metres. Beyond that you need an extender or a switch closer to the cameras. We plan switch positions from the building, not from a wish.
Power budget
A switch has a total wattage it can supply. Eight cameras with heaters and long-range illuminators can exceed a cheap switch's budget, and the symptom is cameras dropping out at night when the IR kicks in.
It makes UPS backup simple
One UPS on the switch and recorder keeps the whole camera system running through load-shedding. With separate adaptors at each camera, that is far harder to achieve.
What is PoE and why does it matter for cameras?
Can I use my existing network cable for cameras?
If it is Cat5e or better, terminated properly and tested, usually yes. We test each run before committing, because reusing bad cable costs more in call-outs than replacing it would have.
What happens in a power cut?
Everything stops unless the switch and recorder are on a UPS. Because PoE centralises the power, one modest UPS protects the whole system — which is one of its biggest practical advantages here.
Need this doing?
IP cameras use network cable instead of coaxial, carry power over the same cable, and give higher resolution than analogue systems. They suit larger premises, longer cable runs and anyone who may add cameras later. A four-channel IP system starts around PKR 95,000 installed.
IP camera installation — what it costsRelated pages
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