The digital nature of LED technology brings illumination and IT together, allowing lighting systems to participate in the Internet of Things.

Why use Power over Ethernet (PoE)?

Time and cost savings – Reduce time and expense of installation when compared to typical high voltage installation; there is not an actual need to hire an Electrical Contractor if an IT team can manage the connections. Network cables do not require high voltage and can be located anywhere.

Flexibility – Easily adapts new lighting strategies at the touch of a button. The systems are scalable and most any device or system can be included. A dashboard could be populated not just with a lighting system data, but other systems such as cameras, phones, HVAC, etc. The platform allows for interoperability of all systems that are connected.

Safety – Little to no risk of electrical injuries when installing since high voltage is not present and risk of fire is reduced

Reliability –System is controlled by a central source rather than a collection of distributed circuits, reducing failures.  It can also be supported by a Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS).

Information – Real-time data that can be collected/stored/mined and can report in real time any and all anomalies for better facility management.

LEARNING GOALS

• Review the key benefits and applications for PoE Lighting technologies
• Gain awareness of the current state of the PoE lighting industry, the key technical and policy standards governing it, and the major players in the market
• Understand the base architecture of a PoE Lighting system, its components and the connectivity requirements, and its scalability potential
• Discern the PoE Lighting role in a smart building ecosystem