Power over Ethernet simplifies edge deployments but introduces planning complexity. Each powered device draws from a shared switch budget; exceeding that budget causes unpredictable failures.

Calculating your budget

Class ratings, cable length and ambient temperature all influence deliverable power. Budget headroom of 20–30% is a sensible default for production networks.

• Sum the maximum draw of all endpoints on the switch.
• Account for future cameras, APs or IoT devices in the same VLAN.
• Derate in hot cabinets or long cable runs.

MEGAnet switches and injectors are specified with clear per-port and total budgets — match your bill of materials to real-world loads, not datasheet maximums alone.