Security Camera Power Over Ethernet Installation
Volume I · May 2026 · 458 words
Power over Ethernet (PoE) eliminates the need for a separate AC power cable at each camera location, carrying both data and DC power over a single twisted-pair cable. For a multi-camera installation — especially in an existing home where running new electrical outlets is costly — PoE reduces the per-camera wiring burden from two cables to one and centralizes power management at the switch. This clinical reference covers the essential installation parameters: the PoE standard required, cable selection, distance limits, and switch sizing.
PoE standards and camera power requirements. The original IEEE 802.3af (PoE) standard delivers up to 15.4 W at the switch port, with approximately 12.95 W available at the camera after cable losses. This is sufficient for fixed-lens IP cameras with basic IR illumination, such as the Reolink RLC-520A (under 8 W). The 802.3at (PoE+) standard delivers 30 W at the port (25.5 W at the device) and is necessary for PTZ cameras with motorized pan-tilt and stronger IR arrays: the Reolink RLC-823A PTZ camera draws approximately 18–22 W during pan-tilt operation. The 802.3bt (PoE++) standard is overkill for most residential deployments. The installer must verify that the camera's maximum power draw fits within the switch port's budget; a camera drawing 20 W on an 802.3af switch will reboot under load or fail to power on.
Cable selection. Solid copper Cat5e is the minimum viable cable for PoE up to 100 meters. Copper-clad aluminum (CCA) cable — cheaper and widely sold — has approximately 50% higher DC resistance than solid copper and produces excessive voltage drop, causing cameras to brown out. The trueCABLE Cat6 solid copper is the recommended minimum: 23 AWG conductors provide lower resistance than Cat5e's 24 AWG on runs approaching the 100-meter limit. Shielded cable is unnecessary in typical residential installations.
Switch sizing and power budget. A PoE switch must supply the aggregate draw of all cameras simultaneously. The Netgear GS308PP is an unmanaged 8-port PoE+ switch with a 123 W budget — sufficient for four PTZ cameras at 22 W each plus four fixed cameras at 8 W each. The Ubiquiti USW-Lite-16-PoE provides 8 PoE+ ports with a 45 W budget, better suited for fixed cameras. Startup inrush current can briefly exceed steady-state draw by 15–20%, so a 20% power budget margin above calculated aggregate draw is the minimum safe margin.