How to Use POE for an IP Camera
Tech savvy consumers who choose Internet Protocol (IP) cameras often find the numerous wires required to operate the cameras cumbersome and annoying. To reduce the wire clutter, manufacturers developed IP cameras that employ Power over Ethernet, or PoE, technology to eliminate one of the wires.
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Instructions
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Locate the IP camera in a convenient spot where it can "see" the desired area; for some users, the perfect spot may be a corner high on a wall, though other users may simply place the camera on a desk near the computer. Place the camera in a position where its Ethernet cable remains unobstructed and within reasonable proximity to the PoE and IP routing equipment.
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Plug the camera's Ethernet cable into the PoE unit. The camera should arrive from the manufacturer with an attached Ethernet cable; one end of this cable protrudes from the camera itself while the loose end terminates in a plastic modular plug (technophiles will recognize the plug as a standard RJ-14 Ethernet plug). Line up the modular plug with the appropriately sized port on the PoE module, and push it firmly but gently into the port until it clicks into place. Ethernet cables are keyed to only fit into the plug in the correct orientation; if it does not fit easily into the port, re-orient the plug and try again.
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Connect the PoE module to the IP routing equipment. Like the camera, the PoE module should come from the manufacturer with a protruding Ethernet cable. Locate the loose end of the cable, identify an unused port on the IP routing equipment (router) and push the Ethernet cable's modular plug firmly, but gently into the router's port until it snaps into place.
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Connect the PoE module to electrical power. A PoE module provides power over Ethernet to the IP camera by drawing electrical power from a nearby outlet then passing it over an unused cable pair in the Ethernet cable. To accomplish this feat, the PoE module must connect to an electrical outlet. If the PoE module came from the factory with a protruding electrical adapter, simply plug the loose end into a nearby electrical outlet. If, as is more common, the module came with an electrical adapter with two loose ends, plug the round end into the round "A/C" port on the PoE module, then plug the other end into an electrical outlet.
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Install any necessary software. While some IP cameras ship from the manufacturer pre-configured and ready to use, others require special software to view or use the camera's image. If your camera requires this software, insert the provided CD into your computer's CD or DVD drive and follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing the software. With any necessary software installed, your PoE IP camera is ready for use.
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Tips & Warnings
Although Power over Ethernet is a relatively new technology, PoE adapters are readily available from most electronics retailers. Before connecting the PoE adapter, read and comply with any manufacturer's warnings regarding Power over Ethernet. Some computer cameras draw power through the computer's USB port and do not require an external power source; do not attempt to use Power over Ethernet with USB-based cameras.
Power over Ethernet modules require interfacing with household electricity; always use extreme caution when working around electricity. Do not attempt to connect a Power over Ethernet module to a camera that does not support PoE; doing so may cause irreversible damage to the camera, routing equipment and network devices and may start a fire.
