Ethernet / PoE

Choosing the right device

Any Ethernet run that leaves the building envelope — to an IP camera on a pole, a wireless access point on a mast, a gate controller across a parking lot — carries surge energy straight back to your switch. PoE surge protectors install in-line at one or both ends of the run and pass data and power while diverting transients to ground.

Match the protector to your cable category (Cat5e vs. Cat6), data rate, and PoE class so it doesn't become the bottleneck. The CAT6 and CAT6.5 POE series cover gigabit links with modern PoE budgets. Protect both ends of exposed runs for full coverage — the switch end is the one people forget.