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NETWORKING · POWER

PoE PD vs PSE: What Is the Difference?

In a PoE link the PSE (Power Sourcing Equipment) supplies the power and the PD (Powered Device) draws it. A PoE switch or a PoE computer acting as a source is the PSE; a camera, phone or access point is the PD.

01

The Short Answer

Every PoE link has two roles. The Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) injects power onto the cable; the Powered Device (PD) receives it. Industrial PoE switches are usually the PSE, while IP cameras, wireless access points and VoIP phones are PDs.

02

PoE Computers as the PSE

An edge computer can be the PSE itself: our PoE computers include models with multiple PoE+ ports, so the computer powers and connects several cameras or sensors directly, with no separate switch. A computer can also be a PD, powered over a single cable where wiring is awkward.

See our guide to industrial Power over Ethernet for the full picture.