Project

Power over Ethernet (PoE) with Microchip’s EoE!

January 26, 2018 by Ryan Jones

Embrace the power of Power over Ethernet with Microchip's Ethernet of Everything!

Embrace the power of Power over Ethernet with Microchip's Ethernet of Everything!

BOM:

Why?

Many electronics we've used in the MIT-i series tend to run on 5V USB or 12VDC barrel connectors. We've never touched on the power of PoE (power-over-ethernet). With just one cable you can provide power to your device and send and receive data from it. Our Microchip Ethernet of Everything device accepts 48V via a PoE ethernet switch which also provides an IP address for data communication. Let's hop into it!

How?

First, we need to tackle what "ethernet" even is. Ethernet is used for communication between local networks of computers, providing internet and data connections within homes and offices. It's the predecessor to Wi-Fi! Power over Ethernet does just what you'd assume.

PoE provides power down the same cable that carries the data signal. Typically these cables are Cat5, Cat5e, or Cat6. Because of this, one cable can provide power and data to wireless access points, intercom systems, IP cameras, and much more! The Microchip board that we are using today will receive power and an IP address from our PoE switch.

 

Following Microchip's EoE User Guide, first secure the PoE Main Board to the PoE programming adapter board. Next, we will need to plug in an ethernet cable from our ISP router and then to a PoE port on our PoE switch. Then plug in a second ethernet cable from another PoE port and into the Microchip PoE Main Board. When your board establishes an IP address the TCIP/IP Status LED will turn amber—this means we're ready to read data!

To read data, open the provided EoE app and click "Discover Devices." An IP address should appear, meaning your computer has discovered the main board! Within this app, you can control the board's LED by toggling the "Turn On/Off" button, or read raw light sensor values and temperature sensor values with a single click. Change your board's environments and see what kind of readings you can obtain!

 

It was cold here!

Well, thanks for checking out another MIT-i project! Happy sensing!

 

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