Power Over Ethernet – How to Join Two PoE Splitters

power-over-ethernet

So I was wondering about pulling more power down PoE, the default spec for most 802.3at switches is 25.5 watts per cable.

I was wondering would it be possible to join two PoE cables in parallel to double the theoretically maximum.

See diagram below 1, for example you have 2 ports with PoE+ enabled going two splitters, then you join the 12v rails together in parallel (using a simple DC Jack splitter 2). Would this theoretically work or would this damage the switch or just not work at all?

PoE Splitters in parallel
DC Splitter

Best Answer

No. This isn't possible. The switch itself negotiates the amount of power to be provided when it comes up, and beyond the obvious non-starter of two data lines being paralleled to each other (two transmits connected to each other?) there is no accommodation in the various PoE specs to be splitting power. Indeed, you'd potentially end up in a situation where one port was pushing power into another one, which would be bad.