Plugging non-PoE Devices Into PoE Switches: Will It Go BANG? (Power over Ethernet Dos & Don'ts)

I've recently purchased a bunch of Power over Ethernet (PoE) cameras for my home's security system, and so I started looking into powered network switches - in other words, PoE compliant switches. But are they 'safe' to use? After all, they send electricity down the Ethernet cable?!

And what happens if you accidentally plug in a normal (non-PoE) device into a PoE switch?

I explore all this - and more - in this video... including via a VERY suspect looking demo! I combined TWO power over Ethernet switches with three non-PoE devices (a HP printer, DVD player and TP-Link Gigabit switch), and turned it all on!

The individual sections of this video are:

00:00 Intro
00:35 Sketchy Demo
01:30 How PoE 'Should' Work
02:26 Passive PoE
03:11 PoE Splitters
03:44 Final Thoughts

Thanks to the following free sound effects:

#PoE #HomeNetwork #Ethernet

[AndyPerry]

Yep, I was also wanting to know the same. Just bought a new Netgear POE switch for 7 new POE cameras (and ethernet around the house whilst I was at it). I just wish I had come across this yesterday before I said "Oh well, let's see what happens" 🙂 I can now keep my old switch with my home and work computers with only 1 trailing cable whilst I set up all other stuff and wait for the new data points in the office and move everything over to the data rack.

[TheCoatingChronicles]

Most poe switches auto sense, unless its passive poe like those 24v gen1 unifi switches where u can turn the power on on the switch port and leave it in the on position

[James_Knott]

Many injectors are passive PoE. You also have to consider voltage. Some devices will not work with the 24V injectors.

[ahmedabdelrahman]

if i use an non-poe switch with the splitter to connect to a pd, if i replaced this PD with another non poe equipment, will a problem happen?

[joemccarthy]

Can you connect a rj45 tester into active port on poe switch