HANSUN 1. Choose High-Category PoE Cables
Rule of Thumb: The higher the cable category, the lower the heat rise. The Telecommunications Association (TIA) suggests that all new PoE installations use Cat6A Ethernet cabling.
2. Choose Cabling with a Larger Conductor
Conductor resistance is a prime cause of heat-rise issues in PoE applications. Larger conductors allow for easier current flow reducing conductor resistance, which in turn reduces heat. It is important to note that the larger the conductor is, the lower its gauge number will be. Cat6 or Cat6A Ethernet cables generate 80 percent less conductor resistance and are a preferred choice for heat reduction.
3. Choose Conductors with Solid Metal Bodies
Thermoplastic cable jacketing is subject to softening and distorting when exposed to heat. In contrast, all-metal-body construction allows for higher conductivity and heat dissipation; therefore, it is preferred.
4. Choose Shielded Cabling
Metallic shields or foil are known for dissipating heat. Therefore, using S/FTP (shielded with foiled twisted pairs) or S/UTP (shielded with unshielded twisted pairs) cables are best for high-power PoE applications.
5. Use a Smaller Bundle Size
In testing done by the TIA they concluded that the larger the cable bundle, the higher its core temperature will be. Therefore, their TSB-184-A cabling standard (“Guidelines for Supporting Power Delivery Over Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling”) recommends leaving cables unbundled to ensure better heat dissipation. However, if this is not possible, smaller bundles are suggested.
6. Have a Cable Management Plan
It is wise to group cables loosely instead of bundling them tightly together. Cables or cable bundles should be dispersed as loosely as possible around the area. It is essential to recognize that high cable density contributes to more heat within the cables or cable bundles. The use of cable management tools will assist in ensuring better cable airflow.
