Know Everything about PoE Access Control Systems

Posted by Rich Tull on March 18th, 2021

Electronic access control systems (ACS) are widely used for protection in our everyday lives. However, since they use the conventional RS485 (serial) network seen in the following figure, many of them are difficult to handle and troubleshoot when the network goes down. The RS485 network is a separate network that is deployed to each controller in the access control system in this infrastructure. The controller's power supply is usually DC and includes a battery backup.

Manufacturers have built PoE-based access control systems that integrate into the facility's current IP infrastructure to solve the two key problems. The implementation, benefits, and drawbacks of PoE access control systems are described below.

Overview of the PoE Access Control System

Single-door access control panels can be placed above each door as edge controllers in a PoE access control system. These controllers, like their analog counterparts, make all of the access control decisions. To provide reliable electricity, these single-door access control panels use either a midspan PoE power injector or a PoE switch.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of a PoE Access Control System

A PoE access control system has three major advantages over a conventional ACS, as mentioned below:

Cost-effective: This infrastructure makes use of the current IT network system while also eliminating the need for a local power source, reducing costs.

PoE cables relay both power and data to each computer connected to the local area network, allowing for a flexible installation (LAN). For optimal efficiency, a system should be close to an AC power outlet. PoE improves system positioning versatility by allowing devices to be conveniently mounted in a network without thinking about their proximity to AC outlets.

Easy and secure management: The power over the Ethernet system uses a centralized power source, making it simple to link and disconnect remotely operated devices during service reconfigurations and disturbances. Furthermore, PoE technology protects the entire network investment by defining the 802.3 Ethernet protocol extension and promoting different data rates up to 10 Gbps. Also, the PoE access control system expands a building's security measures by promoting CCTV systems for better surveillance. The cameras will track who enters the premises thanks to the digital signals.

While a PoE ACS has several advantages, it also has one drawback. The only disadvantage of PoE systems is that they only transmit a small amount of power to the attached equipment. PoE switches or PoE injectors not only power the controllers, but also provide output power to ancillary devices connected to the controllers, such as card readers, fail-secure electric kicks, and so on. Most PoE controllers have two voltage limits by default. The lock output power is one, and the total power output is another. The total power output for all ancillary components, including the lock power, is usually about 600 mA in most cases. Any component connected to a PoE controller must comply with this requirement.