Is my older PoE switch enough for a newer camera?
Check the per-port rating: Vision-series cameras take 802.3at PoE+ (up to 30 W per port). A 15.4 W port can't power a Vision PRO X, so it boots on its injector but not on that switch.
EtherLynx Vision-series cameras take their standard power from 802.3at PoE+, up to 30 W per port. A switch that gives only 15.4 W per port (the older 802.3af standard) can't power a Vision PRO X, so the camera boots on a PoE+ injector but not on that switch.
- Check the switch's PoE rating per port on its label or datasheet. It needs to be 802.3at PoE+.
- If it isn't, use a PoE+ switch, or power each camera from its own PoE+ injector.
- With several cameras on one switch, check its total PoE budget too: allow up to 30 W for each Vision-series camera and up to 18.72 W for each IdentiLynx (15.4 W on older IdentiLynx models). The figures are on the camera datasheets, for example the Vision PRO X Datasheet.
A PoE+ switch is the standard setup in current Lynx packages. It replaces the injectors: the cameras, the FinishLynx computer and any other computer each plug into their own port. Don't send PoE over copper-clad aluminum cable: see Which Ethernet cable should the camera run use?
Goes deeper
- Camera won't power from the switch — Troubleshoot · Networking · Cabling and PoE
Related questions
- Which Ethernet cable should the camera run use, and how long can it be? — Buy Cat6 (shielded if it runs next to power), never copper-clad aluminum for PoE. About 100 m over copper; use fiber with converters for a long permanent run.
- Where does the IdentiLynx plug in? — Into the network switch, not into the photo-finish camera, powered over Ethernet. Connect it last, after the EtherLynx cameras appear in Hardware Control.
- My camera keeps dropping out (going red) during a meet. Why? — The camera lost its connection to FinishLynx. First make sure only one FinishLynx is looking for cameras and apply the Windows 11 print fix on every Windows 11 computer, then read the BOOT light.