What is the maximum power budget for a 24 port PoE switch?

The maximum power budget for a 24-port PoE switch depends on the PoE standard it supports and the total power capacity designed by the manufacturer. Here's a detailed breakdown of factors that determine the power budget and common configurations:

1. PoE Standards and Per-Port Power Delivery

The PoE standard determines how much power a single port can supply. Below are the main standards:

IEEE 802.3af (PoE)

--- Maximum per-port power: 15.4W

--- Typical use cases: IP phones, basic IP cameras, and low-power wireless access points.

--- Maximum total power budget: 15.4W × 24 = 369.6W

However, manufacturers typically design the power budget slightly below this theoretical maximum for reliability.

IEEE 802.3at (PoE+)

--- Maximum per-port power: 30W

--- Typical use cases: PTZ cameras, dual-band wireless APs, and video phones.

--- Maximum total power budget: 30W × 24 = 720W

This is common for mid-tier PoE switches, although some might limit the budget to ensure stable operation.

IEEE 802.3bt (PoE++)

Maximum per-port power:

--- 60W (Type 3)

--- 90W (Type 4)

--- Typical use cases: High-power devices like outdoor PTZ cameras with heaters, LED lighting, and high-capacity APs.

--- Maximum total power budget: Up to 2160W (90W × 24).

This is rare in practice, as such switches are designed with limited simultaneous high-power usage in mind.

2. Power Supply and Manufacturer Limitations

Most 24-port PoE switches do not supply the theoretical maximum power to all ports simultaneously. Manufacturers design switches with a shared power budget, which limits how many ports can operate at maximum power.

--- Entry-level switches: Power budgets typically range from 250W to 370W, sufficient for devices like VoIP phones or basic IP cameras.

--- Mid-tier switches: Power budgets are often 400W to 600W, accommodating more PoE+ devices.

--- High-end switches: These may offer power budgets of 750W to 1000W+, often designed for enterprise environments with PoE++ devices.

3. Power Management Features

Modern PoE switches often include dynamic power allocation and power prioritization features:

--- Dynamic allocation: Only delivers the power each device needs, conserving energy.

--- Power prioritization: Ensures critical devices (e.g., IP cameras or APs) receive power if the budget is exceeded.

4. Real-World Examples

Here are examples of maximum power budgets for different types of 24-port PoE switches:

--- Cisco Catalyst 9200L 24P PoE+ Switch: 370W power budget (PoE+).

--- Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Pro 24 PoE: 400W power budget (PoE+).

--- Netgear GS728TPP (ProSAFE): 760W power budget (PoE+).

--- TP-Link TL-SG3428XMP: 384W power budget (PoE+).

Conclusion

The maximum power budget of a 24-port PoE switch typically ranges from 250W to over 1000W, depending on the PoE standard and the switch’s power supply design. When selecting a switch:

1.Calculate Device Requirements: Add up the power needs of all PoE devices.

2.Choose the Right Budget: Ensure the switch can meet these demands with some overhead.

3.Plan for Scalability: Consider future network expansion and potential for higher-power devices.