Raspberry Pi Redesigns Power over Ethernet for the Pi 5

Raspberry Pi is taking on the challenge of addressing the space constraints associated with providing Power over Ethernet (PoE) for its latest Raspberry Pi 5 board. The company is currently in the process of designing an add-on board, known as PoE HAT+, which will enable power to be supplied to the Raspberry Pi 5 board from the Ethernet network through a flat, planar transformer. This innovative design will allow the HAT to seamlessly integrate into existing cases, offering a practical solution for users.

According to Eben Upton, the CEO of Raspberry Pi, the journey towards PoE support began with the launch of the Raspberry Pi 3B+ in 2018. Since then, the company has been delivering PoE-powered devices, albeit with occasional challenges. The upcoming PoE HAT+ for Raspberry Pi 5 aims to streamline the power delivery process and enhance the overall user experience.

One of the key developments in this endeavor is the introduction of a standalone PoE+ Injector, created in collaboration with Microchip Technology. This injector is designed to provide 30W PoE support with power delivery (PD) to existing networks, eliminating the need for additional power sources. This advancement simplifies the deployment of various applications in remote locations, ranging from garden webcams to industrial controllers.

The PoE+ Injector supports both the IEEE 802.3af (PoE, 13W) and IEEE 802.11at (PoE+, 25W) standards, catering to a wide range of power requirements. With compatibility across mains voltages from 100V to 240V, the injector offers versatility and ease of use for diverse applications.

Despite the progress made in PoE technology, there are unique challenges associated with providing PoE for the Raspberry Pi 5 board due to its disaggregated architecture. Eben Upton highlighted the development of the Raspberry Pi PoE+ HAT+ as a significant step towards addressing these challenges. The upcoming accessory is designed to be the smallest and most efficient PD accessory from Raspberry Pi, with a focus on seamless integration and performance.