Microsemi intros first midspans featuring integrated lightning protection

IRVINE, USA: Microsemi Corp., a leading manufacturer of high performance analog mixed signal integrated circuits and high reliability semiconductors, today announced the world's first power over Ethernet (PoE) midspan power injector to feature integrated protection from lightning strikes.

The new PowerDsine(R) 9001G-40/SP is a single-port, high-power Gigabit solution for remotely powering both current and emerging high-power networking terminals and equipment while also providing surge protection optimized for outdoor devices such as security cameras and wireless LAN access points.

Until now, PoE could only be deployed safely outdoors with a costly surge-protection unit installed alongside it, to prevent direct or nearby lightning strikes from damaging or destroying both the powered devices and their network switch. Surge and lightning protection units can cost from $250 to $400.

"A high percentage of outdoor PoE installations, especially in the enterprise, do not implement surge protection units because of their high cost or a lack of awareness," said Sani Ronen, senior product manager for Microsemi's PowerDsine midspans.

"Nearby lightning strikes are much more common than most people think. Strikes as far as a mile away can induce a voltage level that can damage outdoor devices. Without lightning protection, surges also can move quickly along the Ethernet cable to damage expensive indoor network switches. Our new midspan delivers that protection at a cost savings of as much as 50 percent."

Microsemi's newest midspan has been tested successfully to the GR-1089 lightning standard for surges up to 2500V/500A. It can power devices designed for either the IEEE 802.3af standard, or the recently ratified IEEE802.3at standard for high power over Ethernet applications.

Delivering up to 40W of power, the 9001G-40/SP supports a broad range of applications that require higher power levels, including 802.11n access points, pan-tilt-zoom cameras and WiMAX customer premises equipment. It can power both existing 10/100Base-T network devices and emerging wireless 1000Base-T devices.

"The 9001G-40/SP was designed to deliver the latest benefits of the new high-power 802.3at standard while also offering a cost-effective, single-box solution for powering and simultaneously protecting outdoor PoE systems from lightning damage or destruction," Ronen said.