POE Splitter Recommendation

Review this thread:

I'm using to run a PTZ and thermal camera about 200' from the switch. No problems in over 12 months use.

If you want to run 2 cameras you can do as TuckNTuck said and pay for the splitter, or you could if you make your own ends run 2 pairs at each end of the ethernet cable that goes into 1,2,3,6 of the 8pin ethernet connecter. Do the same at the other end. Then for the second camera again using 1,2,3,6 with the remining pairs. This is done at both ends of the cable and 1 into a port each at the switch and will support 10/100. If you want 3 cameras then you would need at least 2 cat5E. If there was power at the other end where the cameras are located you could run a small POE switch at the camera end and just connect the 1 cable to your switch at your main area..

Normally Dahua 5442 don't support Passive POE if they did then could get away using one. But normally they don't support that option and will most likely kill the camera trying to use a passive POE switch at the camera end.. 2 cameras 1 cable no issue using 4 ends.. Or buy the Splitter as stated before.. I have cameras that I just use 1 cable for 2 cameras and they are connected as I said 1,2,3,6

Picture below is from that same type setup that I used. Pulled 2 cameras offline to show cat5e end at the POE+ Switch end. The other end I have the pairs little apart so the cameras can sit at front right with a second camera facing left/right. If at a soffit area might get away without having to have the pairs split far seeing the ends of the camera can make up the distance to the cat5e cable for connections..

Did a Video back in 2021 and showed setting up 2 cameras that were on 1 cable ran to POE NVR..

Revo2Maxx said:

Normally Dahua 5442 don't support Passive POE if they did then could get away using one

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If I'm understanding what I think you're saying, that's not correct. The camera supports both mode A and mode B POE, and I'm assuming what you're calling Passive POE is Mode B. The unit supplying the power controls what mode is used. Of course, you can't split one cable to drive 2 cameras with Mode B since it uses all 4 pairs. I've never heard of a POE switch that uses mode B, although there must be one or two on the planet. POE injectors on the other hand almost exclusively use mode B, so no cable splitting with them.

I am not talking about Mode A or B I am talking about Active and Passive as a whole, Yet for others to better understand here is more details
Passive PoE delivers a fixed voltage typically 24V or 48V directly to the Ethernet cable without performing any kind of negotiation with the connected device. This makes it simple and inexpensive to implement, but it also introduces risks. Because there's no negotiation, the device receiving power must be specifically designed to handle the voltage being sent; otherwise, there’s a real risk of damaging the hardware. Passive PoE doesn’t follow the IEEE 802.3 standards and is considered non-standard. It often uses the same wiring layout as what's referred to as PoE Mode B, which sends power over the spare wire pairs in the Ethernet cable specifically on pins 4 and 5 for positive, and pins 7 and 8 for negative.

In contrast, active PoE—defined by standards like IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at, and 802.3bt includes a power negotiation process between the power sourcing equipment (like a PoE switch) and the powered device (like an IP camera). This negotiation ensures that the correct voltage and current are delivered, improving both safety and compatibility. Active PoE supports higher power levels, especially in the newer standards like PoE+ and PoE++, and it allows power to be delivered using either Mode A or Mode B. Mode A supplies power over the same wire pairs used for data transmission (pins 1, 2 for positive and 3, 6 for negative), while Mode B uses the spare pairs, just like most passive systems do. Devices using Mode A are often referred to as endspan devices, while those using Mode B are sometimes called midspan.

Overall, while passive PoE may be attractive for its simplicity and lower cost, it lacks the intelligence and safety features of active PoE and should only be used with compatible devices. Active PoE is more reliable, standardized, and widely supported across modern network equipment. So running two Ethernet cables and using pins 1, 2, 3, and 6 on each to create two 10/100 connections enough to support three cameras total, 2nd cable for 3rd camera is a smarter and safer approach than trying to power Dahua cameras with a passive PoE device. Even though a passive system might technically push enough power to run three cameras, it bypasses the negotiation process that 802.3af or 802.3at devices like Dahua cameras rely on. That lack of negotiation can lead to compatibility issues or even damage. What I’m saying is that using passive PoE in place of a proper PoE(+) switch, especially for cameras that clearly state af or at support, just isn’t a good idea.

TuckNTruck said:

I'm using

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JS45B89

to run a PTZ and thermal camera about 200' from the switch. No problems in over 12 months use.

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I’ve used thus successfully also

Not exactly splitting the wiring from one port to power 2 cameras but the same task is accomplished. Coming up on 2 years now and still working great after plenty of heat, rain and AL lightning.........

Do any passive PSUs placing the power on the data lines (i.e. 4 wires for power and data) exist? I've assumed that all of those are 802.3xx compliant. Yet another bad assumption?

The other option is to put an active POE switch (that runs off of POE) near the camera. I have several Ubiquity 5 port Flex switches on our properties.

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking, but I’ll try to clarify. Passive is passive, and when it comes to most Dahua cameras—and honestly most other brands too you really shouldn't use passive PoE. It's just not made for modern security cameras and could damage them.

If you're asking about passthrough versus midspan, that’s a whole different thing. I won’t go into all the gear I personally use, since I’ve already been told it’s overkill and overpriced. But to give you an idea, the switches I use are nearly $300, and if someone doesn’t have a PoE++ switch, they’d also need a 95W PoE++ injector which is another $125. These kinds of passthrough switches are meant for extending distances—they’re powered by a PoE++ switch or injector and work like a little switch at the far end. They typically output power in af or at format, depending on the model, with some limited by wattage.

For example, one model I use is just under $300 and another version with a bit more power (120W total) is almost $400. There may be cheaper options out there, but I can't speak to their reliability. I wouldn't trust low-quality ones not to damage someone’s cameras. If someone’s trying to power more than two cameras over a single Ethernet run, they should definitely be looking at a proper passthrough switch that supports af and at standards not passive.

Bottom line, avoid passive unless the camera specifically says it supports it. Otherwise, you're risking frying your gear.

wpiman said:

The other option is to put an active POE switch (that runs off of POE) near the camera. I have several Ubiquity 5 port Flex switches on our properties.

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The device I posted in post #8 is essentially a POE-powered, 2-port POE switch.