Insight: Embrace the Concept of "Digital Electricity" in Our Infrastructure
In 2003, a Harvard professor found himself entangled in an international plot revolving around the Holy Grail and the shadowy group known as the Priory of Sion. All the while, a revolution in technology was beginning to unfold, with the introduction of the IEEE's power over Ethernet (PoE) standard. This innovation revolutionized the way we thought about power delivery in network infrastructure, granting the ability to send electricity over structured wiring to devices that once relied heavily on readily available power sources.
A Power Revolution, For Better or Worse
Initially, PoE allowed up to 15.4 watts of electricity to flow through LAN cables, providing ample power for access points and nodes. However, as the demand for more powerful devices grew, PoE standards evolved to handle heavier loads, eventually supporting up to 100 watts of electricity today. This development enabled a wider range of devices to be used in various settings, from residential to industrial.
The Hidden Power of PoE
PoE is listed as a Limited Power Source (LPS) under UL 62368-1 and qualifies for Class 2 wiring methods per NFPA70 (NEC) Article 725. Its purpose is to provide power over a LAN, making it ideal for devices located no more than 328 feet (100 meters) from the main power source and requiring less than 90 watts at the node. PoE's ease of installation and safety from dangerous shocks have earned it widespread adoption.
Rewiring the World: Codes and Regulations
The National Electrical Code (NEC) and the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) establish comprehensive guidelines and regulations for safe electrical installations and operations. These codes, which are rarely updated, prioritize protecting individuals and properties from electrical hazards by providing guidelines for safe installation, inspection, and maintenance of electrical wiring and equipment.
A New Day Dawns: Introducing FMPS
In 2023, the NEC for the first time in 46 years, introduced a new class of power in its codebook, referred to as Fault Managed Power Systems (FMPS). Unlike PoE, FMPS circuits are not power-limited and can deliver hundreds—even thousands—of watts of power! These FMPS solutions innovative dual-component system (a transmitter and receiver) ensures the reliable delivery of power while monitoring and isolating faults.
The flexibility of Class 4 circuits means they can be installed alongside PoE and Ethernet, simplifying installation processes by converging power and data on a single pathway. FMPS also offer significant benefits for AV integrators, as they allow for easier and more cost-effective installation, with less conduit required in most cases.
The Future of Power: Embracing Digital Electricity
FMPS, often referred to as "Digital Electricity," offers the AV integration industry powerful tools for the future. As the industry moves from analog waveforms to digital pulses, FMPS allows for more efficient, higher-performing, and innovative AV installations, ultimately unlocking previously impossible design opportunities. The era of FMPS is upon us, promising a more connected and powerful world, in more ways than one.
*[Office Gossip or Game-Changer]***
Digital Electricity is poised to transform the AV integration landscape, much like moving from analog waveforms in copper coax to digital pulses across structured wiring did in the past. This shift will allow for more flexible and high-performing AV installations, opening the door to exciting new possibilities for design and versatility. Let's embrace this digital revolution together and seize the opportunities that await us in the future of AV.
- [Office Gossip or Game-Changer]
- The latest development in data-and-cloud-computing technology, Fault Managed Power Systems (FMPS), often referred to as "Digital Electricity," is set to revolutionize the AV integration industry, much like the introduction of power over Ethernet (PoE) standard changed network infrastructure.
- As the business world increasingly relies on technology, installations of FMPS could pave the way for more efficient, higher-performing, and innovative AV installations, potentially unlocking previously unimagined design opportunities in a variety of settings, including office environments.
These sentences are speculating about the potential impact of FMPS on the AV integration industry and the workplace, given the advantages it offers over previous technology such as PoE.
