Multi-drop PoE network for power distribution and communication

A power distribution system comprising:

• (i) a power over ethernet connection provided by a first ethernet cable containing ethernet conductors wherein the power over ethernet connection is comprised of at least:
• 200 W of DC power;
• and
• data packets comprised of electrical signals wherein the signals are injected longitudinally across at least some of the ethernet conductors in the ethernet cable;
• and
• (ii) at least two devices powered and connected to the power over ethernet connection and wherein a first device of the at least two devices has at least two ethernet ports, one for connection to the first ethernet cable and the other for connection to a second device of the at least two devices over a second ethernet cable and wherein the first and second ethernet ports are directly connected such that electrical signals conducted over the first ethernet cable pass through the first device into the second ethernet cable, and wherein at least the first and second devices are adapted to operate on DC power picked off the ethernet conductors.