Power over ethernet injector

A midspan power over Ethernet (“PoE”) injector (20) or supplying electrical power to at least one powered device (“PD”) (518) that is:

• a. located remotely from the POE injector (20);
• and
• b. connectable to the POE injector (20) by a first LAN cable (514) having:
• i. a remote end that is connectable to the PD (518);
• and
• ii. a midspan end (516) that is connectable to the POE injector (20),
• the first LAN cable (514) including:
• i. receiving conductors via which the PD (518) receives data;
• ii. transmitting conductors via which the PD (518) transmits data;
• and
• iii. at least a pair of insulated electrical conductors via which the PD (518) receives electrica power from the POE injector (20), the POE injector (20) comprising:
• a. at least one (1) pair of sockets (24),
• i. a first of the sockets (24) of the pair being a powered socket (24) for receiving the midspan end (516) of the first LAN cable (514);
• and
• ii. a second of the sockets (24) of the pair being an unpowered socket (24) for receiving a midspan end of a second LAN cable, the second LAN cable carrying only data received by and transmitted from the PD (518),
• the POE injector (20) including a data-signal bus (188) interconnecting the unpowered socket (24) and the powered socket (24) for coupling data signals therebetween;
• b. a power switch (156) that:
• i. is connected to the powered socket (24);
• and
• ii. when closed supplies electrical power to the powered socket (24) to be coupled therefrom via the midspan end (516) of a first LAN cable (514) that is mated with powered socket (24) to the pair of insulated electrical conductors of the first LAN cable (514);
• and
• c. a controller (34) that without negotiating with a PD (518) connected to the powered socket (24) by a first LAN cable (514):
• i. transmits a signal which effects closing of the power switch (156) thereby transmitting electrical power to the connected PD (518) via:
• 1. the powered socket (24);
• and
• 2. a first LAN cable (514) connected thereto;
• and
• ii. concurrently monitors operational status both:
• 1. of a PD (518) connected to the powered socket (24) by a first LAN cable (514);
• and
• 2. internal conditions within the POE injector (20).