Altronix NETWAYSP8C3W2 8-Port PoE+ Managed Switch with 360W Power and Battery Backup
Overview
The Altronix NETWAYSP8C3W2 is a hardened, self-contained PoE+ network switch and power solution built for surveillance deployments where a rack room isn't close by and outdoor-rated protection is non-negotiable. It combines eight 802.3at/af PoE ports, two SFP uplinks, 360W of total PoE power, and an integrated battery charger — all inside a NEMA 4/4X, IP66-rated weatherproof enclosure rated from -30°C to 65°C. If you're running IP cameras or access control readers at a remote gate, perimeter post, or parking structure where pulling conduit back to a wiring closet isn't practical, this unit is worth a close look.
Where most PoE switches require a separate power supply, external battery backup, and indoor-rated enclosure, the NETWAYSP8C3W2 packages all three into a single wall-mountable unit. That matters most when you're counting on every camera staying online through a power outage — and when your installation crew only gets one trip to the site.
Key Features
- 360W Total PoE Budget: With 30W available per port across all 8 ports, you have room to run full-power PoE+ devices on every port simultaneously without throttling. That's enough headroom for PTZ cameras, multi-sensor units, or access control panels that draw close to the 802.3at ceiling — no per-port power rationing required.
- Dual SFP Uplink Ports: Two gigabit SFP slots let you backhaul over fiber or copper SFP modules — practical when the run to your core switch exceeds the 100m Ethernet limit or when you need electrical isolation between buildings. Fiber uplinks also eliminate ground-loop issues common in outdoor camera deployments.
- Integrated LiFePO4-Compatible Battery Charger: The built-in 2A/4A selectable charger supports LiFePO4, sealed lead acid, or gel-type batteries wired as four 12V batteries in series for a 48V battery bank. This means the PoE switch continues powering cameras during a grid outage without any external UPS — a meaningful advantage at unmanned locations where an alarm triggered by a camera going dark defeats the purpose.
- 54VDC Output Voltage: Running at 54VDC instead of the 48V minimum gives the system voltage headroom to maintain full PoE delivery even as the battery bank discharges — cameras stay powered longer into an outage without brownout-dropping ports.
- NEMA 4/4X and IP66 Enclosure: Rated for rain, dust, ice, and washdown — the enclosure handles direct hose-down and corrosive environments. NEMA 4X specifically adds corrosion resistance, which matters in coastal or industrial sites where salt air or chemical exposure would compromise a standard steel box over time.
- Wide Operating Temperature Range (-30°C to 65°C): This range covers cold-storage facilities, northern climate outdoor installs, and sun-baked rooftop enclosures without requiring separate environmental controls. Most commercial-grade indoor switches derate or fail below 0°C — this unit doesn't.
- Dual Voltage Input (115VAC or 230VAC): Ships ready for North American 115VAC/60Hz or international 230VAC/50-60Hz mains — useful for deployments spanning multiple countries or facilities that run 230V distribution.
- 10/100/1000 Mbps Per Port: Gigabit-capable on every PoE port means high-bitrate streams from 4K or multi-stream cameras won't saturate the local switch — particularly relevant when you have 8 channels of 4K/H.265 hitting the same uplink.
- IEEE 802.3at and 802.3af Compliance: Supports both PoE (802.3af, up to 15.4W) and PoE+ (802.3at, up to 30W) standards — compatible with virtually any IP camera, access reader, or VoIP device on the market without needing to check per-device PoE class compatibility.
Integration and Compatibility
The NETWAYSP8C3W2 is designed to work within standard IP surveillance infrastructure. The dual SFP uplinks make it straightforward to integrate with fiber-connected NVR systems or managed core switches at the head end. Because it delivers IEEE 802.3at/af standard PoE, it is compatible with cameras and devices from any major manufacturer — Axis, Hanwha, Hikvision, Dahua, Vivotek, and others — without proprietary power negotiation. The battery backup subsystem wires to standard 12V batteries in a series configuration, which means sourcing replacement batteries locally is straightforward rather than requiring proprietary packs.
For sites deploying outdoor IP cameras at remote locations, pairing this unit with fiber SFP modules and LiFePO4 batteries extends both the physical reach and the runtime during outages — two factors that often determine whether a perimeter camera system remains useful when it matters most. Review the PoE switch selection guide if you're sizing the power budget across multiple enclosures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can the NETWAYSP8C3W2 power all 8 PoE+ ports at full 30W simultaneously?
A: Yes. The total power budget is 360W, which equals exactly 8 ports at 30W each — so full simultaneous PoE+ draw across every port is supported without any ports being throttled or shut down.
Q: What battery types are compatible with the built-in charger?
A: The integrated charger supports LiFePO4, sealed lead acid, and gel-type batteries configured as four 12V batteries wired in series to create a 48V bank. Charger current is selectable between 2A and 4A depending on battery capacity.
Q: Is the NETWAYSP8C3W2 rated for outdoor installation?
A: Yes. The enclosure carries NEMA 4/4X and IP66 ratings, making it suitable for direct outdoor mounting where it may be exposed to rain, dust, and hose-directed water. The operating temperature range of -30°C to 65°C covers most North American climate extremes.
Q: What uplink options are available for connecting back to the core network?
A: The unit includes two SFP ports supporting 10/100/1000 Mbps. These accept standard SFP modules for either fiber or copper uplinks, allowing runs well beyond the 100m Ethernet limit and electrical isolation between structures.
Q: Does the NETWAYSP8C3W2 support both 115VAC and 230VAC input?
A: Yes. It accepts 115VAC/60Hz or 230VAC/50-60Hz input, making it suitable for both North American and international installations without requiring a transformer or separate power conditioning.
Q: What compliance certifications does the NETWAYSP8C3W2 carry?
A: The unit is compliant with IEEE 802.3at (PoE+), IEEE 802.3af (PoE), and carries CE marking for European market compliance.
The spec I keep coming back to on the NETWAYSP8C3W2 is the 54VDC output — most integrated PoE enclosures run at 48V nominal, which means by the time your battery bank discharges a few percent, you're on the edge of PoE delivery. Altronix running 54VDC gives you a legitimate voltage buffer so cameras stay up deeper into an outage. That's not marketing copy, that's a circuit design choice that matters in the field.
Technical Highlights:
- 360W / 30W Per Port: Unlike budget switches that advertise a high total wattage but cap individual ports at 15W, this unit delivers the full 802.3at 30W ceiling on all 8 ports simultaneously — critical for PTZ cameras and multi-sensor heads that draw close to that ceiling.
- Selectable 2A/4A Battery Charge Rate: The selectable charger rate matters when you're sizing battery runtime — 4A charging recovers a depleted bank roughly twice as fast, which is useful at sites with unreliable grid power that sees repeated short outages.
- NEMA 4X / IP66-11: NEMA 4X is the key differentiator from standard NEMA 4 — it adds corrosion resistance. At coastal or industrial sites, that's the difference between a 2-year enclosure and a 10-year enclosure.
Deployment Considerations:
- The battery bank requires four 12V batteries wired in series — confirm your mounting location has physical space for the battery tray before specifying. The enclosure itself is 19.31
