Altronix NETWAY1512 12VDC PoE Midspan Injector
The Altronix NETWAY1512 is a single-port PoE midspan injector designed to inject 12VDC power into standard Ethernet cabling for distributed surveillance and access-control devices. This rack-mount unit accepts 230VAC mains input and outputs up to 15W of continuous power to end devices positioned up to 100 meters away, making it ideal for retrofitting legacy IP cameras, door readers, and network peripherals that lack integrated PoE support. The NETWAY1512 sits centrally in your equipment rack, eliminating the need for individual wall-mount adapters or multiple PSU deployments across remote locations.
Key Features
- Single PoE Output Port: One Ethernet port with 12VDC power injection. Supports standard RJ45 Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6A cabling without special connectors.
- 12VDC @ 15W Power Budget: Delivers 15W continuous to devices up to 100 meters away. Sufficient for low-to-mid-power IP cameras (3–13W typical) and door locks without additional boost converters.
- Rack-Mount Form Factor: 1U-height design integrates directly into standard 19-inch equipment racks. Centralized power management reduces sprawl of wall-mount supplies across distributed sites.
- 230VAC Input: Connects to standard international mains power. Single power cord simplifies installation and reduces circuit-load fragmentation on site infrastructure.
- 100-Meter Range: Ethernet cabling distance limit (Cat5e/Cat6 standard) ensures power reaches distant camera or access-control nodes without voltage drop or data corruption.
- UL Listed & CE Certified: Meets North American and European safety standards. Suitable for commercial and industrial surveillance deployments without additional compliance review.
- Lifetime Warranty: No expiration on manufacturing defects. Common in Altronix product lines — reflects confidence in passive PoE injector reliability.
Unlike powered network switches or full PoE+ injection systems, the NETWAY1512 is a minimal-footprint alternative when you have one or two cameras or devices to power remotely and don't want to upgrade your entire switch infrastructure. The 15W budget is conservative; it won't support high-powered thermal cameras or IR heaters, but it handles standard fixed domes, box cameras, and access-control endpoints reliably. Voltage stability at 100 meters depends on cable quality and device input impedance — always verify end-device voltage under load before field deployment.
Integration is straightforward: run a standard Ethernet patch cable from your network switch to the NETWAY1512 input port, then patch the output port to your camera or device. Power insertion happens on pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 (the unused pairs in PoE mode), so devices expecting powered Ethernet will see 12VDC as soon as link is established. Most modern IP cameras with 12VDC inputs (verify the camera datasheet) will power on immediately; legacy devices with passive barrel-jack connectors will require a separate adapter from the Ethernet connector to the device's power input. ONVIF and RTSP compliance is device-dependent, not the injector — the NETWAY1512 is protocol-agnostic and won't interfere with video stream negotiation.
From a cost perspective, the NETWAY1512 is a low-capex solution for single-camera retrofit scenarios where running a dedicated 12VDC power line to a remote location is impractical (e.g., long cable runs in conduit-constrained environments). The 15W limit means you cannot power multiple devices from a single unit; if you're deploying 4+ cameras at a location, a PoE+ switch is more cost-effective than stacking four NETWAY1512 injectors. Rack real estate is minimal (1U), so integration into a central equipment closet is rarely a constraint. Thermal dissipation is passive — no fan, no moving parts — making it suitable for sealed or temperature-controlled spaces.
Altronix is a subsidiary of Nortek Security & Control and is widely recognized in North American surveillance and access-control distribution channels. The NETWAY1512 is commonly paired with legacy Altronix power supplies and modular chassis, ensuring backward compatibility with existing security infrastructure. Channel distributors stock this unit routinely; lead times are typically short. For integrators working on retrofit projects where switch replacement is cost-prohibitive or where a single powered device needs to be added without wholesale network upgrades, the NETWAY1512 remains a reliable, warranty-backed option. If you require higher power budgets, redundancy, or multi-port injection, explore Altronix's full-featured PoE switch lineup or consult the Altronix catalog for alternative power-distribution architectures.
Eden PhillipsPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've deployed the Altronix NETWAY1512 across dozens of retrofit and single-camera expansion projects, and it remains one of the most reliable passive injectors in the field — precisely because it does one thing and does it well. The appeal is simplicity and cost: a contractor working on a retrofit where a legacy 12VDC camera needs to be relocated 80 meters away can avoid running a dedicated 18/2 power cable in parallel with the network run. Power is already on the Ethernet pair, the camera sees 12VDC at the jack, and there are no additional wall-mount PSUs cluttering the site. On a 50-camera deployment, this doesn't move the needle; on a 1–3 camera retrofit, it saves time and materials. The 15W budget is the real constraint — not a limitation of the product, but a design choice that prices it appropriately for single-device scenarios. We've seen integrators attempt to daisy-chain multiple NETWAY1512 units or exceed the 15W draw, both of which void the warranty and risk voltage collapse on long runs. Know the power budget of your end device before you spec this unit.
Technical Highlights:
- Passive 12VDC Injection on Ethernet Pairs 4, 5, 7, 8: No active regulation or switching — voltage is directly coupled to the unused pairs. This design eliminates switching noise and ensures stable power delivery to devices expecting clean 12VDC input. Trade-off: no VLAN or intelligent load-balancing, but for single-device injection, that's not a concern.
- 15W Maximum Power Budget: Translates to ~1.25A at 12V. Covers most fixed IP domes, box cameras, and door readers, but insufficient for thermal cameras, heated enclosures, or multi-device PoE splitters. Always verify end-device power consumption against the 15W limit before installation.
- 100-Meter Range Over Cat5e/Cat6: Voltage drop becomes noticeable beyond 80 meters on Cat5e with high-impedance devices; we recommend Cat6 or higher if you're pushing toward the 100m ceiling. Test output voltage at the camera end-of-run under full load before commissioning.
- 230VAC Input, Single Power Cord: Eliminates dual-power or redundancy complexity. Suitable for centralized rack deployments but not for mission-critical single-point-of-failure scenarios. No backup PSU or UPS integration — if mains power drops, the camera goes dark immediately.
- Rack-Mount 1U Form Factor: Minimal footprint and standard mounting ears. Integrates cleanly into security infrastructure racks alongside NVRs and switches. Passive cooling (no fan) makes it suitable for sealed or temperature-controlled equipment closets.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Altronix's standard warranty posture reflects the durability of passive devices. In practice, we've seen very few field failures on NETWAY1512 units; the primary failure mode is user error (exceeding power budget or miswiring the output port).
Deployment Considerations:
- Always verify that your end device accepts 12VDC input via Ethernet pairs, not just DC barrel jack. Many legacy cameras require a separate PoE splitter to convert the Ethernet power into a barrel-jack connector. The NETWAY1512 does not include a splitter; you must source one separately if needed.
- 15W is the absolute maximum; if your camera or device datasheet lists 16W or higher at startup (common in thermographic or IR boost scenarios), this injector will not be sufficient. Use a higher-capacity PoE+ switch or external PSU instead.
- Measure output voltage at the camera RJ45 jack under full operational load (not just powered-on idle). Voltage drop over 80+ meters of Cat5e can reduce 12V to 11.5V or lower on high-impedance devices; ensure your camera's input voltage tolerance (typically 10–14V) accommodates this margin.
- Power insertion is passive and bidirectional on pairs 4/5 and 7/8. Do not connect the output port to a powered device or another injector; this can cause voltage collapse, device damage, or equipment failure. One injector, one output, one camera.
- No integrated surge protection or lightning strike mitigation. In outdoor installations, especially on long runs, pair the NETWAY1512 with surge-protected Ethernet media converters or PoE surge modules on both ends to protect against transient voltage spikes.
- The unit generates minimal heat (passive), but ensure adequate ventilation in your equipment rack. Stack it horizontally or with 1U clearance above and below to avoid thermal stratification if other gear is drawing heavy power nearby.
The NETWAY1512 is ideal for integrators and end-users doing single-camera retrofits, distributed access-control deployments on tight budgets, or expansions where running a dedicated power line is impractical. If you're building a multi-camera system from scratch or replacing infrastructure, a managed PoE+ switch is more cost-effective and scalable. For the retrofit scenario or the one-off powered device, this injector is a workhorse. Explore the full Altronix catalog for complementary power management and distribution products.
