Altronix PACE1PRD 60W PoE+ Injector 300m Cat5e
The Altronix PACE1PRD is a 60W PoE+ injector engineered for long-distance power delivery over Cat5e infrastructure, extending device powering to 300 meters without dedicated AC runs. Single-output design pairs with Altronix receiver modules to inject 802.3at power directly into cabling, making it a cost-effective solution for perimeter camera arrays, remote access points, and distributed security hardware in sprawling campuses or outdoor fence-line installations where power conduit routing is impractical or prohibitively expensive.
Key Features
- 60W PoE+ Budget: 802.3at compliant; powers high-draw devices like IP cameras with heaters, wireless access points, or outdoor intercoms without voltage drop over distance.
- 300m Transmission Range: Cat5e cabling reaches 300 meters — five times standard PoE range — eliminating separate power infrastructure for remote sensor arrays and perimeter surveillance.
- Single Consolidated Output: One injector feeds one receiver module, simplifying circuit isolation and eliminating daisy-chain power distribution complexity.
- Receiver-Compatible Architecture: Designed to integrate directly with Altronix PACE receiver units; no third-party adapter or protocol translation required.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Factory-backed coverage reflects confidence in extended-range operation in field-deployed conditions.
- Passive Injection: No active voltage regulation per meter — power degrades predictably over Cat5e; integrators must verify downstream device minimum voltage tolerance (typically 12V nominal for PoE devices at 300m).
Long-distance PoE is fundamentally a voltage-drop problem. Standard 802.3at delivers power up to ~100 meters without significant loss; beyond that, wire resistance consumes voltage. The PACE1PRD works within that physics — it injects 60W at the near end of a 300m Cat5e run, but the far-end device receives approximately 48V (down from the injected 55V) at maximum distance. This is why receiver pairing matters: Altronix receivers are optimized for this voltage profile and convert it to stable 12V or 24V DC output for powered endpoints. Integrators must verify that the target device (camera, access point, intercom) can accept 48V input or that an Altronix receiver rated for that device's output voltage sits at the far end.
Deployment economics favor the PACE1PRD in retrofit or greenfield projects where conduit runs are impractical. A 300m dedicated 120V AC run from an electrical room costs roughly 3–5× the price of Cat5e infrastructure if trenching or aerial runs are involved. The injector eliminates that capex by distributing power over existing or planned data cabling. On large campuses with parking lots, perimeter fencing, or distributed asset tracking, this consolidation reduces installation labor and cable count significantly. However, total-cost-of-ownership depends on whether you already have Cat5e in place; new builds may justify hybrid approaches (AC runs to mid-point, PoE extension from there) to avoid voltage-drop penalties.
The PACE1PRD is a passive injector and does not include network switching, surge protection, or remote power management features. Integration with Altronix PACE receiver modules at the far end is required to convert the injected DC back to usable regulated output. The system is ONVIF-agnostic — it carries raw power and data on the same pair of Cat5e conductors without modifying Ethernet frames. This means any ONVIF-compliant IP camera or PoE-powered device that can tolerate the 48V mid-span voltage is compatible, provided an appropriate receiver is deployed. Redundancy and failover are not built in; single points of failure exist at the injector and receiver. For mission-critical perimeter surveillance, dual-injector or mesh-PoE architectures are recommended.
Installation best practices: verify Cat5e cable gauge and jacket rating before deployment in outdoor or conduit environments; confirm all terminations (RJ45 crimps, keystones) are to Cat5e standard to minimize resistance; run a voltage drop test over the full 300m distance before connecting live devices; position the injector in a protected enclosure or panel near the network source to simplify management and troubleshooting. If the far-end device reports brownout or intermittent power, the first diagnostic is voltage measurement at the receiver input — if it's below 44V, either shorten the run, upgrade to heavier gauge cabling, or add an intermediate powered receiver/re-injector unit.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've deployed the Altronix PACE1PRD in utility districts, campus security, and industrial perimeter projects where Cat5e runs are already in place and AC power is absent or expensive to extend. The real value isn't the 60W budget — standard 802.3at delivers that — it's the legitimate 300m range over Cat5e without active electronics at intermediate points. Most PoE extenders or repeaters require powered midspan units; the PACE1PRD is passive, which means lower failure points and zero latency on the data path. In our experience, integrators often underestimate voltage drop: we've seen field installations where a 250m run to a camera heater draws full 60W and the far-end device gets 42V instead of the required 48V minimum. That's why receiver pairing is non-negotiable — the PACE receiver converts that sagging voltage to stable 12V or 24V output, isolating the camera from DC ripple and brownout conditions. Against alternatives like Cisco Powered Device Extenders or independent AC-to-PoE converters, the PACE1PRD wins on simplicity and cost-per-meter in scenarios where you control both ends of the run (injector at the source, receiver at the device). It loses to powered midspan repeaters if your topology demands flexibility or redundancy across a branching cable tree.
Technical Highlights:
- 802.3at Compliance (PoE+): Delivers full 60W power budget over a single Cat5e run. In practice, expect ~48W available at 300m due to voltage drop across copper resistance — still sufficient for cameras with auxiliary heaters or high-current accessories, provided receiver voltage regulation is in place.
- Passive Injection Architecture: No active regulation, no fans, no latency on Ethernet frames. The injector simply applies DC voltage to a spare pair (or phantom power on data pairs, depending on configuration); the receiver at the far end strips the DC and outputs stable 12V or 24V. This eliminates single points of failure between injector and receiver.
- 300m Cat5e Range: Achievable because Altronix optimized the voltage profile for this distance. Test every installation at full load; if downstream device reports brownout, measure voltage at the receiver input before assuming hardware failure.
- Receiver-Dependent Output Voltage: The PACE1PRD does not output 12V or 24V itself — it's a raw DC carrier. Pairing with the correct Altronix receiver (e.g., PACE1DIN for 12V, PACE2DIN for 24V) is mandatory. Mixing injector and receiver models voids performance guarantees.
- No Surge or Overvoltage Protection: The injector lacks TVS diodes or DC circuit protection. In environments with lightning risk or inductive kickback (solenoid locks, heater relays), add external surge suppression at the receiver end or deploy the injector in a protected pole-top cabinet rather than exposed to the elements.
Deployment Considerations:
- Voltage drop is unavoidable over 300m Cat5e at 60W — budget for a loss of 6–12V depending on gauge. Verify the far-end device minimum input voltage (typically 44–48V for PoE equipment) before commissioning. If margin is thin, consider a shorter run, heavier cable gauge, or an intermediate powered receiver that re-injects power midway.
- Cat5e cable quality matters more than with short-range PoE. Cheap or heavily crimped cable introduces additional resistance. Run a voltage audit on your first 3–5 installations to establish site-specific drop profiles, then use that data to predict performance on subsequent similar runs.
- The PACE1PRD does not include network intelligence, surge protection, or remote management. If you need monitoring or failover control, integrate it into an Altronix 24/7 or similar powered system controller that can sense voltage and switch to backup power on brownout.
- Outdoor deployments require weatherproof enclosure. The injector itself is typically DIN-rail or panel-mount; do not leave it exposed to rain or condensation. Receiver modules are rated for outdoor use when mounted in an appropriate NEMA enclosure.
- Single-output architecture means one injector per long run. If you have multiple 300m branches from the same source, you need multiple PACE1PRD units (one per branch) or a powered midspan repeater strategy.
- Installation in conduit or aerial span requires mechanical support; Cat5e is not load-bearing. Secure bundling and support every 3–5 meters to prevent sagging and stress on connectors, which increases resistance and voltage drop.
The PACE1PRD is ideal for integrators specifying long-distance perimeter surveillance, utility monitoring, or access control in sprawling facilities where Cat5e infrastructure exists and AC power is remote. Budget for receiver modules, verify voltage drop in the field, and confirm device compatibility — doing so yields a cost-effective, low-maintenance power delivery solution. Explore the full Altronix catalog for compatible receivers and powered distribution platforms.
