The Raspberry Pi 3 B+ was introduced to the public in mid-March, and one of its most important features is compatibility with the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard. The catch is that this compatibility is not direct; it requires an external module (HAT). The wait stretched on for more than five months, but the module is finally here, and it comes with a small fan that optimizes cooling for the mini computer.
With each new generation of Raspberry Pi, users must face the challenge of powering the device. Despite the universal profile given by the micro USB port, the truth is that not all power supplies are prepared to deliver enough power to the mini computer, which is reflected in the small voltage icon that often appears in the top-right corner of the screen, and in a loss of stability. Over time, we have seen several Raspberry Pi modules that try to correct this issue or bypass the power supply entirely with batteries, but for the specific case of the Raspberry Pi 3 B+, we now have an official solution: the Power over Ethernet module.
Power over Ethernet, now on the Raspberry Pi 3 B+
According to the available technical data, the new module is compatible with the 802.3af standard, includes its own SMPS power supply, accepts a variable voltage between 36 and 56 volts, and delivers a maximum of 2.5A. A very striking aspect of the module is its built-in fan. Its control is carried out over I2C with an Atmel processor, so it activates once the SoC on the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ reaches a certain temperature. This process requires the latest firmware available (sudo rpi-update) on compatible operating systems. Now, what about space? The fan measures only 25 millimeters, but it is very likely that the PoE module will break compatibility with most available Raspberry Pi cases, except the official one (whose support has been confirmed).
Finally, the PoE module blocks access to the GPIO unless a riser is used to extend the pins through the holes, thus enabling module stacking. And regarding support for previous versions, the answer is no: the Power over Ethernet module can only be used on the Raspberry Pi 3 B+, but I imagine it is only a matter of time before someone applies a couple of hacks to make it work on other mini computers. If we've learned anything from the Raspberry Pi (regardless of the projects and the courses available), it's that nothing stays static. There is always a hack or a new mod on the horizon. Official price? Around 20 euros.
