新型话音和数据网络应用已对电气规划产生深远影响——VoIP和PoE技术为电源管理市场带来了全新机遇和挑战

New Voice and Data Network Applications Impact Electrical Planning——VoIP and PoE Provide New Opportunities and Challenges for Power Management

随着过去几年中一些新型网络技术的不断涌现,一种通过计算机网络进行通话传输的技术——IP语音技术(VoIP)获得了迅猛发展,并已经成为商业运作中十分经济的重要手段。相比过去使用了几十年的传统的自行供电式POTS(简单旧式电话业务)网络系统和统一供电式交换机(Centrex)系统,这些新型的VoIP电话实际上相当于一些需要独立电源的小型计算机。可以通过两种方式实现独立供电:一种方法是每部电话使用单独的外置电源(“壁电”或“墙电”),另一种方法就是通过一种新型或现有以太数据网络供电。无论是采取上述何种方法,都会对整个系统的电气规划产生重大影响,其中包括一些我们由此而经常忽视的问题。

While several new networking technologies have been introduced in the past few years, Voice over Internet Protocol （VolP） - technology that allows telephone calls to be made over computer networks - is emerging as an important cost-saving opportunity for businesses. Unlike traditional, self-powered POTS （plain old telephone service） networks and centrally powered switchboard-based （Centrex） systems commonly used over the last several decades, these new VolP phones are essentially small computers and require a separate source of power. This can take two forms： either using individual external power supplies （＂bricks＂ or＂wall warts＂） at each phone or using power over a new or existing Ethernet data network. Either choice impacts electrical planning, involving often-overlooked considerations and opportunities for those responsible.