Just a simple physics question: per this link, Cat5e twist rate is lower than that of Cat6, and Cat6 cables are (on average) thinner. A higher twist rate means a longer copper wire per length of cable. Both these facts would make one assume that the resistance per unit distance of a Cat6 cable would be higher than that of a Cat5e. Presumably this is not the case, as modern PoE standards are allowing for higher power while keeping the voltage the same, meaning that more power would be dissipated in the cable if it were true. How is this mitigated? Is the copper of higher grade?
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The TPI is not actually specified in a standard, and neither is the wire gauge. It is probably true that Category-6 cabling has more TPI, but usually, the Category-5 cabling is 24 gauge (thinner), and Categfory-6 cabling is 23 gauge (thicker).– Ron Maupin ♦Commented Oct 15, 2018 at 23:00
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D'oh, I misinterpreted the meaning of AWG... I understood the extra thickness to be due to thicker plastic shielding around the wires. So you're saying the increased twist rate is not at all common? Because that still would increase the travel distance for the electrons...– user3371024Commented Oct 15, 2018 at 23:03
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2The standards only give what the performance needs to be. How a cable vendor meets the performance (TPI, AWG, etc.) is of no importance because the cabling must meet the standard. There is a lot of crap sold, and a cable system must be certified end-to-end to call it a particular category, regardless of the label on the parts. Each cable in the plant is individually tested after installation because most problems are due to bad installation. The testers are quite expensive, but you cannot claim a category until the installed cable has been tested to the test suite for the category.– Ron Maupin ♦Commented Oct 15, 2018 at 23:08
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Most cable manufacturers will increase the TPI and the gauge to meet a higher standard.– Ron Maupin ♦Commented Oct 15, 2018 at 23:09
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The extra length an individual wire due to the twists is a few percent; the resistance is quoted in linear distance of the whole cable (ie, outer sheath), not the individual conductor.– jonathanjoCommented Oct 17, 2018 at 16:10
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2 Answers
The cable category defines the high-frequency parameters of the cable (mostly attenuation and crosstalk). For PoE, the serial resistance of the cable matters which isn't defined by category.
Good plenum cable grew somewhat thicker by custom from Cat-3 over Cat-5 to Cat-6(A), patch cables vary greatly down to 30 AWG.
Essentially, the thicker the cable (lower AWG) the better the PoE performance. The initial IEEE 802.3af-2003 defined a maximum loop resistance between pairs (thx jonathanjo) of 20 Ω, 802.3at-2009 lowered that to 12.5 Ω and the new 802.3bt-2018 to 6.25 Ω. Accordingly, the maximum current increased from 350 mA (af) to 600 mA (at) to 1860 mA (bt 4-pair), enabling the power increase.
The loop resistance limits the maximum power due to the induced voltage drop: at 600 mA current and 6 Ω cable resistance, the voltage drop is (U = R*I) 3.6 V - from the perhaps 48 V you start with at the PSE you've got 44.4 V left at the PD. Multiplied by .6 A, that's 26.6 W with 3.6 * .6 = 2.2 W lost in the cable. (Note that the 25.5 W maximum 802.3at power is worst case.)
Two things. Think of wire gauge as "how many wires will fit through a hole". If you could fit 24 strands of 24awg maybe you could only fit 23 strands of 23awg through the same hole because it's a little bigger around. It's just a metaphor but maybe makes it easier to visualize and remember.
Also, the resistance of a conductor is based on its cross-sectional area. In this case larger wire is more of a factor than the difference in length. In your home you have 12awg wire for 20 Amps and 14awg for 15 Amps. It's not like you can get by with 14awg for 20A if you're only going 10 feet instead of 100 feet, you still need 12awg wire!
