The Raspberry Pi 5 is an exciting new addition to the Raspberry Pi family, offering enhanced performance and a range of features that make it an excellent choice for various projects. However, one challenge users might face is how to power the Raspberry Pi 5 through a network switch, especially since, as of now, the official Pi 5 PoE HAT has not been released.

The Power Dilemma

Many users prefer powering their devices via Power over Ethernet (PoE) for convenience and to reduce cable clutter. Unfortunately, without the PoE HAT, Raspberry Pi 5 users may be wondering how they can still achieve this setup.

The Linovision PoE Splitter (POE-SP01C): A Practical Solution

This is where the Linovision PoE Splitter (POE-SP01C) comes into play. The PoE splitter is designed to take a PoE connection and split it into separate power and data cables. Specifically, it provides 10/100Mbps data and 5V 2.4A USB-C power outputs, making it a perfect match for powering a Raspberry Pi 5. While it might not be as sleek as an official PoE HAT, it's a cost-effective and reliable alternative.

How It Works

The Linovision POE-SP01C can deliver up to 12W of power, which is more than sufficient for any Raspberry Pi model, including the Raspberry Pi 5. In our test, we connected the Raspberry Pi 5 to the PoE splitter and used a 5-port gigabit PoE switch to provide both power and network connectivity.

The setup is straightforward and requires no additional configuration—just plug and play. Once connected, you can use a PoE to USB-C converter to link the Pi to your PC. The Raspberry Pi 5 will automatically connect to the network, as shown in the network settings where the USB 10/100 LAN is identified, and an IP address is obtained. A quick ping test to a Microsoft webpage confirmed that the Raspberry Pi 5 was communicating with the internet seamlessly.

If you need assistance with your project or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us for a free consultation.