How the Thinlabs PoE range can save money, Infrastructure costs – and the Planet (and is built for the Manufacturing Industry)

The Thinlabs PoE range of devices, in collaboration with Sapphire Tech brings low-energy consumption, high-performance computing to Power over Ethernet – with bags of convenience and the lowest costs for computing.

Most people think Power over Ethernet (PoE) is only meant for devices with very low electrical consumption. They assume surveillance cameras, lighting, air conditioning controls, and WiFi access points are the only kinds of appliances that are frugal enough to take their power from the same connection they use for networking. A whole computer, on the other hand, would be impossible, or it would have to be so low-performance that it could never be capable of intensive business tasks. Previous experiences with underperforming PoE-driven computers may have reinforced this belief.

But the Thinlabs PoE range shows that this isn’t the case. Not only can the Thinlabs devices provide processing performance, memory and storage that is equivalent to a standard desktop, but it can also relay power to up to four attached screens via a single Ethernet cable. Thinlabs’ NUC and digital signage devices ranging from 24inch to 43inch Full HD screens offer the necessary image quality and low energy consumption, enabling just a single PoE Cat 6 cable to deliver all the power needed for a high-performance computer/ digital signage and up to four displays.

The Thinlabs solution

The Thinlabs PoE range take advantage of the latest generation of PoE. The original IEEE 802.3af PoE standard offered less than 15W to a connected device, so really couldn’t drive high-power appliances. The 802.3at update increased the power to 30W, which was an improvement and can power a Thinlabs 24inch all-in-one HD computer with AMD® Ryzen ® chipsets. However, the latest 802.3bt PoE++ standard can deliver up to 90W to a connected device.

Taking advantage of this, Thinlabs, in association with Sapphire tech have developed a range of devices that make full use of the 90W power. The Thinlabs NUC can draw enough power not just for itself but for all four Full HD screens as well. A power output on the NUC connects to a breakout cable that can send electricity to the four screens. The Thinlabs computer and digital signage range benefit from the high performance and low power of the AMD Ryzen Embedded APU, offering up to eight cores and 16 threads. This can be combined with up to 64GB of DDR4 memory and up to 2TB of SSD storage, thanks to the flexibility and integration of the Sapphire Embedded Solutions motherboard.

All versions of the Thinlabs NUC are fanless, so operate in complete silence while maintaining optimum thermal dissipation and performance. The lack of moving parts eliminates the chance of mechanical component failure. The computers support both Windows® and Linux operating systems.

The Thinlabs PoE Range

There are three main devices in the Thinlabs PoE range, all with Sapphire motherboards on board:

1) The Thinlabs NUC – With a small form factor, the NUC delivers a full computing experience. The device footprint is tiny, with the NUC measuring just 107 x 56 x 130mm and weighing only 850g (1.86lbs). A bracket is also available to enable the Thinlabs NUC to be mounted on the rear of a monitor via a standard VESA plate, to create an all-in-one device.

Despite its small size, the Thinlabs NUC incorporates four USB ports – two at USB 3.0 speeds and two at USB 2.0. There is also a regular 3.5mm audio jack. But most importantly, two HDMI and two USB C connections enable up to four monitor outputs. The Thinlabs quad-screen breakout cable takes the power output from the NUC and routes this alongside these four video signals to the four displays, which all connect via HDMI. These can be arranged in a row or into a rectangular video wall, depending on the end-user application.

2) The Thinlabs All-in-one PC – Available in a compact all-in-one format – the device comes in a range of sizes – 17” for legacy applications to 24” Full-HD with optional touchscreens to function as regular desktops or HMI (human machine interface) devices. A 24” all-in-one computer can be powered off a 30W PoE switch – this is more or less a standard across manufacturing organisations.

3) Digital Signage – Thinlabs’ PoE digital signage systems offer Full HD over 32in, 43in and 46in screens allowing for signage to be placed where convenient or necessary rather than being near a power outlet thereby providing greatly increased flexibility with location and positioning.

Built for the Manufacturing Industry

The Thinlabs range of devices is especially well suited for the manufacturing industry with many organisations taking advantage of the many benefits it offers:

• The Thinlabs PoE range is compatible with ThinManager®, an industry favourite when it comes to device management and mobility.
• The devices can be provided with an IPC (ingress protected) and conformally coated motherboard to guard against metal dust and humidity.
• The fanless design also helps in reducing failures and the NUC comes with a significant MTBF rating – both well suited to the industry’s demands.
• Manufacturing facilities can also deploy Thinlabs devices to provide Human Machine Interfaces as flexibly as possible alongside the equipment being controlled.
• A key application is digital signage either in manufacturing sites or warehouse spaces. Richer media display requires higher-performance devices to supply the screens. Not only can the Thinlabs devices provide the performance required for up to four screens showing full motion video, but it can also enable signage to be deployed more quickly, more safely and more conveniently. Traditional digital signage could require dedicated external media players, more elaborate electrical infrastructure, and installation by qualified, unionized electricians, which not only takes much longer but also costs significantly more.
• The highly secure connectivity makes the Thinlabs PoE computer ideal for deployment alongside PoE-based surveillance cameras, too.
• Many customers have custom built solutions so the PoE devices are designed tightly around their needs.

The speed of deployment can facilitate temporary computing installations, such as pop-up offices or temporary project sites at new facilities or buildings.

The Thinlabs Advantage: Power and Cost Savings, Simplified Architecture

The benefits of the Thinlabs approach are enormous, starting with the power saving. A typical desktop and screen could draw up 200W, but even with four screens, a Thinlabs PoE will consume less than 80W. For a more modest number of displays, the figure will be below 50W, or as little as 25W. A company could be saving as much as 150W per system. For an organisation with 1,000 end-user systems, in use for eight hours a day five days a week, power consumption could drop from 200MWh to just 50MWh per year. In these times of extreme energy prices, the cost savings will be significant, as well as the massive reduction in carbon emissions.

But there are other benefits associated with the simplified infrastructure and cabling of PoE. An office that is being fitted for computer-using employees will typically require multiple power outlets per desk as well as the cables for Ethernet networking. But with PoE, only high-quality Cat 6 wiring is necessary, because this can provide everything needed in one go. Far fewer, if any, conventional AC power outlets will be required for the office.

The PoE system delivers DC power at 57V or less, which means it is below European Low Voltage Directive Guidelines. This ensures safety for public or staff usage and means that there is no need for qualified electricians for installation to maintain certification. A company equipping a new building must ensure that each AC power outlet is certified as safe by a qualified engineer, which can contribute to a capital expenditure between $5 and $10 million on wiring. This will also extend the time taken to complete the installation. With PoE, deployment will be much quicker, because certification is not required. Installing new systems could be reduced from weeks to minutes.

Along with low power consumption comes lower heat output. For a company with thousands of computing devices, this will result in a significant reduction in air conditioning costs during warmer months. Just as the direct power saving helps reduce the organisation’s carbon emissions, this indirect power saving will further improve the green credentials of the business.

A Thinlabs PoE system can also be protected more easily from power outages. Conventional computers either need an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for each system, which is unlikely to be cost effective, or the entire building will require backup power generation. This will probably mean that only the most mission-critical systems will be protected. But with PoE, just the switch delivering the power to systems on the network will require UPS backup. While the PoE switch still has UPS power, all the systems connected to it will also receive power. The entire Thinlabs PoE network could remain functional during a power cut.

Thinlabs NUCs also have a security advantage over wireless devices. Wired network cabling has a smaller attack vector than WiFi-attached devices. Access point spoofing or snooping the radio signal is not possible with a wired LAN. Conventional perimeter-based security will remain effective, meaning Thinlabs NUCs will be even more secure in a Zero Trust environment. The performance of a wired LAN is also much more dependable than the 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless wavebands, which are increasingly crowded.

What else is the Thinlabs PoE range useful for?

The Thinlabs PoE range can replace a desktop computer for everyday office activities. Its high-performance AMD Ryzen Embedded APU with up the eight cores can play multiple streams of video simultaneously, while running even intensive business applications at the same time. This means it can cope with most regular corporate office computing requirements. This will enable a company to perform its business activities as normal while it benefits from the many savings available.

The PoE devices  can also transform permanent corporate hardware replacement programmes. Not only can these devices enable greater density of deployment with lower cost and energy consumption, but they can also help companies meet green building certifications such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and achieve ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) standards. Thinlabs PoE devices can help a business achieve the highest-possible LEED certification and meet ESG framework requirements, without compromise on the computing facilities provided to employees.

Technology you can trust

The Thinlabs PoE device is a computer a company can rely on. Thinlabs already has over 30,000 PoE devices in operation with businesses, including over 10,000 PoE computers, with more added every day. Thinlabs devices are sold with an industry-leading 50,000-hour MTBF guarantee, which equates to nearly six years of continual usage. The standard service warranty on the PoE devices extends to three years. However, existing installations indicate a confidence-inspiring 700,000-hour Mean Time Before Failure (MTBF). Thanks to the fanless design with no moving parts, the computers won’t be susceptible to the problems from dirt and dust nor the mechanical failure of active cooling systems associated with traditional computer systems.

Taking a step away from conventionally powered computing devices may seem like a risky move. But the benefits are clear and real. Companies that adopt Thinlabs  PoE computers can enjoy significantly lower power bills, greatly reduced need for electrical infrastructure, faster deployment with fewer complications, and the opportunity to massively improve their carbon footprint. All of this is delivered with no loss in utility to end users, who can enjoy a high-performance computing experience where all their favourite standard desktop applications run smoothly and quickly. Your employees will be just as productive, while the company they work for benefits from savings on many different levels, including environmentally.

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