Getting Started

Installing and setting up the Interceptor PoE Board

  5 minute read  

This guide walks you through installing the Interceptor PoE Board and configuring it for use with your Interceptor Carrier Board.

What You’ll Need

  • Interceptor PoE Board
  • Interceptor Carrier Board (already set up)
  • 40-pin FFC cable (included with PoE board)
  • VOITA 48Vdc Power Converter
  • ATX PSU with adequate 12V capacity

Pre-Installation Checklist

Before starting:

  • Carrier board is working correctly
  • OS is updated to 2025-05-01 or newer
  • PSU has sufficient 12V capacity (see power requirements)
  • System is powered off

Step 1: Connect the FFC Cable

The PoE board connects to the carrier board via a 40-pin Flat Flexible Cable (FFC).

On the Carrier Board

  1. Locate connector J9 (for first PoE board) or J10 (for second PoE board)
  2. Pull the brown locking clips outward gently - they pivot open
  3. Note the orientation - contacts up, blue reinforcement tape down, printing visible on top

On the PoE Board

  1. Locate connector J2 on the PoE board
  2. Open the locking clips

Making the Connection

  1. Insert one end of the FFC cable into the carrier board connector (J9 or J10)
    • Contacts face up (printing visible on top)
    • Blue reinforcement tape faces down
    • Push in as far as possible
  2. Check alignment: Ensure the cable is seated evenly - both sides at the same depth. If one side is deeper than the other, remove and reinsert.
  3. Push the locking clips inward to lock the cable
  4. Repeat for the PoE board end (J2)

Step 2: Install the Power Converter

The PoE board requires 48V DC, which is generated from your ATX PSU’s 12V rail.

VOITA 48Vdc Power Converter

Specifications:

  • Input: 12V DC (9-30V DC range)
  • Output: 48V DC, 5A max, 240W
  • Dimensions: 74mm × 74mm × 32mm, 260g

Installation:

  1. Input Connection: Connect the VOITA converter to your ATX PSU’s CPU power connector (4+4 pin or 8-pin EPS connector)
  2. Output Connection: Route the 48V output to the PoE board’s power terminal block (J1)
  3. Polarity: Ensure correct polarity - check markings on the terminal block

Terminal Block (J1) Pinout

TerminalSignal
++48V DC
-Ground

Step 3: Verify Physical Installation

Before powering on, verify:

  • FFC cable is securely locked at both ends
  • Power converter input is connected to PSU
  • Power converter output is connected to PoE board J1
  • Polarity is correct
  • No cables are pinched or stressed

Step 4: Power On and Verify

  1. Power on the system
  2. Wait for the OS to boot
  3. Verify the PoE board is detected:
# Check if /proc/pse interface exists (press Ctrl+C to stop)
head -20 /proc/pse

You should see output listing the PoE ports and their status. The interface streams continuously, so use head for a snapshot or Ctrl+C to stop.

Step 5: Test a PoE Device

  1. Connect a PoE device (e.g., IP camera) to port 0
  2. Check port status:
head -20 /proc/pse
  1. The port should show power-on status if the device is drawing power

Power Requirements

Plan your power budget based on connected devices:

ConfigurationTypical LoadMinimum PSU
Single PoE board (8 ports)60-120W350W
Dual PoE boards (16 ports)120-240W350W

Dual PoE Board Setup

To install a second PoE board:

  1. Connect second board to carrier J10 (first board uses J9 or J10)
  2. Connect 48V power to one board’s J1 terminal only - power is shared between boards via the FFC cables through the carrier board
  3. Verify total PoE load stays within converter capacity (240W standard)

Port numbering with dual boards:

  • J9 board: Ports 0-7 (interfaces poe0-poe7)
  • J10 board: Ports 8-15 (interfaces poe8-poe15)

Software Configuration

The PoE board is managed via the /proc/pse interface. See PoE Control for complete command reference.

Basic commands:

# View all port status (streams continuously, Ctrl+C to stop)
cat /proc/pse

# Or get a snapshot
head -20 /proc/pse

# Enable port 0 on board 0
echo "enable-port 0 0" > /proc/pse

# Disable port 0 on board 0
echo "disable-port 0 0" > /proc/pse

Troubleshooting First Boot

PoE board not detected

  • Check FFC cable connections
  • Verify 48V power is connected
  • Ensure OS is 2025-05-01 or newer

Port not powering device

  • Verify device is PoE capable (802.3af or 802.3at)
  • Check port status in /proc/pse
  • Try a different port
  • Check power budget

See Troubleshooting for more solutions.

Next Steps

Last modified January 11, 2026