The best power supply for a security camera starts with the camera’s input specification. For one standards-based PoE camera, the TP-Link Omada POE160S is our most useful starting point: it supports both 802.3af and 802.3at and offers a 30 W source budget. The smaller POE150S suits a confirmed low-power 802.3af camera; the POE170S moves up to 60 W Type 3 PoE++. A camera that needs a barrel-plug DC adapter or AC input requires a different buying decision.
These are feature-based recommendations from manufacturer documentation and exact product listings, rather than hands-on reliability or electrical testing. The comparison is deliberately limited to three single-camera injectors with documented power standards. Check the full camera model and hardware revision before ordering; a familiar-looking plug or the word “PoE” alone is not enough.
Compare the three PoE power supplies
| Pick | PoE support and source output | Best fit | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| POE150S / TL-POE150S | 802.3af; up to 15.4 W | One low-power standard PoE camera; external 48 V adapter arrangement | Not a 30 W PoE+ supply; its 48 V input is not a camera barrel output |
| POE160S / TL-POE160S | 802.3af/at; up to 30 W | One PoE or PoE+ camera; integrated power supply | One powered output; not a multi-camera switch |
| POE170S / TL-POE170S | 802.3af/at/bt Type 3; up to 60 W | A camera explicitly needing Type 3 power | Not 90 W Type 4; no passive-PoE compatibility |
The wattages above are the injector’s source-side maximums. They are not the power guaranteed at the camera after the cable. TP-Link’s standards table gives device-side budgets of 12.95 W for 802.3af, 25.5 W for 802.3at and 51 W for Type 3. Match the camera’s required PoE standard and maximum draw, including its powered features, to the appropriate device-side budget. Do not size an injector from average daytime consumption alone.
1. POE160S: the practical choice for one PoE+ camera
The POE160S adds PoE to an existing unpowered Ethernet connection. It has a Gigabit data input and a Gigabit power-and-data output, with no configuration software required. Its integrated 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz supply avoids the separate low-voltage power brick used by the 150S.
Choose it when your camera specifies 802.3at, or when an 802.3af camera needs no special proprietary power arrangement and you prefer this integrated design. The two Ethernet sockets are one input and one output, so this is a one-camera purchase. It does not create two powered camera ports, improve the camera’s image quality or provide battery backup.
Its 30 W headline should not be read as 30 W available at the camera. A model whose manual demands more than the 25.5 W 802.3at device budget needs a suitably specified higher-power source. The manufacturer’s manual also cautions that cable quality and length affect received power.
TP-Link Omada POE160S 30 W Gigabit PoE+ Injector
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2. POE150S: a straightforward option for low-power 802.3af cameras
The POE150S has Gigabit Ethernet and a 15.4 W 802.3af output. Its documented package includes the power adapter, and the injector itself takes 48 V DC input. That 48 V socket powers the injector; it is not a replacement output for a 12 V camera.
This is a sensible shortlist option when the camera manual explicitly accepts 802.3af and its power requirement fits the 12.95 W device-side allowance. The tradeoff is less headroom than the 160S and a separate adapter to accommodate. If you may replace the camera with an 802.3at model, compare the 160S before choosing purely on purchase price.
Use the manufacturer-recommended power supply for the injector. Do not substitute a camera adapter just because the barrel appears to fit. The current POE150S manual and older product page give different operating-temperature ranges, so check the guide supplied with the delivered revision instead of treating a family page as a revision-specific environmental rating.
3. POE170S: for a confirmed higher-power Type 3 camera
The POE170S supports 802.3af, 802.3at and 802.3bt Type 3, with up to 60 W source output. It uses a metal enclosure and has one Gigabit data input plus one powered Gigabit output. Consider it for a camera whose own documentation calls for this power class, rather than assuming every motorized camera needs it.
The useful distinction is 51 W of Type 3 device-side budget, versus 25.5 W for PoE+. That does not make this a 90 W Type 4 injector. A heater, illuminator or other accessory can change a camera system’s maximum requirement, so include the documented complete load when checking the match.
TP-Link explicitly excludes passive PoE and other nonstandard PoE devices from the 170S’s compatibility. Its installation guide requires an earthed outlet for the power cord. Keep that requirement when planning where to place it; this guide does not cover altering mains wiring or opening a power supply.
If your camera needs a DC adapter instead
For a barrel-powered camera, the most dependable buying route is the manufacturer’s replacement adapter for the exact camera and revision. Confirm the output is DC or AC as specified, the exact voltage, minimum current capacity, connector outer and inner diameters, insertion length and polarity. A higher current capacity does not compensate for the wrong voltage, polarity or plug.
Reolink’s adapter reference shows why “camera power supply” is too broad a compatibility claim. It lists 12 V 2 A for several Duo, TrackMix and RLC-823 series cameras, but 5 V supplies for E Indoor and Lumus families and 24 V DC for its video doorbells. The same reference lists different connector sizes across these families and warns that some model revisions differ. Treat these as examples to check against your actual camera, not a universal adapter recommendation.
For the Reolink DC barrel connections covered by that reference, polarity is inner-positive and outer-negative. Its general PoE/Wi-Fi camera group uses 5.5 mm outer × 2.1 mm inner × 10 mm plugs, with explicit exceptions including doorbells and E Indoor cameras. Those exceptions matter: the same source lists 4.0 × 1.7 × 10 mm for the PoE/Wi-Fi doorbells. Never infer either connector from the brand alone.
For a camera explicitly rated 12 V DC 1 A, a regulated 12 V DC 2 A supply can meet the current requirement only when its connector, polarity and other manufacturer requirements also match. This principle does not authorize substituting a 12 V adapter for a 5 V, 24 V or AC-powered camera. For splitters or distribution boxes, have the manufacturer or installer confirm per-output limits, the simultaneous total load and the complete cable arrangement.
Check installation limits before buying
An outdoor camera rating does not establish an outdoor rating for its injector or adapter. The TP-Link installation guides instruct users to keep the equipment away from water and humidity and not to disassemble or modify it. Plan a suitable dry indoor location and follow the exact delivered guide. These picks are not weatherproof power boxes or instructions for fixed electrical work.
The TP-Link product specifications list FCC, CE and RoHS; the manuals include conformity information. The Amazon titles additionally use “UL Certified,” but the manufacturer documents reviewed here do not establish a matching UL certification for the exact delivered revision, so that claim is not part of our recommendation. If a particular safety listing is required for your site, verify the exact unit and supply with the manufacturer before purchase.
For several cameras, compare a PoE switch or compatible PoE NVR instead of buying one injector per camera. Check both each port’s power class and the system’s total PoE budget. A backup battery is a separate system decision: powering only the camera may leave a recorder, network switch or router offline. These injectors themselves contain no advertised battery-backup function.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use any 12 V adapter for a security camera?
No. First verify that the camera needs 12 V DC, then match polarity, the complete connector dimensions and the manufacturer’s current and installation requirements. Cameras with 5 V, 24 V or AC input are different cases.
Does a 30 W PoE injector force 30 W into the camera?
A standards-compliant injector detects the powered device and supplies the required power within its supported limits. 30 W is the source-side ceiling for these PoE+ products, with 25.5 W available under the standard at the powered device. This explanation does not apply to arbitrary passive-PoE adapters.
Are an injector and a splitter the same thing?
No. An injector adds power to the Ethernet run. A splitter separates received PoE into data and a separate DC output for a suitable non-PoE device. That splitter’s voltage, current, plug and polarity still have to match the camera.
Which is the best choice for a PTZ camera?
Start with the exact PTZ camera’s maximum power and required PoE standard. The 160S is a candidate for an 802.3at camera within its device-side budget; the 170S is a candidate for an 802.3bt Type 3 model within its budget. A PTZ label alone does not establish compatibility.
Can I use one of these with a Wi-Fi camera?
Only if the camera also has a compatible PoE input, or a manufacturer-approved splitter arrangement meets all of its DC requirements. Wi-Fi describes the data connection; it does not tell you the power connector or voltage. For a replacement plug-in adapter, follow the exact camera documentation.
