Power is generally supplied over the interface connection. External power can be supplied to cameras if necessary.


Power Requirements


The camera power requirements vary with the camera model and the current operating mode.  


Power Consumption


Note: GigE and FireWire measured with 12V at camera input.  USB2, USB3, and 10 GigE measured with 5V at camera input.


PL-B (Typical)


Camera ModelFireWire (F)GigE (G)USB2 (U)
PL-B621M
3.4 W
n/a
3.0 W
PL-B623C
3.8 W
n/a
3.5 W
PL-B625M
3.4 W
n/a
3.6 W
PL-B625C
4.5 W
n/a
3.9 W
PL-B681C
3.5 W
n/a
3.3 W
PL-B686M
3.6 W
n/a
3.2 W
PL-B686C
4.6 W
n/a
4.0 W
PL-B741M
3.2 W
4.2 W
2.8 W
PL-B742C
3.5 W
4.5 W
3.3 W
PL-B761M
2.6 W
3.6 W
2.3 W
PL-B762C
2.8 W
3.8 W
2.4 W
PL-B771M
3.4 W
4.4 W
3.0 W
PL-B776C
3.8 W
4.8 W
3.5 W
PL-B777M
3.4 W
4.4 W
3.6 W
PL-B778C
4.5 W
5.5 W
3.9 W
PL-B781M
3.6 W
4.6 W
3.2 W
PL-B782C
4.6 W
5.6 W
4.0 W
PL-B871
3.8 W
n/a
3.3 W
PL-B872
4.8 W
n/a
4.5 W
PL-B873
4.8 W
n/a
4.5 W
PL-B952
3.8 W
4.8 W
3.3 W
PL-B953
3.8 W
4.8 W
3.3 W
PL-B954
4.0 W
5.0 W
3.6 W
PL-B954H
4.8 W
5.8 W
4.2 W
PL-B955
4.0 W
5.0 W
3.6 W
PL-B955H
4.8 W
5.8 W
4.2 W
PL-B956
4.8 W
5.8 W
4.5 W
PL-B957
4.8 W
5.8 W
4.5 W
PL-B958
5.3 W
6.3 W
4.9 W
PL-B959
5.3 W
6.3 W
4.9 W


PL-D (Maximum)


Camera ModelFireWire (F)GigE (G)USB3 (U)
PL-D625M
n/a
n/a
3.09 W
PL-D625C
n/a
n/a
1.99 W
PL-D681M
n/a
n/a
2.46 W
PL-D681C
n/a
n/a
2.56 W
PL-D685M
n/a
n/a
3.58 W
PL-D685C
n/a
n/a
3.85 W
PL-D672M
n/a
n/a
2.88 W
PL-D672C
n/a
n/a
3.10 W
PL-D674M
n/a
n/a
3.00 W
PL-D674C
n/a
n/a
3.10 W
PL-D652M
n/a
n/a
3.11 W
PL-D652C
n/a
n/a
3.25 W
PL-D655M
n/a
n/a
3.64 W
PL-D655C
n/a
n/a
4.18 W
PL-D659M
n/a
n/a
3.52 W
PL-D659C
n/a
n/a
3.92 W
PL-D6512M
n/a
n/a
3.53 W
PL-D6512C
n/a
n/a
4.22 W
PL-D6912M
n/a
n/a
2.95 W
PL-D6912C
n/a
n/a
3.33 W
PL-D6215C
n/a
n/a
2.99 W
PL-D721M
n/a
n/a
2.46 W
PL-D721C
n/a
n/a
2.56 W
PL-D721PM
n/a
n/a
2.73 W
PL-D721PC
n/a
n/a
2.82 W
PL-D722M
n/a
n/a
2.53 W
PL-D722C
n/a
n/a
2.65 W
PL-D725M
n/a
n/a
3.58 W
PL-D725C
n/a
n/a
3.85 W
PL-D726M
n/a
n/a
1.69 W
PL-D729Mn/an/a2.63 W
PL-D732M
n/a
n/a
2.88 W
PL-D732C
n/a
n/a
3.10 W
PL-D734M
n/a
n/a
2.88 W
PL-D734C
n/a
n/a
3.10 W
PL-D752M
n/a
n/a
3.11 W
PL-D752C
n/a
n/a
3.25 W
PL-D753M
n/a
n/a
3.30 W
PL-D753C
n/a
n/a
3.53 W
PL-D755M
n/a
n/a
3.64 W
PL-D755C
n/a
n/a
4.18 W
PL-D755MU-POL
n/a
n/a
3.64 W
PL-D757M
n/a
n/a
4.03 W
PL-D757C
n/a
n/a
4.35 W
PL-D759M
n/a
n/a
3.52 W
PL-D759C
n/a
n/a
3.92 W
PL-D7512Mn/a
n/a
3.53 W
PL-D7512C
n/a
n/a
4.22 W
PL-D795M
n/a
n/a
3.23 W
PL-D795C
n/a
n/a
3.50 W
PL-D797M
n/a
n/a
3.70 W
PL-D797C
n/a
n/a
3.95 W
PL-D799M
n/a
n/a
3.00 W
PL-D799C
n/a
n/a
3.60 W
PL-D7912M
n/a
n/a
2.95 W
PL-D7912C
n/a
n/a
3.33 W
PL-D7620M
n/a
n/a
2.90 W
PL-D7620C
n/a
n/a
3.17 W
PL-D775Mn/a
n/a1.90 W
PL-D775C
n/an/a
1.99 W
PL-D7715C
n/an/a2.99 W
PL-D7718C
n/an/a2.78 W
PL-D7920M
n/an/a3.73 W
PL-D7920C
n/an/a4.00 W
PL-D7924M
n/an/a3.53 W
PL-D7924C
n/an/a3.83 W


PL-X (Maximum)


Camera ModelFireWire (F)10 GigE (G)USB3 (U)
PL-X957M
n/a
13.18 W
n/a
PL-X957C
n/a
13.40 W
n/a
PL-X9512M
n/a
10.54 W
n/a
PL-X9512C
n/a
11.55 W
n/a
PL-X9520M
n/a
13.86 W
n/a
PL-X9520C
n/a
14.40 W
n/a
PL-X9524M
n/a
13.55 W
n/a
PL-X9524C
n/a
13.95 W
n/a


Power Supply


FireWire


The host computer can supply power to the camera via the FireWire bus if the computer has a six-pin FireWire connector and the total power demand on the bus does not exceed the bus capacity. 

Other systems—such as laptop computers or those with several FireWire devices daisy-chained—require an external 12V supply to power the camera. This external power supply must be connected to the FireWire bus. For information about laptop accessory kits that include external power supplies, contact your Pixelink vendor.


Power Limitations


The power capacity of the bus depends on the FireWire adapter card installed in the host computer. To comply with the FireWire specification, the adapter card may supply a maximum of 1.5 A per FireWire port. However, it is permissible for the card’s limit to be lower than 1.5A per port (say, 1.0A). Note that many cards do not state their current limits. In a multiple camera system, the current required per camera increases with each additional camera attached to the bus. Each additional camera causes the bus voltage to drop, so the current demand is increased to maintain a constant power draw per camera. Hence, most two-port FireWire adapter cards can be used to power two cameras simultaneously. If the current demand exceeds the adapter card capacity, a resettable fuse on the adapter card (in the computer) will open and the Status LED on the cameras will switch off indicating a loss of power. The Status LED is located above the FireWire connectors.


USB2.0


The host computer MAY supply power to the camera via the USB2.0 bus provided the total power demand on the bus does not exceed the bus capacity. In cases where there is insufficient power on the USB2.0 bus the Status LED on the camera will switch off indicating a loss of power. The Status LED is located above the USB2.0 connector. The USB2.0 camera can take power from an external power source.  


External Power Connector


The USB2.0 cameras have a power connector which is a 2.5mm coaxial power jack with the center pin positive. It should be connected to a regulated +5VDC +/-5% @ 800 mA power supply. Note that unregulated power supplies should not be used as the voltage may wander too high.


Power Limitations


The power capacity of the bus depends on the USB2.0 adapter installed in the host computer or in the hub to which the camera is connected. The USB2.0 bus power is only 5V and, in practice, cable voltage drops can reduce that down to about 4.4V.  The USB2.0 specification officially allows only 100mA at startup and 500mA after configuration or 0.4W to 0.5W at startup and 2.2W to 2.5W when running. Pixelink USB2.0 cameras are expected to draw somewhere between 3.2W and 4.0W which, in the worst case, is just under an amp at the lowest voltage. Laboratory tests of typical USB2.0 computer ports imply that we will receive at least 4.4V while drawing as much as one amp of current, however this cannot be guaranteed for all USB2.0 ports.


USB3.0


The host computer will supply power to the camera via the USB 3.0 bus provided the total power demand on the bus does not exceed the bus capacity. In cases where there is insufficient power on the USB 3.0 bus, the status LED on the camera will switch off indicating a loss of power. Sometimes the camera's LED will be green even at low power. The camera will drop out of device manager or get disconnected from the system as soon as camera streaming is turned on. This is because the camera consumes more power when it is streaming.


Power Limitations:


Along with high data transfer speeds, the USB3.0 ports have also improved in power outputs compared to older USB 2.0 ports. Current draw for low-power Super speed devices is 150mA. USB 3.0 ports are well capable of maintaining current and voltages up to 900mA at 5V for a maximum power output of 4.5W. This is about twice the maximum power output of USB 2.0 port. 


GigE


Cameras equipped with GigE interfaces require external power. The power connector is a 2.1mm coaxial power jack with center pin positive. It should be connected to a regulated DC power supply providing between 9VDC and 24 VDC with a minimum of 7.5 Watt capacity. Typical supply would be 12VDC @ 800 mA.


10 GigE


Power to cameras equipped with 10 GigE interface can be supplied over the interface connection, Power over Ethernet (PoE), or external power supply. The external power supply via USB type-C port should support Power Delivery 2.0/3.0 to deliver over 30W capacity on the type-C port alone. Please note that for many multi-port wall chargers, the 30W is shared between the ports. In most cases the type-C port is limited to 18W only.