Re:Kinda, sorta, maybe... (Score 1)

I was thinking about this idea some more. Why not have both 12V and 48V? We could differentiate between the two during the detection phase with different input impedances in the PD. 802.af uses 25 Kohm, so we could use a different value like 13 Kohm to indicate a low-voltage PD. Once detection is complete, classification would determine the amount of power needed at either 12V or 48V. Obviously the PSE is more complicated now.

Small PDs would be backward compatible with a simple 12V supply, so during the adoption phase of the standard device vendors could still supply cheap AC/DC wall-warts for low-power devices.

For the connector, we should look at designs that are intended for 1000's of cycles and hot disconnection. I don't think either lighter sockets or Molex connectors are suitable. Something similar to USB or Firewire - positive keying, some retention force, wiped contacts. We could follow the USB concept of A, B, and mini-B connectors; or the Firewire concept of large and small connectors. Having A and B connectors would (theroetically) prevent connecting a PSE to a PSE, but the detections phase would keep anything bad happening anyways, so this isn't really needed. So there would just be two connector designs, the large model would be capable of carrying the full 4A, and would be used on all PSE ports and for PDs that need the current. The small connector would be limited to 1A, and would be used for low power devices.

The market for this could dwarf POE. Think of this being applied to every piece of consumer electronics made after ~2009.