cdntinker / in-wall-poe Goto Github PK

Designed to fit inside of Wiremold surface mount boxes.

Inspired by the EAP235-wall wireless access point which has pass-through PoE. I have a little receiver for my weather station that connects to the network via WiFi & is powered by a USB charger.

Center hole, initially, exists to make room for the Ethernet cable feeding the EAP235. Of course, it can also allow for the cables to feed into the wall.

J1 supplies 5V output at up to 7W and can have a USB-A pigtail connected to feed devices outside the box.

The outline on layer User1 is the internals of a typical Wiremold surface box.

2024/01/22: upgraded from the overkill Ethernet jack to a better fit plus magnetics...

2024/02/13: Assembled first board

• No smoke, but not producing output properly...
  • So far, suspect it needs more of a load. Will test once I find a USB-A pigtail.
• Need to change footprint of L1 to something easier to hand-solder & move C1 a little to the left to make assembly easier.

2024/02/15: Tested successfully

• Definitely needs minimum load.
  • Added 2x 470 ohm resistors in parallel at R3 (Now Rl1 & Rl2)
• Does not seem to reliably keep voltage under much load.
  • Possibly because of knock-off module? Must get Silvertel modules & test...
• Modified L1 footprint, moved C1 & added an extra load resistor footprint. All to ease assembly.

2024/02/22: Tested with actual Silvertel module AND no longer trust Chinese USB testers

• Received Silvertel module from Mouser & assembled another board.
  • EXACTLY the same results.
• THEN, Just for giggles, actually measured the output with my regular meter (Uni-T UT61e)
  • Well... That's interesting. UT61e says the output is a nice stable 5V (give or take ~0.03V)
  • Yet the load tester AND an inline USB tester both show severe voltage drop as current goes up.