Passive Power over Ethernet switches also provide power to devices over Ethernet cables, but unlike active PoE switches, they do not have intelligent detection and adjustment features. Passive PoE switches will always output a specific voltage during operation. The device connected to that cable will receive the electricity, whether it is able to handle it or not. In this article, we explore the differences between active and passive PoE switches to help you choose the right PoE network switch for. Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches use Ethernet cables to supply power to other PoE capable devices on the network, such as Wireless Access Points, IP cameras, VOIP phones, and other switches, etc.