Power sourcing equipment in a power over Ethernet (POE) system detects the connection of multiple powered devices to an inline power delivery channel to enable coherent power sharing among the devices. The PSE applies a standard detection signal (such as a detection voltage) to the power delivery channel, then detects and interprets a responsive signal (such as a detection current) which would normally be either zero or a non-zero value indicating the presence of one powered device. The PSE determines whether the second detection signal indicates that multiple powered devices may be connected, for example by detecting its value as a multiple or sub-multiple of a standard responsive signal. If so, the PSE provides additional distinct signals each eliciting a distinct individual response signal from a corresponding powered device, and detects each distinct individual response signal to identify the powered devices connected to the power delivery channel.