System and methods for detecting and monitoring power characteristics amongst connected devices in a multi-device system, such as a conferencing system, are disclosed. The system and methods sense power characteristics at various points within the system, such as at ports of the host and client devices. The hosts and client devices can include control units and conferencing units (e.g., microphones) in conferencing applications. The power characteristics can be communicated to the host device for further treatment, such as monitoring, processing and outputting data to allow determination of conditions associated with the power distribution of the system.