Last month, the European Commission released the latest version of its Code of Conduct (CoC) for External Power Supplies (EPS). Version 5 replaces the previous version from 2009 with tighter requirements plus an additional active mode efficiency load test point.
As with version 4, the new CoC is a voluntary program, setting minimum allowable requirements for single voltage output EPSs with less than 250 W of output power. Specifications include maximum no-load power consumption and minimum active mode efficiency limits. There are separate requirements for “low voltage” products (defined as having an output
New in this version is an added lower load minimum efficiency requirement. Besides the average active mode efficiency requirement found in previous versions (the average of the efficiencies measured at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% loads), version 5 also requires a minimum efficiency level at 10% load. This was added to address EPS conversion efficiency in applications that spend a significant portion of their time in lower power idle modes.
The program specifications are shown in the tables below.
Table 1. EC CoC No-load Power Consumption Limits
|
Rated Output Power (Pno ) |
No-load power consumption |
|
|
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
|
|
> 0.3 W and < 49 W |
0.150 W |
0.075 W |
|
> 49 W and < 250 W |
0.250 W |
0.150 W |
|
Mobile handheld battery driven and < 8 W |
0.075 W |
0.075 W |
Table 2. EC CoC Energy-Efficiency Criteria for Active Mode (excl. Low Voltage EPSs)
|
Rated Output Power (Pno ) |
Minimum Four Point Average Efficiency in Active Mode |
Minimum Efficiency in Active Mode at 10 % load of full rated output current |
||
|
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
|
|
0.3 ≤ W ≤ 1 |
≥ 0.500 * Pno + 0.146 |
≥ 0.500 * Pno + 0.169 |
≥ 0.500 * Pno + 0.046 |
≥ 0.500 * Pno + 0.060 |
|
1 < W ≤ 49 |
≥ 0.0626*ln(Pno ) |
≥0.071*ln(Pno )- 0.00115 * Pno + 0.670 |
≥ 0.0626*ln(Pno ) |
≥ 0.071*ln(Pno )- 0.0014 * Pno + 0.570 |
|
49 < W ≤ 250 |
≥ 0.890 |
≥ 0.890 |
≥ 0.790 |
≥ 0.790 |
Table 3. EC CoC Energy-Efficiency Criteria for Active Mode for Low Voltage EPSs
|
Rated Output Power (Pno ) |
Minimum Four Point Average Efficiency in Active Mode |
Minimum Efficiency in Active Mode at 10 % load of full rated output current |
||
|
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
|
|
0.3 ≤ W ≤ 1 |
≥ 0.500 * Pno + 0.086 |
≥ 0.517 * Pno + 0.091 |
≥ 0.500 * Pno |
≥ 0.516 * Pno |
|
1 < W ≤ 49 |
≥ 0.0755*ln(Pno )+ 0.586 ≥ |
≥0.0834*ln(Pno )- 0.0011 * Pno + 0.609 |
≥ 0.072*ln(Pno )+ 0.500 |
≥ 0.0834*ln(Pno )- 0.00127 * Pno + 0.518 |
|
49 < W ≤ 250 |
≥ 0.880 |
≥ 0.880 |
≥ 0.780 |
≥ 0.780 |
Source for Tables 1, 2, and 3: EC Code of Conduct on Energy Efficiency of External Power Supplies, 10/29/13.
Note: “ln” refers to the natural logarithm.
The effective date for Tier 1 is January 1, 2014, with Tier 2, January 1, 2016.
For a copy of the CoC version 5 requirements, click here. For additional information on the Code of Conduct program, click here.
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