EFFICIENCY STANDARDS for external power supplies
Focusing on Efficiency
The global regulatory environment surrounding the
legislation of external power supply efficiency and no-load power draw
has rapidly evolved over the past decade since the California Energy
Commission (CEC) implemented the first mandatory standard in 2004. With
the publication in 2014 of a new set of requirements by the United
States Department of Energy (DOE) that took effect in February 2016, the
landscape has changed again as regulators further reduce the amount of
energy that may be consumed by external power adapters. In Europe, even
more stringent requirements, which are currently voluntary, look set to
become mandatory Ecodesign rules in the near future. To help our
customers stay on top of these continuously evolving global regulations,
we have set out to push the energy efficiency initiative across our
entire power portfolio. By continually monitoring the latest energy
efficiency regulations, we ensure that not only our products, but our
customers’ products are in compliance in each region where they are
sold.
A Brief History
The infograph below traces the path from the CEC’s 2004 regulation
through to the DoE’s Level VI standards that went into effect in early
2016. It also shows the European Union’s Code of Conduct standards that
are voluntary now, but are currently under review to become Ecodesign
requirements in two tiers. The Tier 1 standard, which is broadly
equivalent to Level VI, and the tighter Tier 2 standard, both of which
are expected to become mandatory sometime in the near future.
The above timeline demonstrates just how dynamic the regulatory environment has been over the past several years. As different countries and regions enact stricter requirements and move from voluntary to mandatory programs, it has become vital that OEMs continually track the most recent developments to ensure compliance and avoid costly delays or fines. While many countries are establishing voluntary programs harmonized to the international efficiency marking protocol system first established by Energy Star, the following countries and regions now have regulations in place mandating that all external power supplies shipped across their borders meet the specified efficiency level:
| LEVEL | COUNTRY |
| VI | United States |
| V | European Union |
| IV | Canada |
The international efficiency marking protocol defines two
performance criteria; no-load power consumption and energy efficiency.
The table below summarizes the performance thresholds for each
efficiency level as they were established over time:
| LEVEL | NO-LOAD POWER REQUIREMENT | AVERAGE EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENT |
| I | used if you do not meet any of the criteria | |
| II | no criteria was ever established | |
| III | ≤10 Watts: ≤0.5W of No Load Power 10~250 Watts: ≤0.75W No Load Power |
≤1 Watt: ≥ Power x 0.49 1~51 Watts: ≥[0.09 x Ln(Power)] + 0.49 49~250 Watts: ≥84% |
| IV | 0~250 Watts: ≤0.5W No Load Power |
≤1 Watt: ≥ Power x 0.50 1~51 Watts: ≥[0.09 x Ln(Power)] + 0.5 51~250 Watts: ≥85% |
| V | Standard Voltage Ac-Dc Models (>6Vout) | |
|
0~49 Watts: ≤0.3W No Load Power 50~250 Watts: ≤0.5W No Load Power |
≤1 Watt: ≥ 0.48 x Power + 0.140 1~49 Watts: ≥[0.0626 x Ln(Power)] + 0.622 50~250 Watts: ≥87% |
|
| Low Voltage Ac-Dc Models (<6Vout) | ||
|
0~49 Watts: ≤0.3W No Load Power 50~250 Watts: ≤0.5W No Load Power |
≤1 Watt: ≥ 0.497 x Power + 0.067 1~49 Watts: ≥[0.0750 x Ln(Power)] + 0.561 50~250 Watts: ≥86% |
|
| The term "power" means the power designated on the label of the power supply. | ||
Complying with DoE Level VI
In addition to tightened regulations for existing adapters, DoE
Level VI expands the range of products that fall under the standard.
Regulated products now include:
- Multiple-voltage external power supplies
- Products with power levels > 250 watts
| Single-Voltage External Ac-Dc Power Supply, Basic-Voltage | ||
| Nameplate Output Power (Pout) | Minimum Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
Maximum Power in No-Load Mode (W) |
| Pout ≤ 1 W | ≥ 0.5 x Pout + 0.16 | ≤ 0.100 |
| 1 W < Pout ≤ 49 W | ≥ 0.071 x ln(Pout) - 0.0014 x Pout + 0.67 | ≤ 0.100 |
| 49 W < Pout ≤ 250 W | ≥ 0.880 | ≤ 0.210 |
| Pout > 250 W | ≥ 0.875 | ≤ 0.500 |
| Single-Voltage External Ac-Dc Power Supply, Low-Voltage | ||
| Nameplate Output Power (Pout) | Minimum Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
Maximum Power in No-Load Mode (W) |
| Pout ≤ 1 W | ≥ 0.517 x Pout + 0.087 | ≤ 0.100 |
| 1 W < Pout ≤ 49 W | ≥ 0.0834 x ln(Pout) - 0.0014 x Pout + 0.609 | ≤ 0.100 |
| 49 W < Pout ≤ 250 W | ≥ 0.870 | ≤ 0.210 |
| Pout > 250 W | ≥ 0.875 | ≤ 0.500 |
| Single-Voltage External Ac-Ac Power Supply, Basic-Voltage | ||
| Nameplate Output Power (Pout) | Minimum Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
Maximum Power in No-Load Mode (W) |
| Pout ≤ 1 W | ≥ 0.5 x Pout + 0.16 | ≤ 0.210 |
| 1 W < Pout ≤ 49 W | ≥ 0.071 x ln(Pout) - 0.0014 x Pout + 0.67 | ≤ 0.210 |
| 49 W < Pout ≤ 250 W | ≥ 0.880 | ≤ 0.210 |
| Pout > 250 W | ≥ 0.875 | ≤ 0.500 |
| Single-Voltage External Ac-Ac Power Supply, Low-Voltage | ||
| Nameplate Output Power (Pout) | Minimum Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
Maximum Power in No-Load Mode (W) |
| Pout ≤ 1 W | ≥ 0.517 x Pout + 0.087 | ≤ 0.210 |
| 1 W < Pout ≤ 49 W | ≥ 0.0834 x ln(Pout) - 0.0014 x Pout + 0.609 | ≤ 0.210 |
| 49 W < Pout ≤ 250 W | ≥ 0.870 | ≤ 0.210 |
| Pout > 250 W | ≥ 0.875 | ≤ 0.500 |
| Multiple-Voltage External Power Supply | ||
| Nameplate Output Power (Pout) | Minimum Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
Maximum Power in No-Load Mode (W) |
| Pout ≤ 1 W | ≥ 0.497 x Pout + 0.067 | ≤ 0.300 |
| 1 W < Pout ≤ 49 W | ≥ 0.075 x ln(Pout) + 0.561 | ≤ 0.300 |
| Pout > 49 W | ≥ 0.860 | ≤ 0.300 |
Exemptions
The Level VI mandate defines exemptions for EPS products. The direct operation EPS standards do not apply if:
It is a device that requires Federal Food
and Drug Administration listing and approval as a medical device in
accordance with section 360c of title 21;
OR
A direct operation, ac-dc external power
supply with nameplate output voltage less than 3 volts and nameplate
output current greater than or equal to 1,000 milliamps that charges the
battery of a product that is fully or primarily motor-operated.
EU CoC and Ecodesign Requirements
The European Union published its Code of Conduct (CoC) on Energy
Efficiency of External Power Supplies Version 5 in October 2013. Tier 1
effectively harmonizes the EU with DoE Level VI, noting the differences
in scope detailed below, and became effective as a voluntary requirement
from January 2014, some two years ahead of Level VI. Its adoption as an
EU Ecodesign rule is currently under review, along with the more
stringent CoC Tier 2 requirement which became effective on a voluntary
basis from January 2016. Please note, that an official date has not been
announced for these standards becoming mandatory, but regardless many
manufacturers have already begun certifying their power supplies to the
tighter regulations.
The key difference between the CoC requirements and
Level VI is the new 10% load measure, which imposes efficiency
requirements under a low-load condition where historically most types of
power supplies have been notoriously inefficient. It is important to
note that CoC does not distinguish between direct and indirect operation
external power adapters. While CoC Tier 1 includes the new 10% load
measure, its no-load and active mode limits are less stringent than DoE
Level VI.
CoC Tier 2 further tightens the no-load and active
mode power consumption limits for key classes of power adapters enacted
by Level VI i.e. at output powers ≤49 W and 49 W < Pout ≤ 250 W and
covers both standard voltage and low voltage adapters. The table below
details the additional requirements imposed by Tier 2.
| CoC Tier 1 Single-Voltage External Ac-Dc Power Supply, Basic-Voltage | |||
| Nameplate Output Power (Pout) | Minimum Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
10% Load Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
Maximum Power in No-Load Mode (W) |
| 0.3 W ≤ Pout < 1 W | ≥ 0.50 x Pout +0.146 | ≥ 0.50 x Pout +0.046 | ≤ 0.150 |
| 1 W < Pout ≤ 49 W | ≥ 0.0626 x ln(Pout) + 0.646 | ≥ 0.0626 x ln(Pout) + 0.546 | ≤ 0.150 |
| 49 W < Pout ≤ 250 W | ≥ 0.890 | ≥ 0.790 | ≤ 0.250 |
| Pout > 250 W | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| CoC Tier 1 Single-Voltage External Ac-Dc Power Supply, Low-Voltage | |||
| Nameplate Output Power (Pout) | Minimum Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
10% Load Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
Maximum Power in No-Load Mode (W) |
| 0.3 W ≤ Pout < 1 W | ≥ 0.50 x Pout +0.086 | ≥ 0.50 x Pout | ≤ 0.150 |
| 1 W < Pout ≤ 49 W | ≥ 0.0755 x ln(Pout) + 0.586 | ≥ 0.072 x ln(Pout) + 0.50 | ≤ 0.150 |
| 49 W < Pout ≤ 250 W | ≥ 0.880 | ≥ 0.780 | ≤ 0.250 |
| Pout > 250 W | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| CoC Tier 2 Single-Voltage External Ac-Dc Power Supply, Basic-Voltage | |||
| Nameplate Output Power (Pout) | Minimum Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
10% Load Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
Maximum Power in No-Load Mode (W) |
| 0.3 W ≤ Pout ≤ 1 W | ≥ 0.50 x Pout + 0.169 | ≥ 0.50 x Pout + 0.060 | ≤ 0.075 |
| 1 W < Pout ≤ 49 W | ≥ 0.071 x ln(Pout) - 0.00115 x Pout + 0.670 | ≥ 0.071 x ln(Pout) - 0.00115 x Pout + 0.570 | ≤ 0.075 |
| 49 W < Pout ≤ 250 W | ≥ 0.890 | ≥ 0.790 | ≤ 0.150 |
| Pout > 250 W | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| CoC Tier 2 Single-Voltage External Ac-Dc Power Supply, Low-Voltage | |||
| Nameplate Output Power (Pout) | Minimum Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
10% Load Average Efficiency in Active Mode (expressed as a decimal) |
Maximum Power in No-Load Mode (W) |
| 0.3 W ≤ Pout ≤ 1 W | ≥ 0.517 x Pout + 0.091 | ≥ 0.517 x Pout | ≤ 0.075 |
| 1 W < Pout ≤ 49 W | ≥ 0.0834 x ln(Pout) - 0.0011 x Pout + 0.609 | ≥ 0.071 x ln(Pout) - 0.00127 x Pout + 0.518 | ≤ 0.075 |
| 49 W < Pout ≤ 250 W | ≥ 0.880 | ≥ 0.780 | ≤ 0.150 |
| Pout > 250 W | N/A | N/A | N/A |
External Ac-Dc Power Supplies
CUI is committed to implementing the latest energy
saving technologies into our external power supplies to address
increasing market demands and to comply with all current and future
regulations. From late 2014, CUI began introducing a comprehensive DoE
Level VI compliant adapter portfolio to keep our customers one step
ahead of the rapidly evolving power landscape. Since then CUI has worked
to ensure that the majority of its line of adapters not only meet DoE
Level VI but also CoC Tier 2 standards.
Read the Efficiency Standards for External Power Supplies Application Note.
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