Requirements for External Power Supplies

Overview

From 1st December 2008 in Australia and 1st April 2009 in New Zealand (see E3 notice of update to introduction date and scope - released 24 April 2008) most external power supplies (often known as 'a.c. adaptors', 'plug packs' or 'power-packs') manufactured or imported for sale in Australia or New Zealand will be required to meet minimum energy performance standards (MEPS). These units are often used to power and/or re-charge laptop computers, mobile telephones, portable stereo units and other portable household devices.

Pre-registration is now available (from August 2008)(see making an application for MEPS for details).

Products covered include external power supply units with a nominal 230 V a.c supply input and a single output at extra low voltage (ELV), either a.c. or d.c., and a maximum output of 250 W or 250 VA (see the standard for further details on products covered).

MEPS does not apply to:

External power supplies with simultaneous multiple output voltages (e.g. some personal computer power supplies)
D.c. to d.c. voltage conversion equipment such as d.c. to d.c. converters

Any external power supplies imported into, or manufactured in Australia prior to December 2008 and prior to April 2009 in New Zealand, and held in stock, may continue to be sold or used to provide replacements after this date, however non complying products imported or manufactured after the MEPS start date cannot be sold or supplied.

The standard also defines minimum efficiency levels for "High Efficiency External Power Supplies". Only products which meet the specified efficiency levels can apply this term to promotional or advertising materials. High efficiency products will also be eligible for promotion through the national procurement website, Energy Allstars, viewable at www.energyallstars.gov.au

These performance requirements are technically identical to the following program requirements for external power supplies, with the exception that there is not a requirement for AC-AC external power supplies to meet any no-load criteria.

US Energy Star
China Certification Center for Energy Conservation Products
California. Note, external power supplies sold in California need only comply at 115Vac 60Hz and shall be marked with the performance mark with 115 beside the mark if they comply only at 115vac.
European voluntary Code of Conduct.

You can also download the

External Power Supply Fact Sheet for more information on making an application.

Summary of Test Procedures for External Power Supplies

Test Standards: Regulatory standards and test procedures for external power supplies are published by Standards Australia.

AS/NZS 4665 Performance of external power supplies
4665.1-2005: Test method and energy performance mark
4665.2-2005: Minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements

These standards can be purchased from SAI Global under licence from Standards Australia.

AS/NZS 4665.1: Test method and energy performance mark

Abstract: Specifies the method of test to assess the energy performance of external power supplies, and the international system for marking the efficiency on the power supply.

This test method is technically identical to the test method used by the US EPA in the Energy Star program. It describes the general test conditions, and the measurement approach for determination of efficiency at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of rated power output, and under no load conditions.

This Standard also describes the system for marking a power supply with a Roman Numeral to indicate its overall energy performance. The requirements in AS/NZS 4665.2 are equivalent to numeral III.

This page last modified 15 August 2008