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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 with a nameplate output power rating up to 250 Watts, manufactured or imported for sale in Australia or New Zealand will be required to meet minimum energy performance requirements (MEPS). Introduction of MEPS is still subject to approval by the Ministerial Council on Energy.
Pre-registration is now available (from August 2008)(see making an application for MEPS for details).
The intention of MEPS is to increase energy efficiency by eliminating low efficiency external power supplies from the market and to encourage the use of high efficiency power supplies.
Products covered include external power supply units (often known as 'a.c. adaptors', 'plug packs' or 'power-packs') 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.
The units covered are not built into the equipment being powered and hence are 'external' to the device being powered. Designs covered include units with an integral mains plug, 'in-line' units and units with provision for equipment to sit in a cradle whilst being used.
A single output external power supply which is covered by MEPS is defined as a unit which:
The following flowchart can assist in determining if a power supply is covered by this Standard.
Energy performance requirements include the average efficiency (measured at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of rated output power) and consumption at no load. To meet MEPS, a power supply must meet or exceed the requirements for average efficiency, and meet or be lower than the no load thresholds, when tested according to AS/NZS 4665.1 at 230 V a.c. 50 Hz only. External power supplies with a nameplate input voltage of 240 V ac only shall be tested at 240 V ac.
MEPS requirements are shown in Table 1 and Table 2 below:
| Nameplate Power Output (Pno) | Average Efficiency |
|---|---|
| 0 to 1 watt | ≥ 0.49 x Pno |
| > 1 to 49 watts | ≥ 0.09 x Ln(Pno)+0.49 |
| > 49 to 250 watts | ≥ 0.84 |
Where:
Pno is the nameplate output power of the Unit Under Test.
"Ln" refers to the natural logarithm (base e). The algebraic order of operations requires that the natural logarithm calculation be performed first.
| Nameplate Power Output (Pno) | No Load Power Watts AC-DC |
No Load Power Watts AC-AC |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to < 10 watts | ≤ 0.5 | N/A |
| 10 to 250 watts | ≤ 0.75 | N/A |
Performance mark IV requirements include the average efficiency (measured at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of rated output power) and consumption at no load. To meet mark IV, a power supply must meet or exceed the requirements for average efficiency, and meet or be lower than the no load thresholds, when tested according to AS/NZS 4665.1 at 230 V a.c. 50 Hz only. External power supplies with a nameplate input voltage of 240 V ac only shall be tested at 240 V ac.
Mark IV requirements are shown in Table 3 and Table 4 below:
| Nameplate Power Output (Pno) | Average Efficiency |
|---|---|
| 0 to 1 watt | ≥ 0.5 x Pno |
| > 1 to 51 watts | ≥ 0.09 x Ln(Pno)+0.5 |
| > 51 to 250 watts | ≥ 0.85 |
Where:
Pno is the nameplate output power of the Unit Under Test.
"Ln" refers to the natural logarithm (base e). The algebraic order of operations requires that the natural logarithm calculation be performed first.
| Nameplate Power Output (Pno) | No Load Power Watts AC-DC |
No Load Power Watts AC-AC |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to ≤ 250 watts | ≤ 0.5 | N/A |
Currently performance mark V is not defined in AS/NZS4665, however this standard will be amended in the near future. In the interim, Regulators have published a regulatory ruling to allow the use of performance mark V. Full details can be found at www.energyrating.gov.au/reg-ruling.html.
Performance mark V requirements include the average efficiency (measured at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of rated output power) and consumption at no load. To meet mark V, a power supply must meet or exceed the requirements for average efficiency, and meet or be lower than the no load thresholds, when tested according to AS/NZS 4665.1 at 230 V a.c. 50 Hz only. External power supplies with a nameplate input voltage of 240 V ac only shall be tested at 240 V ac.
Mark V requirements are shown in Table 5 and Table 6 below:
| Output specifications | Nameplate output power (P no) |
Average active mode efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| Output voltage < 6 Volts And Output current > 0.550 Amps |
0 to 1 | > 0.497 x P no + 0.067 |
| >1 to 49 | > 0.075 x L n (P no) + 0.561 | |
| > 49 to 250 | > 0.86 | |
| All other models | 0 to 1 | > 0.480 x P no + 0.140 |
| > 1 to 49 | > 0.0626 x Ln (Pno) + 0.622 | |
| > 49 to 250 | > 0.87 |
| Nameplate output power (Pno) |
No-load power consumption requirements | |
|---|---|---|
| AC - AC | AC - DC | |
| (W) | (W) | |
| 0 to < 50 | N/A | < 0.3 |
| > 50 to 250 | N/A | < 0.5 |
Testing requirements are as per performance marks III and IV and are at 230 Va.c. 50 Hz only.
The energy performance mark is an international initiative to assist regulators monitor compliance with AS/NZS 4665-2005. It will be mandatory from April 2009. Refer to the fact sheet for more details.
Find out how to make an application for MEPS.
You can also download the External Power Supply Fact Sheet for more information on making an application.
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