What are the new energy conservation standards for external power supplies?

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recently proposed new energy conservation standards for External Power Supplies (EPSs). These proposed standards, known as Trial Standard Level 4 (TSL4), aim to tighten energy efficiency requirements across all types of EPSs. TSLs are a tool used by the DOE to set energy conservation benchmarks.

Do external power supplies have a power efficiency mandate?

At a global level, mandates for power efficiency exist for most consumer electronics and home appliances. External power supplies have had regulations dating back to 2004, when the California Energy Commission created one of the first mandates for efficiency of external power supplies used to power appliances or consumer electronic devices.

What are the new standards for power supply design?

In 2014, the US Department of Energy formalized their newest mandatory standard and the EU’s voluntary Code of Conduct version 5 took effect. This white paper briefly explains the US and EU’s new standards and what they mean to power supply designers.

How many external power supplies are there in the EU?

In 2020, 1.7 billion external power supplies (EPS) were in use in the EU27, of which 75% for residential use, on average 6.5 units per EU household. They converted 48 TWh/a of electricity from the 220V mains to the input needed by the powered products.

Are external power supplies a product category?

External power supplies, however, are not distinguished as a product category. As the world’s fifth-largest electricity user, Japan is very conscious of its environmental impact and has set itself tough targets for emissions reduction (80% by 2050).

How do you test a power supply?

The international testing standard states to measure input power and output power at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% loads and calculate the arithmetic average efficiency of those four points in order to determine whether or not the power supply meets the standard.