As electrical energy resources become limited and the impacts of the greenhouse emissions are being felt, the Australian and New Zealand governments are implementing new regulatory regimes for External Power Supplies and certain Battery Chargers (also known as ‘a.c. adaptors’, ‘plug packs’ or ‘power-packs’). These requirements are looking to improve energy efficiency of electrical products (MEPS) and minimise standby power usage.
The requirement is called Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards (MEPS) and is mandatory.
Australia and New Zealand have jointly developed a standard AS/NZS 4665, generically known as “Performance of External Power Supplies”. AS/NZS 4665 Part 1 deals with Test Methods and Energy Performance Mark, and Part 2 with MEPS requirements.
The Key date for implementation of MEPS for External Power Supplies and certain battery chargers is 1st December 2008.
Of course, this new requirement will effect every supplier of IT and Telecommunications devices and electrical appliances that use external power supplies and battery chargers.
Testing must be performed on the product to prove compliance with the appropriate Australian Minimum Efficiency Performance Standard (MEPS) laboratory such as Comtest Laboratories, or compliance can be proven by obtaining reports from other recognised sources
Comtest is also a CB Scheme Testing Laboratory (CBTL) offering world wide testing for products to the requirements of IEC 60950 and IEC 61010
Comtest has expanded its overvoltage and overcurrent testing capabilities and is also the first Australian Laboratory to be NATA accredited to:
AS/NZS 4117 - Telecommunications Surge protection devices.
ITU-T K.44: 2003 Resistibility tests for telecommunication equipment exposed to over voltages and over currents. (ITU-T K.20, ITU-T K.21, ITU-T K.45)
ITU-T K.20: 2003– Resistibility of Telecommunications Equipment Installed in a Telecommunications Centre to Overvoltages and Overcurrents
ITU-T K.21: 2003 - Resistibility of Telecommunications Equipment Installed in Customer Premises to Overvoltages and Overcurrents
ITU-T K.45: 2003 - Resistibility of Telecommunications Equipment Installed in the Access and Trunk Networks to Overvoltages and Overcurrents
Over voltage and over current requirements for Insulation Displacement Connector (IDC) modules and termination modules with contacts for test ports or SPDs.
ITU-T K.55: 2002 and ITU-T K.65: 2004
Surge protective devices (Gas discharge tubes) for telecommunications applications
AS/NZS 4117:1999
* New accreditations
ANSI T1.413 – Including varying noise/cable types/line lengths
ITU-T G992.1 – Full Rate G.DMT & G.LITE
Telstra IP1149 – Data transfer capacity
AS/ACIF S043.2 – including PSD testing
Comtest is a totally independent NATA and IECEE CB (CBTL) accredited test laboratory providing services to the IT and Telecommunications industries.
For further information contact Greg Caspar or Peter Arms.
Telstra ADSL information page can be found at
http://www.telstra.com.au/adsl/index.htm