As the availability of electrical energy is becoming limited, Governments around the world are implementing energy efficiency and standby power requirements for electrical products.
Australia and New Zealand have implemented Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards (MEPS) for many electrical devices and appliances that includes External Power Supplies and certain Battery Chargers (also known as 'a.c. adaptors', 'plug packs' or 'power-packs'). Key date for implementation of MEPS for External Power Supplies is 1st December 2008.
Comtest is the first Laboratory in Australia to achieve NATA accreditation to the Minimum Efficiency Performance Standard AS/NZS 4665 for External Power Supplies.
Comtest Laboratories is now fully accredited to the ACIF standard for DSL Equipment, AS/ACIF S041, "Requirements for DSL Customer Equipment for Connection to the PSTN". Comtest has been testing ADSL filters to Telstra Specification RCIT.0004 for a number of years and now offers NATA accredited testing of ADSL filters and modems to AS/ACIF S041.
Comtest is the first laboratory in Australia to achieve this accreditation. This particular standard is called up in the Australian Telecommunications Labelling Notice (TLN) for Category A52 equipment (Surge Protective Devices). Up till now, as there was no local accredited facility manufacturers and suppliers needed to have their surge protection equipment tested overseas.
Comtest is also accredited for all the standards required for Category A52 equipment.
This AS/NZS 4117 accreditation supplements Comtest’s other overvoltage & overcurrent testing which includes; “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)” and “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)”.
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
Comtest Laboratories Pty Ltd now offers NATA accredited testing to the safety requirements of Integral Insulated Pins for power adapters and battery chargers in accordance with AS/NZS 3112 Appendix J. Equipment with integral pins are intended to provide greater safety for consumers and industrial applications. It is mandatory for Insulated Pins to be fitted to all single phase mains powered devices supplied in Australia by April 2005.
Contact Greg Caspar or Peter Arms to assist with seeking your Australian Electrical Authority approval.
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 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/equipmnt.htm