DOE background and scope:

DOE is the Department of Energy of USA, which develops test procedures and minimum efficiency standards for residential appliances and commercial equipment. DOE controls many electrical and consumer products including EPS, Television Sets, Freezer, Air Conditioner, Cloth Washer, Home Heating Equipment, Microwave Oven, Battery Charger, Ceiling Fan Light Kits, Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, etc. These controlled products shall meet DOE mandatory requirements and proceed with DOE registration before shipping to US market.

EPS controlled by DOE amended standards:

There are hundreds of product types that use an EPS and over 300 million EPSs are shipped each year. Energy conservation standards have been in place for external power supplies since 2007. On February 10, 2014, DOE published a final rule prescribing new energy conservation standards for EPS, 79 FR 7845.

This new standard applies to all direct operation EPS, and includes:

- Class A power supplies previously covered by 2007 standards;

- Power supplies that have not previously been subjected to DOE regulations, such as multiple-voltage EPSs, EPSs with nameplate output power greater than 250 watts, and some EPSs that charge the battery of a product that is fully or primarily motor operated.

DOE is amending the standards for certain EPSs - those devices that are already regulated by standards enacted by Congress in 2007 ¡§C and establishing new standards for EPSs that have not yet been regulated by DOE. These standards, which prescribe a minimum average efficiency during active mode and a maximum power consumption level during no-load mode, are expressed as a function of the nameplate output power.

The new efficiency standards for EPSs established efficiency standards for Direct Operation External Power Supplies with Level VI requirement of International efficiency marking protocol, as the table shown.

To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 430.23(bb) for and external power supplies. The methods to conduct the test procedure for external power supplies are further specified in 10 CFR Part 430 Appendix Z to Subpart B.

For more details please refer to below link to DOE website:

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/product.aspx/productid/23#testprocedures

The new requirements are mandatory. These standards are applied to all products manufactured in, or imported into, the United States starting on February 20, 2016.

Note that the standards established by Congress for Class A EPSs will continue in force for all Class A EPSs, including indirect operation EPSs. Therefore, all indirect operation Class A EPSs must continue to meet the standards established by Congress at efficiency level IV, while direct operation Class A EPSs will be required to meet the more stringent standards being adopted, level VI.

Our solution£º

• All products manufactured in, or imported into, the United States, starting on February 20, 2016, shall comply with the new standard equirements. Before the effective date, manufacturers shall test existing or new models of EPSs according to amended and new standards.

• TUV Rheinland provides energy efficiency test and registration services locally for manufacturers. We also provide Energy Star, CEC and NRCan energy efficiency test and certification services.