FACT SHEET

October 2008
Australian and New Zealand Energy
Performance and Marking Requirements
for External Power Supplies
Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)
Implementation dates

Australia - 1 December 2008 New Zealand - 1 April 2009

International Harmonisation

Test method and conditions

The test method and conditions for external power supplies are defined in AS/NZS4665 – 2005, which is
technically identical to the “Test Method for Calculating the Energy Efficiency of Single Voltage External
Ac-Dc and Ac-Ac Power Supplies (August 11, 2004)”, issued by the US EPA, after collaboration
between officials and parties from the US, Australia, California and China.

The EPA test method and conditions is also referenced or used in the following
regulations/programs/specifications.
• US ENERGY STAR Version 1.1 and Version 2.0
• China Certification Center for Energy Conservation Products CSC/T30-2005
• California Energy Commission - Appliance Energy Efficiency Regulations
• European Commission Code of Conduct on Energy Efficiency of External Power Supplies
Version 2 and draft Version 3.
• U.S. Independence and Security Act of 2007 (H.R.6)

AS/NZS 4665.1 measurement and general test conditions utilise IEC 62301 “Measurement of standby
power”, to measure performance at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the nameplate output power rating at 115
Vac, 60 Hz and at 230 Vac 50 Hz.

Note – Australian and New Zealand testing and performance marking is only required at 230
V ac, 50 Hz, not 115 V ac, 60 Hz.
Test reports equivalent to AS/NZS4665.1 from other jurisdictions or programs are acceptable.
Applicants may require some additional information for registration over and above information in these
test reports.

Performance

During the development of the harmonised test method, an international efficiency marking protocol was
also established to provide a system to designate the efficiency performance of an external power
supply. The international mark consists of a Roman numeral, I to VII and is to be displayed on the
power supply. Level I being the least stringent (least efficient) level and VII being the highest (most
efficient). In accord with the international marking protocol, Levels III and IV are defined in
AS/NZS4665.1 2005. In May 2008, the US EPA announced more stringent criteria to establish level V.
Level V will be proposed as an amendment to AS/NZS4665 and exceeds Australian and New Zealand
MEPS criteria. In the interim, Regulators have approved the use of performance mark Vas an accepted
performance mark.
Exceptions to international performance criteria

Californian regulations and the US Security and Independence Act 2007 specify compliance at 115Vac
60Hz only.

In Australia and New Zealand, AC-AC external power supplies are not required to meet the no load
power requirements.

Australian and New Zealand MEPS will require compliance at 230 Vac 50 Hz only.

Minimum Energy Performance Standards – Performance mark III

External power supplies with nominal 230 Va.c. mains supply input and a single output at extra low
voltage (ELV) either a.c. or d.c., and a maximum output of 250W or 250 VA, manufactured or imported
for sale in Australia or New Zealand will be required to meet or exceed the requirements of performance
mark III. I.e. meet or exceed the average energy efficiency level in Table 1, AND meet or be less than
the no-load requirements in Table 2 when tested at 230 Va.c. 50 Hz.

Table 1: MEPS required minimum efficiency level- Performance mark III

Nameplate Power Output (Pno)

Average Efficiency
Watts
0 to 1 ≥ 0.49 x Pno
>1 to 49 ≥ 0.09Ln(Pno)+0.49
>49 to 250 ≥ 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.

Table 2: MEPS required maximum no-load power – Performance mark III

Nameplate Power Output (Pno) AC – DC

AC-AC
Watts Watts
0 to <10 ≤ 0.5 N/A
10 to 250 ≤ 0.75 N/A

Any external power supplies imported into, or manufactured in Australia and New Zealand prior to the
respective implementation dates and held in stock, may continue to be sold, however no new
importation or manufacture of non-compliant products is allowed.

The full details of these requirements and an explanation of products covered, are provided in AS/NZS
4665.2-2005; while the relevant test method is published as AS/NZS 4665.1-2005. Both of these are
available from:
• Standards Australia - www.saiglobal.com.au
• Standards New Zealand - www.standards.co.nz

A number of amendments to both parts of AS/NZS 4665 - 2005 are currently in the approval process to
further define models and to simplify the registration process. This was done by a working group
comprised of government/ industry/ and a Standards Australia representative and are summarised
under the “Amendments to the standard” heading.
Scope
AS/NZS 4665 defines an external power supply as follows.
a) has an input from mains supply (usually 115 V, 60 Hz; 230 V, 50 Hz; 240 V, 50 Hz or a range
including some or all of these input conditions); and
b) has one ELV output (either a.c. or d.c.) that is either at a fixed voltage or user selectable
through a selector switch; and
c) is sold with, or intended to be used with, a separate end-use product that constitutes the
primary load; and
d) is contained in a separate physical enclosure from the end-use product (i.e. the housings of the
power supply and its associated product are different, not their retail packaging); and
e) is connected to the end use product via a hard-wired or removable male/female electrical
connection, cable, cord or other wiring; and
f) does not have batteries or battery packs that physically attach directly to the power supply unit
(including those that are removable e.g. a battery pack for a portable electric drill); and
g) does not have a battery chemistry or type selector switch and an indicator light or state of
charge meter.

Figure 7 provides a simple method to assist in determining which EPS must comply with MEPS,
however in the event of conflict, the above written extract from the standard takes precedence over the
flowchart.

Amendments to the AS/NZS4665 - 2005

Key amendments to Part 1 include the following definitions.

Family of models—Non user selectable output voltage

A range of non user selectable single voltage output models based on common technically
equivalent components (typically switchmode), but a different output voltage. They may be sold
under different brand names or model numbers or both. Each member of the family is included on
a single test report and has the same energy performance mark, but may have a different output
voltage.

Multi-switch model—User selectable output voltage

A model with a single output that provides a range of user selectable output voltages. They may be
sold under different brand names or model numbers or both. Each model is included on a single
test report and has the same energy performance mark.

Single model(s)

A set of one or more technically equivalent models with identical performance specifications
(including a single output voltage) but may be sold under different brand names or model numbers
or both. Each model is included on a single test report and has the same energy performance mark.

Key amendments to Part 2 include

Supply voltage

MEPS and High Efficiency performance requirements apply at 230 Va.c. only.

AC – AC external power supplies

AC – AC external power supplies only need meet efficiency specifications. I.e. no-load
performance is not a criteria.

Exemptions

Replacement external power supplies

The Trade Practices Act 1974 requires a part to be ‘reasonably available’ after the acquisition of
goods by a consumer. Therefore an external power supply that is made available by a manufacturer
directly to a consumer or to a service or repair facility after and separate from the original sale of the
 product requiring the external power supply as a service part of spare part shall be exempt from
meeting MEPS requirements for a period of 5 years from the date of introduction of MEPS.

Medical use external power supplies

Therapeutic devices in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods in accordance with the
Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 as amended by the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Medical
Devices) Bill 2002, the Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices) Regulations 2002 and any
subsequent amendments are exempt from meeting the above MEPS requirements.

For further information use the following link.

http://www.tga.gov.au/devices/devices.htm#guidelines

Family of models or multi-switch models

Family of models or multi switch models shall be tested at the highest and the lowest voltage
outputs of the power supply. Models shall meet MEPS requirements at both the highest and the
lowest voltage outputs. Similarly, High Efficiency models shall meet high efficiency requirements at
both highest and lowest voltage outputs.

Test reports
Test reports will not need to be submitted with registration applications, however applicants will
need to retain these records for five years and must be able to provide these to regulatory
authorities upon request.

Registration and Fees

EPS and EPS families of models will require registration on the energyrating web site.

Registration will require:

• Registration of each model or family of models within the scope of AS/NZS 4665-2005.

• Payment of the registration fee in Australia of $150 per model/family (listing is free in New
Zealand). A supplier/ product registration with any one of the Australian regulators is sufficient
for an external power supply to be legally sold in both Australia and New Zealand. Where
registration takes place in New Zealand, the external power supply can only be legally sold in
Australia, if manufactured in New Zealand, or imported directly into New Zealand, and then
exported to Australia.

Note – test reports will not need to be submitted with registration applications, however applicants will
need to retain these records for five years and must be able to provide these to regulatory authorities
upon request.

If the supplier can prove that the external power supply product was manufactured in Australia or New
Zealand or imported prior to the implementation date, registration is not required.

The preferred method of registration is online at www.energyrating.gov.au Pre-registration is available

pending formal approval of amendments to the standard and the MEPS implementation date.
High Efficiency Products - Performance mark IV

To be eligible to be promoted as a ‘high efficiency’ product, external power supplies sold in Australia
and New Zealand must meet the following criteria:

Table 3: Requirements for ‘high efficiency’ external power supplies

Nameplate Power Output (Pno)

Average Efficiency
Watts
0 to 1 ≥ 0.5 x Pno
>1 to 51 ≥ 0.09Ln(Pno)+0.5
>51 to 250 ≥ 0.85
Type and Nameplate Power No Load Power
Output (Pno) Watts Watts
AC – DC 0 to 250 ≤ 0.5
AC – AC 0 to 250 N/A

High Efficiency Products - Performance mark V

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 http://www.energyrating.gov.au/reg-ruling.html

To be eligible to be promoted as a ‘high efficiency’ performance mark V product, external power

supplies sold in Australia and New Zealand must meet the following criteria:

Table 4: Efficiency requirements for “High efficiency” performance mark V

Active mode efficiency requirements

Output specifications Nameplate

output power Average active mode
(Pno) efficiency
Watts

Output voltage < 6 Volts 0 to 1 ≥0.497 × Pno+ 0.067

V And
>1 to 49 ≥0.075 Ln (Pno) + 0.561
Output current ≥ 0.550
Amps >49 to 250 ≥0.86

0 to 1 ≥0.480 × Pno+ 0.140

All other models >1 to 49 ≥0.0626 x Ln (Pno) + 0.622

>49 to 250 ≥0.87

 Table 5: No-load requirements for “High efficiency” performance mark V

Nameplate output No-load power consumption requirements Watts

power (Pno)
AC – AC AC - DC
Watts

0 to < 50 N/A ≤ 0.3

≥ 50 to 250 N/A ≤ 0.5

Testing requirements are as per performance marks III and IV

Testing and performance marking

Mandatory performance marking
To allow greater time for suppliers to prepare for mandatory marking and to align marking with New
Zealand’s MEPS implementation, Regulators have determined that mandatory marking shall apply from
1st April 2009, rather than 1st December 2008. Products shall still be subject to MEPS requirements
(performance mark III) from 1st December 2008.

Testing
Testing shall be done in accordance with AS/NZS 4665.1 at 230 Va.c., 50 Hz only Reports utilising
equivalent specifications from other jurisdictions or programmes are acceptable. Applicants may require
some additional information for registration over and above test data.

230 V ac testing only

Australian and New Zealand MEPS and High Efficiency performance requirements and mandatory
marking only require testing at 230 Va.c. The following table applies when tested for Australian and
New Zealand requirements at 230 Va.c. only or if the external power supply has a 230 V ac nameplate
voltage only. If the external power supply has a nameplate voltage of 240 Va.c. only, then it shall be
tested at 240 Va.c.

Nameplate voltage and MEPS/HE IV/HE V Performance Voltage Examples

frequency test voltage mark qualifier figure number

230 V a.c. 50 Hz 230 V a.c. III, IV or V none 1

None or 230 as 2
Multiple 230 V a.c. III, IV or V
optional

240 Va.c. 50 Hz only 240 Va.c III, IV or V none 1

 Figure 1: Single Performance Mark for a 230 or 240 V a.c. nameplate voltage only

Mark III compliance Mark IV compliance Mark V compliance

III IV V

If the external power supply is capable of multiple input voltages, but is tested and complies with the
mark III, IV or V requirements at 230 Va.c. input voltage only, then the performance mark may
optionally be qualified with the input voltage. Examples in are shown in figure 2

Figure 2: Example for nominal 230 Va.c. compliance only – optional voltage qualifier

Mark III compliance Mark IV compliance Mark V compliance

III 230
IV 230
V 230

Examples of the performance mark

Figure 5: Example of screen printed or Figure 6: Example of engraved or molded

adhesive label marking marking
Figure 7: External power supply definition flowchart
Enforcement

Regular checks are conducted to ensure that all products offered for sale have a current registration
with one of the State or NZ regulators. In addition, “checktests” by independent National Australian Test
Authority accredited laboratories are conducted to see whether external power supplies perform in
compliance with MEPS requirements or claims of high efficiency status.

The checktest process comprises an initial Screen Test, paid for by the Government. If the unit complies
with MEPS no further action is taken. If the unit fails, the supplier has the option of:
. • choosing to request cancellation of the registration, or
. • testing up to three more randomly selected units at the supplier’s cost.

Full details of this process are contained in the Administrative Guidelines available from
www.energyrating.gov.au/admin-guidelines.html

Regulatory Contacts
State and NZ contacts for Minimum Energy Performance Standards applications are:

NSW
Department of Water and Energy, Level 17, 227 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000
(GPO Box 3889, Sydney NSW 2001) Tel 02 8281 7706, Fax 02 8281 7750.
Email:energylabelling@dwe.nsw.gov.au Website: www.dwe.nsw.gov.au

Queensland
Electrical Safety Office Department of Industrial Relations LMB 2234 Brisbane QLD 4001 Tel +61 7
3237 0280 Fax +61 7 3406 3808 Email:equipmentsafety@dir.qld.gov.au Website: www.eso.qld.gov.au

South Australia
Energy Labelling Section Office of the Technical Regulator Level 19, 30 Wakefield Street Adelaide SA
5000 Tel 08 8226 5530 Fax 08 8226 5531 Email: robert.anderson@saugov.sa.gov.au Website:
www.technicalregulator.sa.gov.au

Victoria
Equipment Efficiency Section Energy Safe Victoria PO Box 262 Collins Street West VIC 8007 Tel 03
9203 9700 Fax 03 9686 2197 Email:mgrubert@esv.vic.gov.au Website: www.esv.vic.gov.au

New Zealand
Products Programme Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority PO Box 388 Wellington NEW
ZEALAND Tel +64 4 470 2222 Fax +64 4 499 5330 Email:terry.collins@eeca.govt.nz Website:
www.eeca.govt.nz