Because of their former reliance on linear technology, external power supplies were notoriously quite inefficient, achieving efficiency levels as low as 50%. Equally problematic, external power supplies typically continued to draw power in no-load situations.
To curb poor energy efficiency performance in appliances and power supplies, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started what would later become ENERGY STAR in 1992. Since compliance became mandatory in 2004, energy regulations have become increasingly stringent and caused changes to external power supply technology.
Government Requirements
Published by the United States Department of Energy (DOE), the Level VI Efficiency Standard was first proposed in 2014 and officially went into effect across the US on February 10, 2016.
The Level VI standard lays out the most stringent efficiency requirements to date, including minimum energy efficiency requirements for all external power supplies, such as adapters and plug-in wall transformers. Level VI sets performance thresholds for external power supplies in both active and no-load conditions. It also expands the range of products covered, which now includes:
- Single-voltage external AC-DC power supplies
- Single-voltage external AC-AC power supplies
- Multiple-voltage external power supplies, a Level VI addition
- Low-voltage external power supplies
- High-voltage external power supplies (greater than 250 watts), a Level VI addition
Level VI established strict no-load power draw maximums, ranging from as little as 0.1 to 0.210 watts depending on the type of power supply.
It is extremely difficult to meet these strict new standards using linear technology, but is considerably easier with switch mode technology.
Benefits of Efficiency Ratings
Though some consider the setting of these types of efficiency standards to be government overreach, the fact is that these and similar programs have yielded many benefits.
The EPA estimates that these and other regulations have, over just the past 10 years, reduced consumption of energy by a total of 32 billion kilowatts. This translates into annual nation-wide savings of approximately $2.5 billion and annual CO2 emission reduction of approximately 24 million tons.
Compliance at Triad Magnetics
Recently redesigned using state-of-the-art switch mode technology and topologies, Triad Magnetics’ WS Series Wall Mount Plug-In Power Supplies offer the best in efficiency, performance, and reliability.
Extremely compliant, the WS series plug-in power supplies meet, and often exceed, a number of stringent and required standards. These include:
- US Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) 2007
- European Community Directive (ECD) 2005/32/EC
- California Energy Commission (CEC) Standards
The WS Series wall mount transformers draw 25% less power, are 50% smaller, and are 70% lighter than the previous generation of linear power supplies. Robustly designed, the WS series has a power range of 6.75 to 36 watts, an input range of 100 to 200 volts AC, and an output range of 4.5 to 24 volts DC.
Learn more about Triad Magnetics’ WS Series Plug-In Power Supplies today.