What Is Power Consumption?
The power consumption test is a test in which the device's electricity consumption in different operating modes is measured under standard conditions. IEC 62301 defines standby- and off-mode measurement.
Purpose of Power Consumption
The purpose is to document compliance with energy-efficiency legislation and energy-label requirements, and to verify declared consumption values.
Which Products Is Power Consumption Applied To?
- White goods
- Audio and video equipment
- Information-technology equipment
- Lighting products
- Power supplies and adapters
In Which Sectors Is Power Consumption Used?
Standards Related to Power Consumption
- IEC 62301
- IEC 62087
- EN 50564
- Product-specific EcoDesign implementing regulations
Power Consumption Conditions
- Supply quality
- Voltage and frequency tolerance and total harmonic distortion are limited in the standard
- Environment
- 23 °C ± 5 °C; airflow limited
- Measurement modes
- Off mode, standby, networked standby, and active mode
- Measurement duration
- The duration defined in the standard for a stable measurement, or the energy-accumulation method
Equipment for Power Consumption
- High-accuracy power analyser
- Low-distortion programmable AC source
- Test area with controlled ambient conditions
- Data logging system
Sample Requirements for Power Consumption
- The device must be at its default factory settings
- The modes to be measured must be defined
- Network connection status must be documented
- The stability criterion must be recorded
Duration of Power Consumption
Depends on the number of modes; typically half to one working day.
Power Consumption Procedure
- 1The device is set up with default settings.
- 2Supply quality and ambient conditions are verified.
- 3Steady state is reached for each mode.
- 4Power or energy is measured per the standard.
- 5Results are compared with declared values and regulatory limits.
Power Consumption Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criterion is the maximum consumption values in the relevant EcoDesign implementing regulation, and the verification tolerance on declared values.
Evaluation of Results
At low power, instrument accuracy and supply distortion affect the result; the standard therefore limits these.
Power Consumption Report
- Standard applied
- Supply and ambient conditions
- Measured modes and values
- Stability criterion
- Regulatory comparison
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- EcoDesign 2009/125/EC and its implementing regulations
- Energy Labelling Regulation
Electrical Safety — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Power Consumption test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Electrical safety testing shows that a device poses no risk of electric shock, fire or injury to the user in normal use and under foreseeable fault conditions. This family is the test group most often requested when a product enters the market; almost every electrically operated product passes through this gate.
The logic of the field rests on a single assumption: FAULTS WILL HAPPEN. Insulation will age, a component will short, a cable will break, the user will misuse the device. Standards therefore test not only normal operation but also single fault conditions. The sentence "the device works correctly" is not evidence in this field; the evidence is that the device stays safe when it fails.
Assessment addresses three layers together. In the constructional layer, insulation distances (creepage and clearance), protective barriers, earthing continuity, enclosure strength and component selection are examined — this layer is largely a matter of inspection and measurement rather than testing. In the electrical layer, dielectric strength, leakage current, insulation resistance and behaviour under fault conditions are measured. In the thermal layer, temperature rise in normal and abnormal operation is monitored; an overheating component is both a fire risk and a risk of insulation breakdown.
Which standard applies is determined by WHAT THE PRODUCT IS, and that decision affects the entire outcome. Household appliances fall under the IEC 60335 series, information technology and audio/video products under IEC 62368-1, measurement and laboratory equipment under IEC 61010-1, and medical devices under IEC 60601-1. A report obtained under the wrong standard is not accepted in the file even if the measurements it contains are correct.
Component conformity is often overlooked in this field. The safety of the device rests on the conformity of the transformer, optocoupler, fuse, switch and power supply it uses. The list of critical components and the certification status of each is part of the technical file; a change of component reopens the safety assessment.
Method groups in this field
Constructional examination
Insulation distances, barriers, earthing arrangement, accessibility and selection of critical components are examined. It comes before testing and many non-conformities are caught here.
Dielectric strength
It is verified that the insulation withstands the defined voltage. It must not be confused with the routine test on the production line; the type test is more severe.
Leakage current and earthing
The current that could reach the user is measured; the continuity and resistance of the protective earthing path are verified.
Heating tests
Temperatures of components, windings and accessible surfaces are measured in normal and abnormal operation.
Fault condition tests
Components are deliberately short-circuited or open-circuited; the appliance is expected not to cause a fire and not to make a hazardous part accessible.
Mechanical and enclosure tests
Impact, drop, strain relief, IP protection and the safety of moving parts are assessed.
Commonly confused in this field
- A CB certificate is not a CE declaration. CB is the output of a mutual recognition arrangement that eases national certification; the CE declaration is made by the manufacturer under its own responsibility.
- A part of IEC 60335 is not sufficient on its own; it is applied together with Part 1.
- IEC 60950-1 and IEC 60065 have been withdrawn. Old certificates based on these codes cannot be used in a current file.
- Separate certification of the adapter does not cover the conformity of the device; the device is assessed as the system it forms together with its power supply.
- A change of critical component (transformer, fuse, optocoupler supplier) is not a silent change; it requires the safety file to be reviewed.
Which decisions these results support
- CE declaration under the Low Voltage Directive
- IECEE CB certificate and entry into national certification schemes
- Assessing the safety impact of design changes
- Establishing and maintaining the critical component list
- Responding to market surveillance requests
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Power Consumption
According to which standard is Power Consumption made?
Power Consumption is executed in scope IEC 62301, IEC 62087, EN 50564 and Product-specific EcoDesign implementing regulations. The limit values and acceptance criteria to be applied are defined in the product standard; The version valid for your product is confirmed in writing at the offer stage.
Which products does Power Consumption apply to?
Mainly applied to White goods, Audio and video equipment, Information-technology equipment, Lighting products and Power supplies and adapters. Whether your product is included in the scope is determined by examining its technical specifications and intended use.
Under what conditions is Power Consumption done?
The determining parameters are: Supply quality — Voltage and frequency tolerance and total harmonic distortion are limited in the standard, Environment — 23 °C ± 5 °C; airflow limited and Measurement modes — Off mode, standby, networked standby, and active mode. The full terms are in the "Test Conditions" section on the page and vary depending on the product standard.
What kind of sample is needed for Power Consumption?
The device must be at its default factory settings, The modes to be measured must be defined and Network connection status must be documented. The number of samples is determined according to the product standard and the scope to be reported.
How long does Power Consumption take?
Depends on the number of modes; typically half to one working day. This duration belongs to the experiment itself; sample preparation, queuing and reporting are also evaluated. A realistic schedule for your product is given in the offer.
What is the Power Consumption result called "appropriate"?
The acceptance criterion is the maximum consumption values in the relevant EcoDesign implementing regulation, and the verification tolerance on declared values.