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Energy, Climate change, Environment
Energy Efficient Products

At what voltage and frequency combination the product shall be tested ?

The measurement methods stated in the corresponding Commission Communication seem to prescribe an efficiency test at 60Hz frequency. This is strange when for the EU market, almost all equipment will be operated at 50Hz.

As indicated in the Guidelines, the 'Generalized Test Protocol for Calculating the Energy Efficiency of Internal Ac-Dc and Dc-Dc Power Supplies Revision 6.6' shall be used as reference standard, as stated in the Commission Communication 2014/C 110/05 of 11.4.2014. The product shall be tested at the following voltage and frequency combination: 230V at 50Hz. A footnote clarifies that 'a typo present in the Commission Communication (2014/C 110/05 of 11 April 2014) erroneously indicating 230 V at 60 Hz.'. Note that the transitional methods refer to the 'Generalized Test Protocol for Calculating the Energy Efficiency of Internal Ac-Dc and Dc-Dc Power Supplies - Revision 6.6 '. Version 6.7 of the same test protocol, includes a 'Table 4-1 Alternate Voltage and Frequency Combinations' with the possibility of testing at 50Hz.

Disclaimer: Please note that the European Commission cannot provide a legally binding interpretation of the EU legislation, as this is the sole competence of the European Court of Justice. Any remarks from the European Commission services are without prejudice to the position the Commission might take should related cases arise in a procedure before the Court of Justice.