In part one, I revealed that ENERGY STAR had just published a major upgrade to their 7-year old consumer Audio/DVD product efficiency specifications and discussed the effective dates, the On-mode power consumption limits and minimum amplifier efficiency requirements.
Additionally, the specification includes Sleep mode (aka Standby) power consumption limits and also an interesting option for the Automatic Power Down (APD) requirement. Sleep mode is pretty straightforward and aligns with the 1 watt standby limit adopted in other efficiency regulations. However, if a product incorporates an active network connection, it’s allowed an extra 2 watts until the end of March 2012, when Tier 3 requirements allow no more than 1 watt.
| Product Function |
Sleep Mode Power Consumption Limits (W) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 Consumer AV Products |
Tier 2 All Other Products |
Tier 2 All Products |
Tier 3 All Products |
|
| Base (All Products) |
N/A | 1.0 | ||
| In-use Networking/ Control Protocol (Wake/Sleep Capability Only) |
N/A | 2.0 | 1.0 | |
Source: ENERGY STAR
As with other recent ENERGY STAR specs, version 2 includes a default APD requirement. Products are required to automatically power down after the last user input has been received, when the product ceases performance of its primary functions, or for devices that process AV inputs from external sources, upon loss of signal (LOS) on all active AV inputs. Manufacturers can offer consumers the option to modify APD timing in 30-minute intervals or to disable it entirely. With an APD ≤ 30 minutes, products do not have to meet additional Idle state power consumption requirements. With an APD default of > 30 minutes, or if the default can be disabled, products must meet the Idle state power consumption requirements. And in an effort to convince manufacturers to design products with audio amplifiers to automatically turn them off when not in use, a new audio amplifier Idle state power consumption requirement was introduced.
| Product Function |
Idle State Power Consumption Limits (W) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 Consumer AV Products |
Tier 2 All Other Products |
Tier 2 All Products |
Tier 3 All Products |
|
| Base (All Products) |
N/A | 5.0 | ||
| AudioAmplification | N/A | P = (0.10 * POUT) or 5 W, whichever is greater Where: POUT = Output Power @ 1/8 MUP 1kHz Sine Wave |
||
Source: ENERGY STAR
Products covered in the new AV spec include: CD players/recorders/burners, DVD and Blu-ray Disc products; Laserdisc players; stereo receivers and tuners, rack systems, stereo amplifiers/pre-amplifiers and equalizers; powered speakers, mini- and midi-systems; clock radios, table radios, cassette decks, and minidisc players. Exempt products include: primarily battery-powered products; automotive equipment; video projectors; home and building automation and control products; whole-house / building audio and/or video systems; video conferencing systems and wireless microphone systems; media servers, and products already covered separately (i.e. TV set-top boxes, displays, TVs, computers, game consoles, etc).
ENERGY STAR estimates that AV products qualifying under version 2.0 should save consumers up to 60 percent in energy costs when compared to non-qualified products.
For more information, including a copy of the new specification, partner commitment and product information forms, and stakeholder comments go to: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=revisions.audio_video_spec
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