Major milestone: single charger for notebook computers will significantly reduce e-waste

IEC publishes first globally relevant technical specification

EC, the international standards and conformity assessment body for all fields of electrotechnology, announced today the publication of the first globally relevant Technical Specification for a single external charger for a wide range of notebook computers and laptops.

Each year billions of external chargers are shipped globally. Power supplies for notebooks weigh typically around 300 but sometimes up to 600 grams. They are generally not usable from one computer to the next. Sometimes they get lost or break, leading to the discarding of computers that may still work perfectly well. It is estimated that the total e-waste related to all kinds of chargers of ICT devices (Information and Communication) exceeds half a million tons each year; basically the equivalent of 500 000 cars.

This new IEC Technical Specification covers critical aspects of external chargers for notebook computers, their connector and plug, as well as safety, interoperability, performance and environmental considerations.
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IEC Technical Specification 62700: DC Power supply for notebook computer, will be available in early 2014.