Technical specification for universal laptop, notebook charger published
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) published a globally relevant standard for a single external charger for notebooks and laptops, which is designed to reduce waste for ICT devices.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) announced the publication of the first globally relevant technical specification for one 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 grams 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.
This 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.
The new IEC Technical Specification opens the way to a significant and very real reduction of e-waste related to power supplies and will allow consumers to use a single external charger with a wide range of notebook computers. This will also make it much easier for external chargers to be reused or replaced when needed. IEC work ensures that the charger is reliable and safe to use, and that it provides the required level of performance.
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
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