Testing Lab of Power Supply/ IT / AV Products

UL Certification

Issued by OSHA-recognized NRTLs (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories). Although voluntary in law, UL certification is treated as a de facto mandatory requirement by major retailers, insurance companies, and customs.

FCC Certification

Regulates electromagnetic interference (EMI) of electronic products. This is a mandatory federal requirement. Power products with switching circuits must undergo FCC compliance testing.

DOE Certification

Department of Energy regulation of energy efficiency for power products. This is a mandatory federal requirement. Energy efficiency information must be labeled on packaging or products.

CEC Certification

California Energy Commission Title 20 requirements, stricter than federal DOE. Power products sold in California must comply with CEC requirements.

Key Note: Although UL standards are "voluntary," they are treated as a de facto mandatory requirement in the actual US market. Power products without UL certification will be rejected by major retailers (Amazon, Best Buy, The Home Depot), insurance companies will deny coverage, and customs may detain shipments.

Electrical Safety Tests

• Input Test — Verify input current and power do not exceed marked values
• Dielectric Voltage-Withstand Test — Verify insulation withstand capability
• Insulation Resistance Test — Verify electrical insulation strength
• Ground Continuity Test — Verify grounding protection reliability
• Temperature Test — Verify operating temperature within limits
• Leakage Current Test — Verify leakage current within limits

Abnormal Operation Tests

• Single Fault Condition Test — Simulate single safety protection failure
• Overload Test — Verify product safety under overload conditions
• Component Failure Test — Simulate critical component failure
• Locked Rotor Test — Applicable to power products with motors

Fire Resistance and Material Tests

• Flammability Test (UL 94) — Verify flame retardancy of enclosure and insulation materials
• Ball Pressure Test — Verify heat deformation resistance of insulation materials
• Abnormal Heating Test — Verify safety under high-temperature environment

DOE (Department of Energy) Certification

Based on 10 CFR Part 430, implements mandatory energy efficiency regulations for external power supplies (EPS), battery chargers, etc. Test items include: Active Mode Efficiency, No-Load Power Consumption.

CEC (California Energy Commission) Certification

Based on Title 20 regulations, implements stricter energy efficiency requirements than federal DOE for power products sold in California. Test items are similar to DOE but with stricter limits.

Energy Star (Voluntary)

Managed by EPA and DOE. Power products with Energy Star certification are more competitive in the North American market.

Important: Both DOE and CEC certifications require test data to be uploaded to the government database (CCMS system), and corresponding energy efficiency labels must be affixed. Power products that fail to pass DOE/CEC certification cannot be sold in the US.

Q: Is UL certification mandatory?

UL standards themselves are "voluntary," but major retailers (Amazon, Best Buy, The Home Depot, etc.), insurance companies, and customs treat them as de facto mandatory requirements in practice. Power products without UL certification can hardly enter the US market.

Q: Do I need an FCC-approved laboratory for FCC certification?

No. FCC does not recognize specific laboratories; test reports from any qualified laboratory are acceptable. However, the report must be reviewed by an FCC-recognized TCB (Telecommunication Certification Body) to obtain FCC Certification (for Class B devices).

Q: Can a CB report accelerate US certification?

Yes. A CB report (based on IEC 62368-1) is highly aligned with UL 62368-1. Having a CB report can significantly reduce UL retesting. However, FCC testing still needs to be performed according to FCC Part 15.