On April 17, 2024, ANATEL introduced Act 5155, outlining comprehensive testing requirements for mobile phone chargers. This act, slated to take effect on October 14th, 2024, supersedes the existing Act 5159.
Here is an overview of the key updates:
Coverage
The scope of Act 5155 encompasses various types of mobile phone chargers, including:
- Portable chargers drawing power from alternating current (AC) sources, such as residential chargers.
- Portable chargers powered by direct current (DC), like vehicle chargers.
- Inductive chargers, irrespective of their power source.
- USB interfaces dedicated to powering electronic devices without data transmission functionality.
- USB interfaces that integrate the electrical/electronic design of equipment (e.g.: TV, computer, multimedia center, etc.) are not covered by these requirements.
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Levels for Vehicular Chargers: The new act imposes refined ESD requirements for vehicular chargers. Under the revised standards, ESD must adhere strictly to Item 8.3 of ISO 10605/2008, with levels now set at 6 kV for contact discharges and 8 kV for air discharges, eliminating previous thresholds of 2/4kV and 4/6kV respectively.
Streamlined Surge and Transient Immunity Testing: Vehicular chargers now undergo streamlined surge and transient immunity testing, focusing solely on pulses 2a, 3a, and 3b in accordance with ISO 7637-2/2004. This revision removes the requirement for pulses 2b, ensuring more efficient testing procedures.
Safety Tests on Wall Adapters: The updated regulations mandate comprehensive safety testing for wall adapters, with 22 normal samples required to ensure robust assessment procedures. This ensures that safety standards are rigorously upheld for these essential components of mobile phone charging systems.
Dimensional Testing for Wall Adapter Plugs: Effective from January 1st, 2025, wall adapters must demonstrate compliance with dimensional specifications outlined in standard ABNT NBR NM 60884-1/2010 and Annex A of standard ABNT NBR 14136/2012. However, manufacturers may opt to comply with this requirement early if they wish to utilize Act 5155 for chargers homologated before January 1st, 2025.
New Mechanical, Electrical, and Thermal Stresses Testing: Wall adapters must now undergo rigorous mechanical, electrical, and thermal stresses testing. This includes 1,000 cycles of connection and disconnection to assess for any deterioration affecting safety or usability, as well as withstand voltage testing (2000V) post-connection/disconnection cycles to check for leakage current. Additionally, chargers must withstand various mechanical tests such as Free Fall, Impact, Compression, Traction, and Abrasion without exhibiting safety-compromising deterioration.
Renewal Requirements for Wall Adapters: As of October 14th, all renewals of wall adapters used for mobile phones must comply with the new Act 5155, necessitating updated Certificates of Conformity (CoC) and adherence to the revised safety testing protocols. However, chargers manufactured in accordance with Act 5159 for vehicle chargers will not require retesting during the renewal process.
These updates to mobile phone charger testing standards represent a significant stride towards bolstering safety and reliability in the market. For further information and guidance on Brazil homologation requirements, feel free to contact iCertifi.