Supposedly, some new federal regulation is imposing "energy efficiency" standards on small power adapters.
How is this going to affect electronics? Are the old types of adapters going away? If so, what is the difference between the old adapters and new adapters internally? I assume the new adapters will be more expensive. How much more expensive?
Best Answer
The effect will vary based on prospective.
Power Supply Manufacturers: Major - All products will have to be updated and qualified to meet the new standards, new part numbers created, etc.
Distributors: Moderate - All old stock must be sold off and replaced, part numbers for old supplies obsoleted, and replaced with new, primarily paperwork.
The old adapters won't go away. People will still use them until they fail. There won't be significant difference in circuitry or cost from old to new.
At the end of the day, these directives are pretty dumb. Who cares about minimizing fractions of a Watt of no load power when people are using electricity to heat and cool their homes, as well as refrigerate food and charge electric cars?