Find HS Code and trade information for switching power adapter

Switching Power Adapter

A switching power adapter (also known as a switching mode power supply or SMPS) is an electronic power converter that efficiently transforms electrical power from one voltage or current level to another, typically converting AC line voltage to a lower DC voltage suitable for powering electronic devices. It differs from linear power supplies by utilizing switching elements to regulate the output voltage, resulting in higher efficiency, smaller size, and lower weight.

Material Composition

• Transformer: Core materials typically include ferrite or powdered iron, chosen for their high permeability and low core loss at switching frequencies. Copper wire is used for windings.
• Switching Element: Most commonly MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors) or IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) are employed, selected based on voltage and current requirements.
• Diodes: Fast recovery diodes, often Schottky diodes, are used for rectification due to their rapid switching speed and low forward voltage drop.
• Capacitors: Electrolytic capacitors are used for bulk energy storage, while ceramic capacitors are used for filtering high-frequency noise.
• Control IC: Integrated circuits manage the switching process, feedback loops, and protection features.
• PCB (Printed Circuit Board): Provides the structural base and electrical connections for all components.
• Enclosure: Typically made of plastic or metal to provide physical protection and insulation.

Purpose & Function

The primary purpose is to provide a stable and regulated DC voltage supply to electronic devices. Functionally, it achieves this through several stages:

1. Input Filtering: Removes noise and harmonics from the AC input line.
2. Rectification: Converts AC voltage to DC voltage.
3. Switching: Uses a high-frequency switch (MOSFET/IGBT) to chop the DC voltage.
4. Isolation: A transformer provides galvanic isolation between the input and output, enhancing safety.
5. Filtering: LC filters smooth the chopped waveform to produce a stable DC output.
6. Feedback Control: A feedback loop monitors the output voltage and adjusts the switching duty cycle to maintain a constant output voltage despite variations in input voltage or load current.
7. Protection: Includes features like over-voltage protection (OVP), over-current protection (OCP), short-circuit protection (SCP), and over-temperature protection (OTP).

Usage Scenarios

Switching power adapters are ubiquitous in modern electronics, found in:

• Consumer Electronics: Laptop chargers, mobile phone chargers, TV power supplies, DVD player power supplies.
• Industrial Equipment: Powering automation systems, motors, and control devices.
• Telecommunications: Powering network routers, switches, and base stations.
• LED Lighting: Providing DC power to LED drivers.
• Medical Devices: Powering diagnostic and therapeutic equipment (often requiring high isolation and safety standards).
• Computer Power Supplies: Internal power supplies for desktop computers.

Common Types

• Linear Adapters: Older technology, less efficient, larger size, but simpler design.
• Buck Converters: Step-down converters, reducing voltage. Most common type for chargers.
• Boost Converters: Step-up converters, increasing voltage.
• Buck-Boost Converters: Can both step-up and step-down voltage.
• Flyback Converters: Isolated converters, commonly used in lower-power applications.
• Forward Converters: Isolated converters, offering higher efficiency than flyback converters.
• Half-Bridge and Full-Bridge Converters: Isolated converters used in higher-power applications.
• Wall-Wart Adapters: External adapters plugged directly into the AC outlet.
• Desktop Adapters: Larger adapters typically used for laptops and other high-power devices.
• USB Power Adapters: Compact adapters for charging mobile devices via USB.
• GaN (Gallium Nitride) Adapters: Newer adapters utilizing GaN transistors for higher efficiency and smaller size.

Based on the provided information, a switching power adapter falls under the category of electrical transformers, static converters, and inductors. Here's a breakdown of relevant HS codes:

• 8504406007: This code covers electrical transformers, static converters (like rectifiers) and inductors, specifically static converters used as power supplies for automatic data processing machines or units (heading 8471), goods of subheading 8443.31 or 8443.32, or monitors (subheading 8528.42 or 8528.52) or projectors (subheading 8528.62), suitable for physical incorporation into automatic data processing machines or units of heading 8471, with a power output exceeding 50W but not exceeding 150W.

  • 85: Electrical machinery and equipment; parts thereof.
  • 04: Electrical transformers, static converters and inductors; parts thereof.
  • 40: Static converters.
  • 60: Power supplies for automatic data processing machines or units thereof of heading 8471; power supplies for goods of subheading 8443.31 or 8443.32; power supplies for monitors of subheading 8528.42 or 8528.52 or projectors of subheading 8528.62.
  • 07: Suitable for physical incorporation into automatic data processing machines or units of heading 8471 with a power output exceeding 50W but not exceeding 150W.

• 8504407001: This code also covers electrical transformers, static converters, and inductors, specifically static converters used as power supplies for automatic data processing machines or units (heading 8471), goods of subheading 8443.31 or 8443.32, or monitors (subheading 8528.42 or 8528.52) or projectors (subheading 8528.62), but these are other static converters with a power output not exceeding 50W.

  • 85: Electrical machinery and equipment; parts thereof.
  • 04: Electrical transformers, static converters and inductors; parts thereof.
  • 40: Static converters.
  • 70: Power supplies for automatic data processing machines or units thereof of heading 8471; power supplies for goods of subheading 8443.31 or 8443.32; power supplies for monitors of subheading 8528.42 or 8528.52 or projectors of subheading 8528.62.
  • 01: Other with a power output not exceeding 50W.

• 8535904000: This code covers electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, or for making connections to or in electrical circuits (like switches, fuses), for a voltage exceeding 1,000V, specifically other motor starters and motor overload protectors. While a switching power adapter isn't explicitly a motor starter, it is electrical apparatus for switching circuits.

  • 85: Electrical machinery and equipment; parts thereof.
  • 35: Electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, or for making connections to or in electrical circuits.
  • 90: Other.
  • 40: Motor starters and motor overload protectors.

• 8535908060: This code covers electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, or for making connections to or in electrical circuits (like switches, fuses), for a voltage exceeding 1,000V, specifically other connectors.

  • 85: Electrical machinery and equipment; parts thereof.
  • 35: Electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, or for making connections to or in electrical circuits.
  • 90: Other.
  • 80: Other connectors.

Important Note: The applicable tariff for these HS codes is a base tariff of 0.0% or 2.7%, with an additional tariff of 25.0%. As of April 2, 2025, the additional tariff will increase to 30.0%, resulting in a total tariff of 55.0% or 57.7%.

Suggestion: When declaring a switching power adapter, it is important to verify the power output (exceeding or not exceeding 50W) and the voltage rating (exceeding or not exceeding 1,000V) to ensure accurate classification.