Homologation of Wireless Mobile Chargers

In this article, we will give an overview on how wireless chargers are homologated in Brazil and who are the responsible agencies.

As technology for wireless chargers are developing to become faster and more efficient, these type of gadgets are becoming popular and will be found everywhere as soon as mobile phones start to support this technology.

Wireless chargers work in a very simple way, creating an electromagnetic field by induction between coils, one in the base station and the other in the mobile device battery. The power transfer always involves a base station and a mobile device, both properly shielded in order to avoid user contact with the field. The system basically works as a coreless resonant transformer. The proximity between the two coils ensures an efficient power transfer. A single base station can charge multiple devices depending on its compatibility and settings. In this case it contains multiple transmitters.

Currently, the wireless charger technology is mostly employed on a range of smaller electronics, but new applications are being developed to fully take part of the advantages this technology offers. Wireless power transfer technologies are starting to appear in appliances andfurniture with built-in chargers, powering computers and other handheld devices. In the future, we will also see other applications such as electric car recharging lanes and retrofitted plugless chargers in parking lots. In Brazil, the technology is limited to small electronics such as electric toothbrushes, smartphones and smartwatches of specific brands.

Standards Applicable to Wireless Chargers

Even though wireless chargers are not necessarily performing telecommunications, the majority of them are utilising the frequencies that are under Anatel’s supervision, hence they require approval from the agency.

The long range wireless chargers standards still do not have guidelines set by Anatel, and therefore in this article we will focus on the mid-range charging technology. There are two international standards which are used by manufacturers to develop chargers in general: Qi from Wireless Power Consortium, and Rezence from PMA and A4WP, which merged recently to form the AirFuel Alliance. These standards are adopted by the main brands, such as Procter & Gamble, Samsung, Microsoft and Intel. Both standards have small differences between them, therefore it is expected that the companies will join to create a single standard for wireless power transfer.

Qi is currently the technology most employed on devices, transferring around 5W of power, although newer versions of the standard may allow a 15W transfer, similar to cable charging. The equipment using the standard operates in frequencies in the 100 - 205 kHz range. Please note that the frequencies 90kHz to 100kHz are restricted in Brazil by Anatel.

The Rezence standard is considered to be the most advanced so far, using near-field magnetic resonance, or NFMR, for power transfer at a fixed frequency of 6.78 MHz. Equipment carrying this technology are able to work in more adverse environments, such as those with barriers and with presence of metals, such as the interior of cars, besides the ability to charge more devices simultaneously.

Certification of Wireless Mobile Chargers in Brazil

Anatel is responsible for the certification and homologation of wireless chargers used in telecommunication devices, and considers them as restricted radiation equipment. Restricted radiation equipment is defined as any equipment or device that uses radiofrequency for diverse applications, in which the emission produces an electromagnetic field with intensity within the established limits. These frequencies do not require a license for operation, but the equipment that uses them must be certified and approved by Anatel

Wireless chargers are included in the Category II for Anatel homologation which encompasses radioelectric equipment for signal transmission, including antennas, restricted radiation equipment, transceivers and others. Mobile phone chargers also have specific guidelines given by regulation 951/2018, which sets standards for lithium batteries and chargers.

When evaluating these kinds of products, Anatel considers parameters such as intensity of the field emitted by the equipment, immunity for electromagnetic disturbances, surge immunity and general safety aspects of the equipment.

Anatel adopts international standards such as IEC, ITU-T, CISPR as well the Brazilian ABNT as the base for their guidelines for the approval of the equipment that is commercialised in Brazil.

The certification process for any telecommunication equipment must be conducted by an OCD, a third party institution that is responsible for managing the approval process on behalf of Anatel. An OCD have several roles in the approval process of a telecommunication equipment, these are amongst others:

• Accessing each of the products individually to advise which tests must be conducted on the equipment
• Make recommendations of laboratories that can perfom the laboratory tests
• Verifying the laboratory test results and assess whether the product complies with local standards
• Issuing a conformity certificate, attesting that the product complies with local standards and is suitable to receive a formal Anatel homologation
• Submitting the paperwork to Anatel to request the formal homologation
• Handling renewals of homologations with Anatel

Master Certificações performs hundreds of homologations procedures every year and has worked with several manufacturers of consumer goods worldwide on their approval process with the Brazilian authorities.

Anatel will verify the documents and may request additional documents from the manufacturer of the product to back up the homologation procedures. Once approved by the agency, the homologation is published on their databases.

Products homologated by the agency which are intended to be sold in Brazil must include the Anatel seal to identify its certification. The specifications of the seal are published in a law by Anatel, but the OCD will guide you to get it correctly and find the most suitable location to place the seal on your product.

How to get your Wireless Charger Approved in Brazil

As described above, OCDs play an essential role in the homologation of the products with Anatel and are required in all approval processes conducted with the agency. We recommend you contact Master Certificações if you need to have your wireless mobile chargers approved by Anatel.

Master Certificações can also perform certifications for any telecommunication equipment that requires homologation by the agency both on a consumer and industrial grade.