Semi-custom support case for information technology equipment AC/DC Power Adapter | IEC60950/IEC62368-1 / Various national safety standards compliant

A semi-custom support case study for AC/DC Power Adapter for information technology equipment. We introduce real examples of how challenges were solved by leveraging existing designs, ensuring compliance with various national safety standards centered on IEC60950/IEC62368-1, and adjusting plug shapes and specifications.

What Is Semi-Custom Support?

Semi-custom support for AC/DC Power Adapter used in information technology equipment refers to adapting products to meet required conditions without redesigning circuits or enclosures, based on existing AC/DC Power Adapter designs, by:

Organizing applicable safety standards
Adjusting country-specific specifications (plug shape and rated conditions)
Compiling and submitting reliability data

and other necessary steps to ensure compliance.

UNIFIVE offers a wide lineup already certified to IEC60950, enabling flexible semi-custom support based on these products.

Safety Standard Applicable to Information Technology Equipment (IEC60950)

Information technology equipment is defined as equipment specified under the IEC technical standard IEC60950. In practice, many such devices are found in everyday life.

In Japan, evaluation based on the PSE technical standard J60950 (Appendix 8 and Appendix 12) is required.

Examples of Equipment Covered by IEC60950 (Partial List)

Telephones
Fax machines
Modems
Copiers
Routers
Office equipment
Audio recorders
Personal computers
Public information terminals, etc.

Even if not listed above, some devices may still be classified as information technology equipment depending on the certification body’s judgment, making this a very broadly applicable standard.

IEC60950-Equivalent Standards in Each Country

For overseas markets, CB Scheme member countries require compliance with their own safety standards based on IEC60950.

Region	Technical Standard
International	IEC60950
United States	UL60950
Europe	EN60950

Even in non-CB Scheme member countries, many—including Taiwan and China—have established technical standards very similar to IEC60950.

UNIFIVE has a proven track record of expanding IEC60950-certified Products to equivalent 60950 standards in various countries.

Semi-Custom Case Study 1

Support for AC/DC Power Adapter for Imported Wi-Fi Access Point Products

A customer importing Wi-Fi access points from overseas consulted us with the following concerns:

The bundled AC/DC Power Adapter met overseas standards
The plug shape was not suitable for domestic use
They wanted to use a highly reliable AC/DC Power Adapter compliant with domestic standards

For this project, we conducted evaluations primarily focusing on the following, based on PSE- and IEC60950-certified AC/DC Power Adapter:

Selection of DC plug shape
Submission of reliability data (MTBF, life testing, open/short testing, etc.)

The evaluation was successfully approved, and mass production and shipment were completed without impacting the sales schedule.

Key Points of Semi-Custom Support

In such cases:

No circuit redesign required
Utilization of existing safety certifications
Minimal specification adjustments

This enables short lead times and low costs.

Key Points About the Latest IEC 62368-1

In recent years, safety standards for ICT equipment have shifted from IEC 60950-1 to IEC 62368-1.

Unlike IEC 60950-1 and IEC 60065, IEC 62368-1 is based on the concept of Hazard-Based Safety Engineering (HBSE), which focuses on identifying energy sources (hazards) and incorporating safety measures from the design stage.

This standard is not merely a consolidation but a new framework that advances the methodology of safety evaluation itself. While conventional standards focused on test items for individual devices, IEC 62368-1 emphasizes evaluating the potential hazards (e.g., electric shock, fire) posed by energy sources within a Products and integrating necessary safeguards during the design phase.

What the Transition to IEC 62368-1 Means

IEC 60950-1 / IEC 60065 have been replaced by IEC 62368-1 in many countries since 2020
IEC 62368-1 adopts a hazard-based evaluation model rather than a traditional product-based standard
Obtaining certification under the new standard facilitates more reliable global market entry

For power supply Products such as AC/DC Power Adapter, where electrical, thermal, and fire risks are critical factors, 62368-1 is one of the most relevant safety standards in power supply design.

Relationship Between Semi-Custom Support and IEC 62368-1

In semi-custom support, instead of making major circuit changes, we confirm:

Compliance with required safety standards in each country
Whether the existing design can meet IEC 62368-1 equivalent standards
Whether required test documentation for certification bodies can be prepared

These points are carefully reviewed.

As certification needs under IEC 62368-1 continue to standardize globally, developing an appropriate standards strategy aligned with actual sales regions is essential even in semi-custom projects.