Examples of AC/DC Power Adapters for Information Technology Equipment — Desktop & Wall-Mount

We introduce product development examples of AC/DC power adapters for information technology equipment — desktop & wall-mount types. At Unifive, we offer a very wide lineup that is IEC60950 certified. In addition, we have also obtained safety standards based on the 60950 regulations of various countries around the world.

Information technology equipment is defined as “equipment specified in the technical standard IEC60950 as set by the IEC.” In fact, many information technology devices surround us in our daily lives.

Applicable Standards for Information Technology Equipment

Since the range of applicable equipment is broad, below are some extracted examples. According to the J60950 technical standard of Japan’s PSE, which is based on IEC standards, the following devices are applicable:

Telephone devices
FAX
Modem
Copier
Router
Office equipment
Recording device
PC
Public information terminals, etc.

As seen above, even with just a few examples, a wide variety of devices are listed. In addition, depending on the certification body’s assessment, devices that are not explicitly mentioned may also be considered as IT equipment, making the standards broadly applicable. For AC/DC Power Adapters — Desktop & Wall-Mount used with these devices in Japan, they must comply with J60950 technical standards of PSE’s Annex 8 or Annex 12.

For the overseas market, in countries that are members of the CB Scheme, which follows IEC technical standards, it is required to comply with IEC60950 as well as equivalent safety regulations specific to each country.

Below is an extract of technical regulations for each country, clearly showing that IEC60950 is commonly adopted globally.

Example Comparison of Required “Technical Standards” When Selling IT Equipment in the United States and Europe

IEC Standard	IEC60950
UL Standard	UL60950
CE Standard	EN60950

Even in countries not participating in the CB Scheme, such as Taiwan and China, many have adopted technical standards that are closely aligned with IEC60950. At Unifive, we offer a wide range of IEC60950-certified products for such IT equipment. While availability varies by series, the certified IEC60950 is leveraged to obtain equivalent country-specific safety standards for 60950, allowing you to find suitable AC/DC Power Adapters — Desktop & Wall-Mount that meet your needs. Please feel free to contact us or refer to our catalog.

Examples of IT Equipment

Case Study: Support for Customers Importing Wi-Fi Access Points

Previously, we received an inquiry from a customer importing Wi-Fi access points from overseas. Since the included AC/DC Power Adapters — Desktop & Wall-Mount were based on foreign specifications and had different plug shapes, they requested a reliable equivalent adapter complying with similar standards.

In selecting the appropriate product, we proposed AC/DC Power Adapters — Desktop & Wall-Mount compliant with both PSE and IEC60950, and confirmed the following points:

Preferred type of DC plug
Submission of reliability data: MTBF, lifespan documents, open/short tests, etc.

The evaluation received approval, and mass production units were successfully delivered by the sales deadline, meeting the shipping schedule.

Case Study: Custom Power Supply Development for Routers for a Japanese Carrier

We previously received a custom development request from a domestic client supplying AC/DC Power Adapters — Desktop & Wall-Mount for a major Japanese telecom carrier. Although for domestic use, the product required compliance with IEC60950 for reliability as well as the telecom company’s and client’s own standards. We provided custom support to fulfill both requirements.

As mentioned in Case Study 1, we handle inquiries regarding power supply in such cases and confirm initial requirements related to usage. Our experienced power supply consultants at Unifive proactively conduct hearings from the initial stages and propose satisfying solutions.

Some demands included strict requirements on heat generation and conducted noise specifications, which we carefully discussed and adjusted with the customer. Development was successfully completed, and mass production was delivered on the scheduled date. For this device, the customer bore the cost of obtaining PSE and IEC60950 certifications, circuit development, jig creation, and other costs related to customization and safety standard certification. However, we believe such detailed support contributes to higher customer satisfaction.

Case Study: Development of AC/DC Power Adapters — Desktop & Wall-Mount for Gateway Equipment

Previously, a wireless device manufacturer contacted us regarding an IoM gateway (IoM is a registered trademark of IDY Corporation).

Most commonly available AC/DC Power Adapters — Desktop & Wall-Mount guarantee an operating temperature range of 0–40°C. However, this did not meet the customer’s requirement of -20–60°C, causing concerns.

Upon hearing the customer's reasons, we identified the following three points behind the extended temperature requirement:

Once installed, the device remains in place for long periods.
Installation in harsh environments like attics, sunlit areas, or near cold windows may exceed expected temperature ranges, so a comfortable design margin is desired.
Gateway devices may be installed in trains, homes, factories, shopping malls, etc., where failure can cause serious inconvenience to users.

Therefore, we proposed using an AC/DC Power Adapters — Desktop & Wall-Mount with slightly higher ratings than actual use conditions, modified to ensure operation from -20°C to 60°C under actual load. The customer adopted the proposal as is.

Their product is now reportedly used in Wi-Fi services on high-speed trains commonly used during business trips and travel.

This project also triggered the launch of our wide-temperature-range SU series.