Inission and Innovation: Modified Standard Power Supplies to Simplify Your Design
A modified standard (or semi-custom) power supply is an existing, certified power supply platform adapted electrically, mechanically, or environmentally to meet application-specific requirements, without redesigning the core topology. Modified power supplies can accelerate your system design with lower risk, because many design parameters have already been field proven!
If you haven't heard of Inission yet, you are likely already familiar with their power supply footprint. Inission represents the evolution of an established power supply manufacturer (specifically Enedo Power) with a long history of serving industrial, medical, and lighting markets. While they offer a comprehensive range of standard power supplies, modifying standard platforms to fit unique customer specs is an area where they particularly excel.
Two of Inission's flagship offerings demonstrate this approach:
- DDP Series: Optimized for industrial equipment, laser systems, telecom infrastructure, and indoor/outdoor LED displays.
- MDP Series: Engineered for medical and laboratory environments that require high electrical isolation, low leakage, and quiet operation.
This blog post focuses on Inission's modified standard capabilities and how leveraging these two core product lines can solve complex design challenges without the cost or delay of full custom engineering.
The OEM Dilemma: Application-Specific Requirements vs. COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf)
System designers regularly face application requirements that Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) power supplies cannot meet. These might include unusual DC output voltages, tight mechanical constraints, IP-rated environmental sealing, or unusual agency compliance requirements.
When standard supplies fall short, engineers often consider a full custom power supply. However, custom designs carry substantial risk. Developing a new topology, circuit layout, and PCB from scratch incurs high Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) costs, extended development timelines, zero historical reliability data, and the need to undergo complete safety and EMC qualification testing.
Modified standards (sometimes referred to as semi-custom power supplies) offer a practical middle ground. By modifying a mature platform, you retain proven power topologies and safety foundations while tailoring electrical, mechanical, and environmental interfaces to your exact needs.
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Comparing Power Architecture Options Development risk, approvals, cost, and reliability across three design paths |
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| Metric | Full Custom Design | Modifying Your System for COTS | Inission Power Modified Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development Risk | High: Unproven topology, PCB layout, and unknown thermal characteristics without extensive testing. | Medium to High: Requires redesigning internal system layout, mounting, cooling, or add-on adapter boards. | Low: Proven topology, existing magnetics, and established field history. |
| Safety & EMC Approvals | Lengthy/Expensive: Must repeat full safety and EMC certification from scratch. | Low to Moderate: COTS supply carries approvals, but external system alterations or add-on filtering can trigger system-level re-certification. | Streamlined: Existing IEC 60601-1, IEC 62368-1, and UL 8750 approvals are extended or leveraged to streamline approval. |
| NRE Cost & Schedule | High NRE: Long lead times for power design, prototyping, and qualification testing. | Moderate NRE: Shifts engineering overhead onto system chassis redesign, extra wiring/adapters, and potential thermal re-evaluations. | Low/Moderate NRE: Accelerated time-to-market with minimal power-side development cycles. |
| Reliability Confidence | Unknown: Zero field history at deployment. | Moderate: Standard supply has proven reliability, but system reliability may decrease due to added cabling, adapter boards, or compromised thermal design. | High: Backed by established field reliability and known performance. |
Figure 1: Comparing Power Architecture Options
CLICK HERE to contact us and discuss whether your project would be better served by a modified standard, a COTS solution, or a full custom product. You can also Call us at 1-888-612-9514 to talk directly with a Power Sales Specialist!
The Platform Baseline: Scalability, Efficiency, and Features
The underlying DDP and MDP platforms deliver high power density within compact form factors, giving engineers a solid starting point for modifications:
- Scalable Form Factors: Available in DDP400 (400 W), DDP600 / MDP600 (600 W nominal / 800 W peak), and DDP1200 / MDP1200 (1200 W) models, all packaged in space-saving 1U profiles.
- Thermal Management: Typical efficiency reaches 94%, minimizing internal heat generation. Systems feature intelligent fan speed control for noise-sensitive medical spaces, along with conduction, convection, and fanless configurations. The new DDP1200 UC/PC and MDP1200 UC/PC are free air series offering 750 W through natural convection alone!
- IP Rated Options: The SC series at various power levels offers a sealed chassis with the heat sink designed in for easy integration. The DDP400 SC and DDP600 SC series have been a staple, but the new MDP600 SC now provides a medically certified, IP rated solution.
- Control and Integration: Integrated features include current sharing and N+1 redundancy with internal OR'ing diodes (on selected models). The 1200 W models include DSP control and PMBus integration for real-time telemetry, alongside auxiliary outputs, low standby power options (<0.3 W), remote enable, and Power Good signaling.
Scope of Modifications
Some of the more common ways that Inission adapts its flagship platforms are among the following key parameters. This is by no means an exhaustive list of their capabilities, but simply a list of some common requests.
- Electrical & Output Adjustments: Non-catalog DC output voltages such as 19 V, 40 V, 52 V, 54 V, and 56 V DC.
- Isolation & Compliance: Conversions between IEC Class I and Class II, Pollution Degree 2 to 3 upgrades, and fine-tuning for low leakage currents.
- Environmental & Mechanical Protection: Upgrades from standard IP20 protection up to IP66, IP67, or IP68 potted assemblies, paired with IK08 (impact resistant) ruggedized enclosures.
- Interconnects & Enclosures: Custom I/O connectors, UV-resistant wiring harnesses, modified shielding, and altered chassis geometries.
Want to learn how we would approach your modification? Reach out to TRC through our Contact Us Page (CLICK HERE) or Call us at 1-888-612-9514 to talk to a Power Sales Specialist!
Field-Proven Examples
Below are 5 modified standards which Inission has already successfully deployed. This is just a taste of what they are able to achieve for our clients with non-standard requirements. Some of the newer products in the DDP / MDP series linked above promise to deliver even more magnificent modifications!
- LED Stage Lighting: A standard DDP400 was modified into a smaller 3 x 5 inches footprint, expanding the input range to 305 VAC, lowering leakage current to under 250 µA, increasing available power at higher temperature, and adding UL 8750 approval.
- Outdoor LED Displays & Signage: The DDP400 SC sealed series was adapted to IEC Class II requirements with IP66/67 ratings, an IK08 (impact resistant) chassis, UV-resistant cabling, and enhanced conduction cooling for outdoor environments.
- Wireless Telecom Backhaul: Based on the DDP400 SC platform, this modification provides a dedicated 54 V output, Class B EMC compliance over a 20-meter shielded cable, and full 400 W output at 50 °C ambient.
- Industrial Equipment Derivatives: Modifications of the 600 W platform yielded 480 W external power supplies and high-dynamic response 52 V models featuring low leakage currents.
- High-Power Redundant Applications: Derivatives of the 1200 W platform integrate PMBus telemetry, achieve 1600 W peak output under 100 VAC low-line conditions, feature extra-low leakage configurations, and support custom rack formats designed for redundancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Inission?
Inission is an established power supply manufacturer, formerly known as Enedo Power, with a long history of serving industrial, medical, and lighting markets. They offer standard power platforms alongside modified-standard solutions tailored to specific customer requirements. This approach helps OEMs achieve custom power designs quickly and cost-effectively without full custom development.
What is the main dilemma OEMs face between COTS supplies and full custom designs?
Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) power supplies often fail to meet application-specific needs, such as non-standard DC voltages, tight space constraints, or strict IP ratings. However, designing a full custom power supply introduces high development (NRE) costs, long lead times, zero field reliability history, and expensive regulatory re-testing.
What are the key advantages of choosing a "modified standard" power supply over a custom design?
A modified standard modifies a mature, pre-existing power supply platform to meet exact project specifications. This provides low development risk, lower NRE costs, and high reliability backed by established field performance. It also streamlines safety and EMC certification by leveraging the baseline platform's existing approvals.
Does a modified standard power supply keep its existing UL and IEC certifications?
This depends upon the nature of the modification and what components are being removed, added or changed. If a component is called out specifically in the existing certification, then changing it will likely require some level of additional certification. This process may simply involve adding a new model to the existing certification however, which is much less expensive and much faster than full recertification.
What thermal and physical configurations are available on Inission's baseline platforms?
Inission's platforms offer scalable form factors up to 1200 W in space-saving 1U profiles with efficiency reaching up to 94%. They support fanless, conduction, convection, and intelligent fan-cooled setups, including free-air models capable of 750 W through natural convection alone. Sealed chassis options (SC series) are also available, with the heat sink designed into the chassis for easy IP-rated integration.
TRC and Inission: Simplifying Your Power Design
Navigating power supply modifications requires balancing regulatory rules, thermal limits, and mechanical constraints. TRC Electronics works closely with Inission's engineering teams to bridge the gap between initial concept and final product. By combining TRC's application expertise with Inission's engineering capabilities on platforms like the DDP and MDP series, we help you identify the right baseline and implement targeted modifications quickly and cost-effectively.
Call TRC Electronics at 1-888-612-9514 or contact us online today to discuss your project requirements and see how a modified standard power supply can streamline your development timeline!
Written By: Thomas Denny | Applications Engineering Department | TRC Electronics
References
- Wikipedia, "EN 62262 (IK Standard)," Wikipedia, [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EN_62262
- TRC Electronics, "Inission DDP1200 UC/PC Series Datasheet," TRC Electronics, [Online]. Available: https://files.trcelectronics.com/datasheets/DDP1200-UC-PC.pdf
- TRC Electronics, "Inission MDP1200 UC/PC Series Datasheet," TRC Electronics, [Online]. Available: https://files.trcelectronics.com/datasheets/MDP1200-UC-PC.pdf
- TRC Electronics, "Inission DDP400 SC Series Datasheet," TRC Electronics, [Online]. Available: https://files.trcelectronics.com/datasheets/DDP400-SC.PDF
- TRC Electronics, "Inission DDP600 Series Datasheet," TRC Electronics, [Online]. Available: https://files.trcelectronics.com/datasheets/ddp600.pdf
Last Updated: October 19, 2026