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Molex VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supply.

VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supplies

Rugged, reliable and compact, the VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supply from Molex is a conduction-cooled, DC-to-DC power supply designed for defense, aerospace and harsh-environment embedded systems. The power supply delivers up to 1,000W of ultra-clean power with over 95% efficiency, simplifying thermal management in high-power applications. The SOSA-aligned, OpenVPX-compatible and VITA 62-compliant VPS-301 discrete design streamlines system integration and accelerates deployment when compared with lower-output alternatives.

Standards Compliance Output Power Input Voltage Efficiency Rating
VITA 62, OpenVPX, SOSA, MIL-STD-1275 Up to 1,000W 20 to 33V DC (MIL-STD-1275 compliant) Over 95%

Features and Benefits


Designers of embedded systems for defense, aerospace and industrial applications face conflicting demands for higher power in ever more compact, lightweight form factors. These power supplies must meet stringent EMI, shock, vibration and environmental standards to ensure superior reliability. There is also an increased utilization of OpenVPX- and SOSA-aligned standards to streamline system integration and ensure adaptability and interoperability.

With rugged, high-efficiency VPX 3U power supplies, designers can incorporate high power density into a module optimized for size, weight and power (SWaP). The use of VPX-standard discrete power supplies helps accelerate system integration, reduce redesign cycles and ensure reliable system operation by delivering ultra-clean power and native EMI performance. Incorporating advanced monitoring features, redundancy support and ruggedized construction improves mission readiness and system reliability, reducing field failures and the total cost of ownership.

VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supplies from Molex deliver a maximum of 1,000W output in a compact, conduction-cooled form factor with over 95% efficiency. The low-noise design simplifies system design for sensitive electronics by incorporating robust EMI filtering that reduces or eliminates the need for external filters. VPS-301 power supplies are SOSA aligned, OpenVPX- and VITA 62-compliant, with dual-redundant integrated power management center (IPMC), health monitoring and support for parallel and N+1 operation, ensuring reliable system availability for mission-critical applications.

1,000W Output with Over 95% Efficiency

Space- and weight-constrained platforms must maximize power output and efficiency in a compact form factor. VPS-301 discrete power supplies deliver 1,000W (max.) with over 95% efficiency, supporting high compute demands and addressing stringent SWaP (size, weight and power) constraints by delivering the efficiency and power architecture advantages of Molex 6U modules in a smaller footprint.

Molex VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supply Connector Edge.

Native Low-Noise Design for Superior EMI Performance

Supporting reliable operation of sensitive electronics demands clean power and robust EMI mitigation. VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supplies provide ultra-clean output with typical ripple/noise below 20mV. Native filtering performance meets MIL-STD-461 EMI standards without requiring external filter boxes for many applications, simplifying system integration and design, improving reliability and reducing bill-of-materials cost.

Molex VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supply Connector Angle.

SOSA Aligned and VITA 62 Compliant

Optimizing design, integration and future upgrades for defense and aerospace programs that require the use of modern open-system architectures, VPS-301 power supplies comply with VITA 62 and OpenVPX requirements and are aligned with SOSA technical standards. The dual-redundant IPMC and support for parallel operation and N+1 redundancy improve system reliability, enable advanced monitoring, reduce program risk and streamline long-term platform scalability.

Apache helicopter in flight.

Reduces failure rates for mission-critical applications in harsh environments
Designed to withstand shock, vibration, humidity and extreme temperatures, these discrete power supplies enhance reliability for defense, aerospace and rugged embedded systems.

Supports sealed and high-reliability systems
The conduction-cooled design and high thermal efficiency enable deployment in systems where traditional airflow cooling is impractical.

Simplifies system design and reduces integration complexity
Native performance, meeting MIL-STD-461 EMI requirements, reduces or eliminates the need for external filter boxes.

Accelerates integration into modern open-system platforms
The interoperable 3U VPX design aligns with SOSA, OpenVPX and VITA 62 requirements, accelerating design work, enhancing scalability and reducing program risks.

Improves system monitoring and operational visibility
Advanced dual-redundant IPMC functionality enables advanced system health monitoring and management capabilities.

Enhances system availability in mission-critical applications
Support for parallel operation and N+1 redundancy, with customizable and programmable current regulation and protection, helps improve reliability.

Documents and Resources


Applications by Industry


Commercial aircraft
Helicopters

Engineering and recovery vehicles
Fighter jets
Light tactical vehicles
Military ground vehicles 
Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles
Naval ships 
Tracked combat vehicles
Unmanned aerial vehicles

This is not a definitive list of applications for this product. It represents some of the more common uses.

Frequently Asked Questions


What is the VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supply?

The VPS-301 power supply is a rugged, conduction-cooled 3U VPX DC-to-DC unit that delivers a maximum of 1,000W of output power with over 95% efficiency. The design is ideal for defense, aerospace and rugged embedded-system applications and is aligned with SOSA, OpenVPX and VITA 62 standards.

How much power can the VPS-301 power supply deliver in a 3U VPX form factor?

The VPS-301 power supply delivers up to 1,000W of output power in a compact 3U VPX form factor, providing power density typically associated with larger 6U solutions. This capability allows engineers to support high compute and processing requirements without increasing system size or weight.

Why is high efficiency important in a 3U VPX power supply?

High efficiency in a VPX power supply helps reduce heat generation and simplifies thermal management in conduction-cooled systems. The VPS-301 power supply achieves over 95% efficiency, helping engineers maximize available power while minimizing thermal challenges in sealed and rugged environments.

How do VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supplies help reduce EMI challenges in defense electronics?

The VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supply uses a custom, discrete power design that delivers ultra-clean power with typical ripple and noise below 20mV. The design's native performance meets MIL-STD-461 EMI requirements and reduces or eliminates the need for external filter boxes in many applications, helping simplify system integration and compliance efforts.

Is the VPS-301 power supply compliant with SOSA, OpenVPX and VITA 62 standards?

Yes, the VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supply is compliant with VITA 62 and OpenVPX requirements and is aligned with the SOSA Technical Standard, helping accelerate integration into modern open-system defense and aerospace architectures.

What environmental conditions can the VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supply withstand?

The VPS-301 power supply is designed for harsh environments and supports MIL-SPEC shock, vibration and humidity requirements. It operates from -40 to +85°C and is built for rugged defense, aerospace and embedded-system computing applications.

Does the VPS-301 power supply support system monitoring and health management?

Yes, the VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supply includes dual-redundant IPMC functionality and VITA 46.11 system management support, enabling advanced monitoring, health reporting and system management capabilities, improving operational visibility and reliability.

Can VPS-301 3U VPX Power Supplies be used in high-availability VPX architectures?

Yes, the VPS-301 module supports parallel operation and N+1 redundancy architectures, helping engineers improve system availability and mission readiness in crucial defense and aerospace applications.