Abstract: An electronic system has a powerable device (e.g., one or more storage processors), a power supply assembly adapted to provide power from an external power source to the powerable device, and a data communications cable interconnected between the powerable device and the power supply assembly. The power supply assembly is further adapted to simulate backup power supply responses to the powerable device through the data communications cable in response to backup power supply communications from the powerable device through the data communications cable to imitate correct operation of a backup power supply in-line between the external power source and the power supply assembly. In the absence of such a backup power supply, the simulated backup power supply responses alleviate the need to modify the powerable device from a design that works with an actual backup power supply in-line between an external power source and a power supply assembly.