Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EV26029-Q-00A

Overview

EV26029-Q-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation board for the MP26029GQ single-cell Li-ion/Li-polymer linear battery charger IC, supporting 30–1000 mA programmable charge current, 4.2 V ±0.5% CV regulation, and thermal limiting. It accepts 4.35–5.50 V input from USB or AC adapter and integrates autonomous pre-charge, CC/CV charging, termination, and auto-recharge for handheld power management.

For engineers reviewing the EV26029-Q-00A datasheet, EV26029-Q-00A pinout, EV26029-Q-00A application, or EV26029-Q-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of MP26029GQ-based charging circuits, including ISET configuration, STAT signal behavior, NTC temperature monitoring, and thermal regulation under real load conditions.

Technical Context

The EV26029-Q-00A implements a fully autonomous linear charging architecture centered on the MP26029GQ QFN10 (3×3 mm) IC, with integrated power switches eliminating external blocking diodes. Input voltage is conditioned via USB Micro-B connector (U4) and filtered by 4.7 µF/10 µF X6S/X7R ceramic capacitors (C1, C4, C5).

Charge current is set via four jumper-selectable resistor networks (JP1–JP4), enabling discrete ICC values of 32 mA, 114 mA, 484 mA, and 1006 mA. The STAT pin provides open-drain status signaling (LOW = charging, HIGH = complete, 1 Hz blink = fault/suspend), while NTC terminals support thermistor-based battery temperature monitoring per JEITA standards.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV26029-Q-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for battery-powered portable electronics development, USB-powered IoT node validation, and Li-ion charging circuit qualification requiring stable component supply and traceable reference design assets.

Supply support for EV26029-Q-00A includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in high-performance analog and power ICs, with core expertise in DC/DC conversion, battery management, and motor control solutions.

The MP26029 product line delivers highly-integrated, thermally robust linear chargers for space-constrained single-cell applications-designed to simplify USB-native charging in wearables, Bluetooth accessories, and smart sensors without external MOSFETs or diodes.

FAQ

What battery chemistries does the EV26029-Q-00A support?

The board is configured for single-cell Li-ion and Li-polymer batteries with a fixed 4.2 V constant-voltage setpoint and ±0.5% accuracy. It supports JEITA-compliant thermal regulation when a 10 kΩ NTC thermistor is connected to JP3, but does not support LiFePO₄ or multi-cell configurations without hardware modification.

How is charge current selected on this evaluation board?

Charge current is set using four 0603 resistors (R2–R5) and jumpers JP1–JP4. Each jumper position selects a specific resistor network, yielding discrete ICC values: 32 mA (JP4 only), 114 mA (JP3), 484 mA (JP2), or 1006 mA (JP1). No soldering or external programming is required.

Does the board include protection against overvoltage or reverse polarity?

The EV26029-Q-00A relies on the MP26029GQ's internal 13 V absolute maximum input rating and built-in safety timer, but has no dedicated input overvoltage clamp or reverse-polarity protection circuitry. Users must ensure input sources stay within 4.35–5.50 V and observe correct VIN/GND polarity during connection.

Can the STAT pin be used directly with a microcontroller GPIO?

Yes - the STAT pin is an open-drain output referenced to GND, compatible with 1.8 V to 5 V logic-level microcontrollers. Pull-up is provided onboard via R1 (2 kΩ to VIN), but can be reconfigured by removing R1 and adding an external pull-up to the desired logic rail.

Is the MP26029GQ IC populated on the board?

Yes - U2 is the MP26029GQ in QFN10 (3×3 mm) package, fully assembled and tested. U1 (MP26029GTF in SOT563) is listed as "NC" in the BOM and not mounted; only U2 is functional and active in the reference design.

What is the purpose of the NC capacitors (C2, C3, C6) on the board?

C2, C3, and C6 are unpopulated 0805/1206 footprints reserved for optional input/output filtering or EMI mitigation. They are marked "NC" in the BOM and left uninstalled by default - users may add them based on specific noise or stability requirements in their target application.