Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EV2659-Q-03A

Overview

EV2659-Q-03A from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation board for the MP2659 switching battery charger IC, designed to validate 3-cell to 6-cell series Li-ion/Li-polymer and LiFePO₄ battery charging under up to 36V input, with adjustable charge current up to 3A, cell count selection (3–6), and per-cell regulation voltage options (3.6V, 4.2V, 4.35V, 4.15V) in industrial medical equipment, power tools, robotics, and wireless speakers.

For engineers reviewing the EV2659-Q-03A datasheet, EV2659-Q-03A pinout, EV2659-Q-03A application, or EV2659-Q-03A equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of MP2659-based charger designs-including dead-battery recovery, thermal monitoring via NTC, safety timer, OVP, and input current limiting-under real-world VIN (15–36V), BATT (10.8–26.1V), and efficiency (up to 98%) conditions.

Technical Context

The EV2659-Q-03A implements the MP2659 QFN-19 (3mm×3mm) charger IC in a fully assembled, test-ready layout supporting three-phase charging (pre-charge, constant-current, constant-voltage) with configurable jumpers for cell count (JP3/JP4), regulation voltage (JP1/JP2), charge current (JP6), input current limit (JP5), and minimum input voltage (JP7–JP9).

It integrates critical support components including a 10μH/4A shielded inductor (Wurth 744066100), input/output bulk capacitors (100μF electrolytic, 10μF ceramic), PMID Schottky diode (B140), NTC biasing resistors (RNTC1/RNTC2), status LEDs (ACOK red, STAT green), and test points for VIN, BATT, SW, PMID, and ground-enabling direct measurement of switching node waveforms, thermal behavior, and regulation accuracy (±0.5%).

Key Specifications

Availability

EV2659-Q-03A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial medical equipment, power tools, and robotic vacuum cleaner development requiring stable component supply, pre-validated reference design access, and fast-turn evaluation of high-voltage battery charging topologies.

Supply support for EV2659-Q-03A 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 power management ICs, with over two decades of innovation in DC/DC converters, battery chargers, LED drivers, and motor drivers.

The MP2659 product line delivers highly integrated, thermally robust switching chargers for multi-cell portable and industrial battery systems, targeting applications demanding wide-input voltage range (up to 36 V), precise voltage regulation, and comprehensive safety protection.

FAQ

What battery chemistries does the EV2659-Q-03A support?

The board supports Li-ion (4.2 V/cell), Li-polymer (4.35 V/cell), LiFePO₄ (3.6 V/cell), and custom 4.15 V/cell configurations via jumper-selectable regulation voltage (JP1/JP2). It accommodates 3–6 cells in series, enabling validation across portable power tool, medical device, and robotics battery packs with varying voltage and capacity requirements.

How is dead battery recovery implemented on this board?

The EV2659-Q-03A enables MP2659's dead-battery recovery mode when cell voltage drops below 1.5 V. The IC regulates input current to ~60 mA for 20 ms, then suspends charging for 1.4 s-repeating until battery voltage rises above the pre-charge threshold. This prevents damage during deep discharge recovery and is active without firmware intervention.

What input capacitance is required for 30 V operation?

For 30 V input operation, the board requires a ≥47 μF/50 V electrolytic capacitor between VIN and GND (per Table 2). The default C9 (100 μF/50 V Rubycon) satisfies this requirement. A TVS diode is also mandatory to clamp transient spikes exceeding 45 V during hot-insertion testing.

Can the EV2659-Q-03A be used for 350 kHz switching frequency evaluation?

No-the onboard inductor (Wurth 744066100, 10 μH) is rated only for fSW = 680 kHz or charge current < 2.2 A. For 350 kHz operation or >2.2 A current, an external inductor with higher inductance and saturation current must be substituted, as specified in the MP2659 datasheet Section 8.2.

Which signals are accessible via test points on the board?

Test points include TP1/VIN (input voltage), TP3/BATT (battery voltage), TP6/SW (switching node), TP8/PMID (power monitor output), plus dedicated points for VDPM, VCC, NTC, ACOK, and STAT. Ground is accessible at TP2 and TP9–TP12, enabling oscilloscope probing of regulation dynamics, thermal response, and fault signaling without soldering.

Does the board include thermal protection circuitry?

Yes-the MP2659 IC on the board provides integrated thermal shutdown, and the evaluation board includes RNTC1 and RNTC2 for NTC thermistor biasing to monitor battery temperature. The MP2659 uses this signal to suspend charging if temperature exceeds programmed thresholds, satisfying IEC 62133 and UL 2054 safety requirements.