Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EV2790-0002-FP-00A

Overview

EV2790-0002-FP-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is an end-of-life evaluation board designed to demonstrate the MP2790DFP-0002, a 7–10-cell battery monitor and protector IC with SPI interface, integrated high-side MOSFET drivers, 4× NTC thermistor inputs, and internal 58mA passive cell balancing. It supports up to 70A continuous charge/discharge current and operates across 18V–55V battery pack voltages.

For engineers reviewing the EV2790-0002-FP-00A datasheet, EV2790-0002-FP-00A pinout, EV2790-0002-FP-00A application, or EV2790-0002-FP-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of MP2790-based BMS designs for high-accuracy coulomb counting, configurable over-voltage/under-voltage protection, soft-start discharge control, and real-time cell voltage/current/temperature monitoring using MPS GUI software and USB-to-SPI interface.

Technical Context

The EV2790-0002-FP-00A implements the MP2790DFP-0002 IC in TQFP-48 package, configured for SPI communication (slave address 01h, configurable 00h–7Fh), and integrates power MOSFETs, a precision current-sense resistor, and NTC bias circuitry. It supports hardware ADC scanning at configurable rates (135ms/254ms active, 254ms/492ms/968ms standby) and includes dedicated registers for open-wire detection, watchdog bark/bite timeouts, and SC removal sequencing.

Board-level functionality includes GPIOHV1- and GPIO2-controllable bypass P-channel MOSFET for low-power PACK supply, configurable DSCHG soft-start slope (0.1–1.6V/ms), CHG/DSCHG gate drive voltage (7–12V), and coulomb counter integration length (32–2048ms). All protections-OC, SC, OVP, UVP, thermal-are user-configurable via GUI register writes.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV2790-0002-FP-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for battery management system development, lithium-ion pack qualification, and BMS firmware validation requiring stable component supply during design-in and pre-production phases.

Supply support for EV2790-0002-FP-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 power management ICs, with expertise in DC/DC converters, battery monitors, motor drivers, and LED drivers for industrial, automotive, and computing applications.

The MP2790 product line delivers highly integrated analog front-ends for multi-cell lithium-based battery packs, targeting applications demanding ±1mV cell voltage accuracy, coulomb counting, and comprehensive fault protection with minimal external components.

FAQ

What communication protocol does EV2790-0002-FP-00A support?

This board implements the MP2790DFP-0002 IC variant, which supports only SPI communication - not I²C. It requires the EVKT-USBSPI-00 interface and connects via JC1 header pins NCS, SCK, SDO, and SDI. The default slave address is 01h and is configurable between 00h and 7Fh through the MPS GUI software.

Is EV2790-0002-FP-00A still in production?

No - the EV2790-0000/0002-FP-00A series is officially End-of-Life (EOL) per Monolithic Power Systems documentation. Customers are directed to migrate to the replacement part EV2790-0000-FP-00B. Aetrix Electronics maintains limited legacy stock for design continuity and qualification support.

Can this board evaluate open-wire detection and cell balancing functions?

Open-wire detection and active cell balancing require connection to a real battery pack with physical cell terminals. These functions cannot be validated using a cell simulator shunt or DC power supply alone. The board's CN7 jumper must be removed and SW1/SW2 turned off, and CELLS1 must be wired to actual cell sensing points for full functional verification.

What software and hardware are required to operate the board?

Required items include: a Windows 7+ PC with USB port, MPS MP2790 GUI software (downloadable from mps.com), EVKT-USBSPI-00 USB-to-SPI interface, and either a 18–55V battery pack or a programmable DC supply capable of simulating pack voltage. No additional drivers or SDKs are needed beyond the GUI installer.

How is the bypass P-channel MOSFET controlled?

The board includes a dedicated bypass P-channel MOSFET powered from VPACK and controlled by either GPIO2 (digital output) or GPIOHV1 (high-voltage output). Pulling GPIO2 high or GPIOHV1 low activates the MOSFET. When VPACK > (VTOP − 2V), it delivers ~1A; below that threshold, it supplies ~25mA - enabling low-power PACK wake-up without main discharge path activation.

Does the board support both charge and discharge protection?

Yes - it provides independent, configurable protection for charge and discharge paths, including over-current (OC), short-circuit (SC), over-voltage (OVP), under-voltage (UVP), and thermal faults. DSCHG features soft-start and SC removal detection; CHG includes OC limit and deglitch settings. All thresholds and recovery modes are adjustable via GUI register configuration.