Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EV2796-0000-FP-00A

Overview

EV2796-0000-FP-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is a 16-cell I²C-based evaluation board for the MP2796 analog front-end IC, designed to validate high-accuracy battery monitoring and protection in 7–16 series-cell lithium-ion packs. It integrates power MOSFETs, a 70A current-sense resistor, four NTC thermistor inputs, and internal 58mA passive cell balancing - supporting real-time voltage, current, temperature, and state-of-health measurement with configurable OVP/UVP/SCP/OCP/thermal protections.

For engineers reviewing the EV2796-0000-FP-00A datasheet, EV2796-0000-FP-00A pinout, EV2796-0000-FP-00A application, or EV2796-0000-FP-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of MP2796 configuration, fault response timing, cell balancing behavior, open-wire detection, and SPI/I²C register-level control using the official MP2796 GUI software under real-world pack voltage (18–75.2V) and thermal conditions.

Technical Context

The EV2796-0000-FP-00A implements the MP2796DFP-0000 variant, which uses an I²C interface (default slave address 01h, configurable 00h–7Fh) and supports up to 16-series cells with ±1.5mV cell voltage accuracy and ±0.5% current measurement accuracy. Its hardware includes high-side charge/discharge MOSFETs with soft-start control, integrated 4-channel NTC biasing circuitry, and dedicated connectors (JC1, CELLS1, CN7, SW1/SW2) for communication, cell simulation, and safe-mode P-FET bypass operation.

It operates across –40°C to +85°C ambient, delivers up to 70A continuous charge/discharge current, and provides full register access for configuring protection thresholds (e.g., OV: 0–4980.15mV, UV: 0–4980.15mV, SC DSCHG limit: 5.5–528mV), ADC scan rates (135ms/254ms active/standby), and watchdog bark/bite timeouts (25–3200ms).

Key Specifications

Availability

EV2796-0000-FP-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for battery management system (BMS) development, EV traction pack prototyping, energy storage system (ESS) validation, and industrial UPS design requiring stable component supply and full-stack firmware/hardware co-verification.

Supply support for EV2796-0000-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 battery AFEs, DC/DC converters, and motor drivers for automotive, industrial, and computing applications.

The MP2796 product line targets high-accuracy, multi-cell battery monitoring and protection systems - designed specifically for demanding applications like electric mobility, grid-scale storage, and mission-critical portable equipment where precision cell voltage tracking and robust fault handling are essential.

FAQ

What communication interface does EV2796-0000-FP-00A support?

This board supports I²C only, as indicated by its part number suffix "-0000" and use of SCL/SDA pins on JC1. It requires the EVKT-USBI2C-02 USB-to-I²C communication kit and the official MP2796 Windows GUI software for configuration and real-time monitoring.

Can EV2796-0000-FP-00A evaluate both charge and discharge protection functions?

Yes - it integrates bidirectional high-side MOSFETs with configurable soft-start, over-current protection (OCP), short-circuit protection (SCP), and independent CHG/DSG current limits. The GUI allows separate setting of OC1/OC2 thresholds and deglitch times for charge and discharge paths, enabling full functional validation of safety-critical BMS logic.

How is cell count configured on this evaluation board?

Cell count is set via two methods: hardware jumpering (e.g., shorting C1–C10 with 0Ω resistors for 10-cell mode) and software register configuration ("Number of Series Cells" in GUI, range 7–16). The board defaults to 16-cell operation, and mismatched hardware/software settings will trigger open-wire detection errors during initialization.

Does EV2796-0000-FP-00A include temperature sensing capability?

Yes - it provides four dedicated NTC thermistor inputs (NTC1–NTC4), each with programmable pull-down, dynamic NTCB biasing, and independent hot/cold threshold configuration. The GUI supports real-time NTC voltage readback, latched status reporting, and hysteresis-adjusted trip points for both cell and PCB temperature monitoring.

Is external balancing supported, and how is it implemented?

Yes - the board includes footprint placeholders (Q1–Q4) and routing for external balancing transistors. When installed, these replace or augment the internal 58mA balancing MOSFETs, enabling higher balancing currents. Configuration is done via GUI under "Cell-Balancing Configurations", selecting "External Transistor" mode and adjusting drive parameters accordingly.

What is the role of the CN7 jumper and SW1/SW2 switches?

CN7 enables/disables the cell simulator shunt for rapid bench testing without a real battery pack. SW1 and SW2 control simulated cell presence: when ON, they activate corresponding cell channels (e.g., SW1+SW2 ON enables first two cells). These must be turned OFF and CN7 removed before connecting an actual battery pack to prevent damage or false open-wire faults.