Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVCS1802-S-40-00A

Overview

EVCS1802-S-40-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation board for the MCS180XGS-40 linear Hall-effect current sensor, supporting ±40 A primary current sensing with 3.3 V supply, 33 mV/A typical sensitivity, 100 kHz bandwidth, and galvanic isolation between primary conductor (IP+/IP−) and signal pins (VOUT, VCC, GND).

For engineers reviewing the EVCS1802-S-40-00A datasheet, EVCS1802-S-40-00A pinout, EVCS1802-S-40-00A application, or EVCS1802-S-40-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of DC/AC current measurement accuracy, magnetic field immunity, output linearity, and isolation performance in motor control, power supply, and over-current protection circuits.

Technical Context

The EVCS1802-S-40-00A implements a differential Hall array to reject external magnetic interference while measuring bidirectional current through its integrated 0.9 mΩ primary conductor. It interfaces directly with the MCS180XGS-40 IC in SOIC-8 package, which outputs a ratiometric analog voltage centered at 0.5 × VCC (1.65 V at 3.3 V).

Board-level design includes configurable bandwidth via C4 capacitor (default unpopulated), dual screw terminals (Keystone 8191K-ND) for IP+/IP−, and decoupling capacitors (C1: 0.1 µF, C2: 4.7 µF) to stabilize VCC under dynamic load conditions.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVCS1802-S-40-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for motor control validation, switch-mode power supply current monitoring, over-current fault detection, and automotive subsystem prototyping requiring stable component supply and traceable evaluation hardware.

Supply support for EVCS1802-S-40-00A 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, including DC/DC converters, LED drivers, and precision analog sensors.

The EVCS1802-S-40-00A belongs to MPS's current sensor evaluation platform family, designed to accelerate development of isolated, high-bandwidth current measurement solutions for industrial and automotive applications where optocoupler replacement and magnetic noise immunity are critical.

FAQ

What is the primary current path configuration on the EVCS1802-S-40-00A?

The board uses a dedicated low-resistance copper path between IP+ and IP− screw terminals (Keystone 8191K-ND), forming a single-turn primary conductor with 0.9 mΩ resistance and ±40 A rating. This path is galvanically isolated from the sensor IC's signal pins, enabling safe high-side or floating current measurement without ground loop issues.

Can the EVCS1802-S-40-00A operate with 5 V supply?

No. The EVCS1802-S-40-00A is configured for 3.3 V operation only, matching the MCS1802-series sensor IC specification. Applying 5 V may damage the onboard MCS180XGS-40 IC, as its absolute maximum VCC is 3.6 V. For 5 V systems, use EVCS1801-S-40-00A or EVCS1803-S-40-00A variants.

How is magnetic field immunity achieved on this evaluation board?

Magnetic immunity is implemented via the differential Hall array inside the MCS180XGS-40 IC, which cancels uniform external fields. The board layout reinforces this by symmetrically routing IP+ and IP− traces and placing the sensor die centrally above the conductor plane-verified by MPS test data showing < 0.5% error under 100 Oe stray field exposure.

What determines the bandwidth of the measured output signal?

Bandwidth is set by the external capacitor C4 (unpopulated by default). With C4 = 0, bandwidth reaches 100 kHz. Adding capacitance (e.g., 1 nF) reduces bandwidth to ~10 kHz per MPS design equations. C4 placement is adjacent to the FILT pin on U1, allowing user-defined low-pass filtering for noise-sensitive applications.

Is galvanic isolation rated for high-voltage applications?

Yes-the isolation barrier between IP+/IP− and all signal pins (VOUT, VCC, GND) meets 2500 V_RMS withstand per UL 1577, validated by MPS through production testing. This enables safe use in 400 V DC bus monitoring (e.g., EV traction inverters) when proper creepage/clearance PCB practices are followed.

Does the board include calibration or trimming components?

No. The EVCS1802-S-40-00A provides direct access to the raw analog output (VOUT) of the MCS180XGS-40 IC without gain/offset adjustment circuitry. Calibration must be performed externally using the known sensitivity (33 mV/A) and quiescent offset (1.65 V at 3.3 V), as specified in the MCS180XGS-40 datasheet.