Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A

Overview

EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is a 3kVRMS galvanically isolated evaluation board for the MCS1806GS-5-10 current sensor IC, supporting ±10A primary current sensing at 5V supply, delivering 200mV/A typical sensitivity, <2.5% total accuracy from 10% to full scale, and differential Hall array architecture that rejects stray magnetic fields-used for validating isolated current measurement in motor control inverters.

For engineers reviewing the EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A datasheet, EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A pinout, EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A application, or EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid functional validation of the MCS1806GS-5-10 sensor's linearity, isolation integrity, bandwidth tuning via C4, and output voltage response (VOUT = 2.5V + 200mV/A × IP) under real-world DC/AC current injection.

Technical Context

The EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A implements a two-layer PCB layout with physical separation between high-side primary conductor path (IP+, IP− screw terminals) and low-voltage sensor interface (VCC, GND, VOUT, FILT), achieving reinforced 3kVRMS isolation per UL 1577. The board integrates the SOIC-8 packaged MCS1806GS-5-10 IC, which uses a differential Hall element and on-chip signal conditioning to generate ratiometric analog output referenced to VCC.

Bandwidth is adjustable via external capacitor C4 (not populated by default); lower capacitance yields higher bandwidth but increased ripple noise, while higher capacitance reduces noise at the expense of transient response-enabling trade-off tuning for servo drives versus energy metering applications.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for motor drive commissioning, industrial power supply monitoring, and battery management system (BMS) current calibration requiring stable component supply and traceable evaluation hardware.

Supply support for EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A 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 core expertise in DC/DC converters, LED drivers, and precision analog sensors.

This evaluation board supports the MCS1806GS series-MPS's family of isolated Hall-effect current sensors designed for accurate, cost-effective replacement of optocoupler-based or transformer-based isolation in AC/DC power conversion, motor control, and renewable energy systems.

FAQ

What is the purpose of the FILT pin on the EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A?

The FILT pin connects to an external capacitor (C4) that sets the sensor's bandwidth and output noise filtering. With C4 unpopulated, bandwidth is maximized (~100kHz); adding 1nF–100nF reduces bandwidth proportionally to suppress high-frequency ripple-critical for stable readings in noisy inverter environments.

Can the EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A measure AC current?

Yes-it measures both DC and AC currents up to ±10A peak. The MCS1806GS-5-10 IC outputs a ratiometric analog voltage centered at VCC/2 (2.5V at 5V supply), swinging ±2.0V for ±10A, enabling true bipolar AC waveform capture when sampled by a compatible ADC with sufficient resolution and sampling rate.

What are the primary conductor connection options?

The board provides dual 4-pin screw terminals labeled IP+ and IP−, accepting wire gauges from 18 AWG to 12 AWG. These terminals connect directly to the primary current path, forming the isolated high-side conductor loop that passes through the integrated Hall sensor's magnetic core-no soldering or PCB trace routing required for primary-side integration.

Does the board include the current sensor IC?

Yes-the EVCS1806-S-5-10-00A includes one pre-mounted MCS1806GS-5-10 IC in SOIC-8 package (U1), fully assembled and tested. No additional sensor IC purchase is needed to begin evaluation; only external 5V supply and current source are required for operation.

How is isolation verified on this evaluation board?

Isolation is implemented via physical PCB layout: primary conductor traces are routed on inner layers with ≥8mm creepage and clearance, separated from low-voltage sensor pins by a reinforced dielectric barrier. The 3kVRMS rating is certified per UL 1577 and validated during MPS production testing-not user-verifiable without HV test equipment.

What is the role of C3 and C4 in the schematic?

C3 is a no-connect (NC) placeholder for optional secondary filtering; C4 is the active bandwidth-setting capacitor tied to the FILT pin. C4 value directly controls sensor bandwidth-e.g., 10nF yields ~10kHz bandwidth-allowing users to optimize dynamic response versus noise rejection based on target application requirements like PMSM FOC or grid-tie inverter feedback.