Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A

Overview

EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is a 3kVRMS isolated Hall-effect current sensor evaluation board built around the MCS1806GS-5-20 current sensor IC, supporting ±20 A primary current range at 5 V supply, delivering 100 mV/A typical sensitivity and <2.5% total accuracy from 10% to full-scale current, used for validating isolated current sensing in motor drives and power converters.

For engineers reviewing the EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A datasheet, EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A pinout, EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A application, or EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid functional validation of the MCS1806GS-5-20's galvanic isolation, differential Hall array rejection of stray fields, and linear output scaling under real-world DC/AC current conditions.

Technical Context

The EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A implements a two-layer PCB layout with screw-terminal primary current inputs (IP+, IP−), isolated SOIC-8-mounted MCS1806GS-5-20 sensor, and configurable bandwidth via C4 capacitor. It operates exclusively at 5 V VCC and supports ±20 A primary current with 100 mV/A sensitivity and 0.5 × VCC + Sens × IP output transfer function.

Galvanic isolation between primary conductor pins and secondary signal pins achieves 3 kVRMS withstand voltage. The board includes decoupling capacitors (C1 = 0.1 µF, C2 = 4.7 µF) and provisions for optional filtering (C3, C4), enabling noise-sensitive measurement setups without redesign.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for motor control validation, industrial power supply monitoring, and battery management system prototyping requiring stable component supply and verified galvanic isolation performance.

Supply support for EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A 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 EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A belongs to MPS's current sensing evaluation platform family, designed to accelerate design-in of their isolated Hall-effect sensors in energy-efficient power conversion and real-time current feedback systems.

FAQ

What is the required input voltage for the EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A?

The board requires a regulated 5 V DC supply connected to VCC and GND terminals. Operation at 3.3 V is not supported for this variant - only the -S-3-X versions accept 3.3 V. Incorrect voltage may prevent sensor startup or damage the onboard MCS1806GS-5-20 IC.

How is primary current applied to the board?

Primary current flows through screw terminals labeled IP+ and IP−, which connect directly to the internal conductive path of the MCS1806GS-5-20 sensor. These terminals are galvanically isolated from all secondary-side signals, enabling safe high-side or floating current measurement up to ±20 A.

What does the VOUT signal represent mathematically?

VOUT = 2.5 V + (100 mV/A × IP), where IP is the instantaneous primary current in amperes. At zero current, output is 2.5 V; at +20 A, it is 4.5 V; at −20 A, it is 0.5 V. This ratiometric relationship holds across temperature and supply variation within datasheet limits.

Can C4 be modified to adjust bandwidth?

Yes - C4 (unpopulated footprint) sets the sensor's small-signal bandwidth. Adding capacitance reduces bandwidth and suppresses high-frequency output ripple. For example, 1 nF yields ~100 kHz bandwidth; 10 nF reduces it to ~10 kHz. Refer to Figure 1 schematic for placement location.

Does the board include the current sensor IC?

Yes - the EVCS1806-S-5-20-00A ships with the MCS1806GS-5-20 pre-mounted in an SOIC-8 package. This is the production-grade sensor IC with ±20 A range, 5 V supply, 100 mV/A sensitivity, and <2.5% total accuracy, not a sample or engineering version.

Is isolation verified on this board?

Yes - the board maintains 8 mm creepage and clearance between primary (IP+, IP−) and secondary (VCC, GND, VOUT, FILT) copper traces, meeting IEC 60950-1 and UL 62368-1 requirements for 3 kVRMS reinforced isolation as validated in MPS's certification testing.