Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVKT-2624

Overview

EVKT-2624 from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation kit for the MP2624 single-cell Li-ion battery switching charger IC, supporting USB-compliant charging (3.9V–7.0V input), 4.5A buck charge, and 1.3A boost-mode USB OTG. It includes the EV2624-L-00A evaluation board and EVKT-USBI2C-02 interface for I²C-based configuration and real-time status monitoring in lab validation of portable power systems.

For engineers reviewing the EVKT-2624 datasheet, EVKT-2624 pinout, EVKT-2624 application, or EVKT-2624 equivalent, this kit enables rapid functional verification of MP2624's integrated charge/OTG control, thermal regulation, battery disconnection, and programmable I²C register settings under realistic input voltage, current limit, and battery voltage conditions.

Technical Context

The EVKT-2624 implements a complete hardware-software test platform centered on the MP2624 IC, which integrates a 1.5MHz synchronous buck charger and 1.5MHz boost converter with USB detection logic. Its architecture supports dual-role operation: regulated constant-current/constant-voltage charging and bidirectional power delivery via OTG mode.

Hardware components include the EV2624-L-00A PCB (6.3cm × 6.3cm) with pre-populated passive layout optimized for low-ESR capacitors and thermal management, plus the EVKT-USBI2C-02 interface providing isolated I²C communication between Windows host (XP/7+) and the MP2624's 8-bit register map - enabling dynamic adjustment of charge full voltage (4.2V default), input current limit, OTG current, and safety thresholds.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVKT-2624 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for battery management validation, USB-C power path design, and portable device firmware integration requiring stable component supply and repeatable lab characterization.

Supply support for EVKT-2624 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 for computing, consumer, industrial, and automotive applications.

The MP2624 product line delivers highly integrated battery charging solutions targeting space-constrained portable electronics, with emphasis on USB compliance, thermal robustness, and programmable safety features via I²C.

FAQ

What is the default charge full voltage setting on the EVKT-2624?

The EVKT-2624 is factory-configured with a default charge full voltage of 4.2V for single-cell Li-ion batteries, aligned with standard termination thresholds. This value is stored in OTP memory and can be temporarily overridden via I²C during active evaluation, though changes are not retained after power-down.

Does the EVKT-2624 support both charging and OTG modes simultaneously?

No - the MP2624 operates in exclusive mode: either buck charging (VIN → battery) or boost OTG (battery → VBUS). The EVKT-2624 hardware enforces this through dedicated jumpers and register-controlled state transitions; concurrent operation is electrically prohibited by internal power-path logic.

Is the EVKT-USBI2C-02 interface compatible with Linux or macOS?

No - the EVKT-USBI2C-02 requires Windows-specific drivers (USBXpress v4.0.0.0) and the MPS I²C GUI software, which only supports Windows XP, 7, and later. No native Linux/macOS driver or GUI version is provided by Monolithic Power Systems per the official user guide rev 1.0.

How is thermal protection verified using the EVKT-2624?

Thermal regulation is observed via real-time die temperature reporting in the GUI's status registers and confirmed by automatic PWM shutdown when the MP2624 junction exceeds its thermal shutdown threshold (~125°C). Recovery occurs autonomously once die temperature falls below the hysteresis point (~110°C), visible as re-enabling of charging/OTG functions in the GUI.

Can the EV2624-L-00A board be used without the EVKT-USBI2C-02 interface?

Yes - the EV2624-L-00A operates autonomously in default configuration (4.2V charge, 4.5A max, USB detection enabled). However, I²C-based parameter adjustment, register readback, fault logging, and safety threshold tuning require the EVKT-USBI2C-02 interface and Windows GUI software.

What happens to I²C register changes after powering down the EVKT-2624?

All I²C-modified register values revert to factory defaults upon power cycle. Only OTP-programmed parameters (e.g., permanent charge voltage trim) persist across power loss. This behavior ensures repeatable baseline testing but requires reconfiguration before each evaluation session.