Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVKT-MP2787-0002

Overview

EVKT-MP2787-0002 from Monolithic Power Systems is a complete evaluation kit for the MP2787 battery management AFE IC, designed to accelerate development of 7–16-cell lithium-based battery packs. It includes the EV2787-0002-FP-00A evaluation board with SPI interface, EVKT-USBSPI-00 USB-to-SPI adapter, GUI software (MP2787 V1.0), and supporting cables-enabling rapid validation of cell voltage/current measurement, passive balancing, thermal monitoring, and hardware-configurable alarms in high-voltage BMS applications.

For engineers reviewing the EVKT-MP2787-0002 datasheet, EVKT-MP2787-0002 setup, EVKT-MP2787-0002 GUI configuration, or EVKT-MP2787-0002 hardware interface compatibility, this kit delivers out-of-box SPI-based register access, real-time ADC data streaming, MTP/NVM programming support, and full alarm threshold customization-critical for prototyping automotive-grade, industrial, and energy storage BMS designs.

Technical Context

The EVKT-MP2787-0002 implements a dedicated SPI communication path between host PC and the MP2787 AFE via the EVKT-USBSPI-00 interface, supporting 8-bit CRC-protected transactions and configurable command groups for register read/write. Its hardware set-up requires precise cell channel termination (via 0Ω resistors for unused channels 8–16) and strict NSHDN pin voltage control (7.5V for MTP programming, 3.3V for normal operation).

Configuration is managed through the MPS GUI software, which provides dual-mode access: I2C/SPI runtime registers (volatile, reset on power cycle) and non-volatile MTP/OTP memory (programmable up to three times). The kit supports full analog front-end calibration-including 15-bit cell voltage ADC (<5mV error), 16-bit current sensing (<±0.5% error), open-wire detection, and die temperature monitoring-with persistent dead-battery flag and lockable MTP memory.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVKT-MP2787-0002 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for battery pack validation, BMS firmware development, and production line test fixture qualification requiring stable component supply, repeatable measurement traceability, and factory-programmable configuration retention.

Supply support for EVKT-MP2787-0002 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 DC/DC converters, battery management, motor drivers, and LED drivers for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The MP2787 product line delivers integrated analog front-end solutions for multi-cell battery systems, emphasizing precision measurement, hardware-based safety alarms, and field-programmable configuration to reduce BMS system complexity and certification effort.

FAQ

What is the difference between EVKT-MP2787-0000 and EVKT-MP2787-0002?

EVKT-MP2787-0000 uses I2C communication via the EVKT-USBI2C-02 interface, while EVKT-MP2787-0002 uses SPI via the EVKT-USBSPI-00 interface. Both share identical EV2787 evaluation boards (FP-00A variants), GUI software, and core MP2787 AFE functionality-but differ in physical interface, protocol timing, and register access methods required for configuration and data streaming.

Does the EVKT-MP2787-0002 retain configuration after power-down?

No-runtime configurations written via SPI (e.g., cell count, alarm thresholds, ADC scan settings) are volatile and reset on power cycle. Only MTP/OTP memory retains settings permanently, and MTP programming requires explicit 7.5V NSHDN activation, CRC verification, and STORE_MTP_CMD execution as defined in the user guide.

Can the EVKT-MP2787-0002 evaluate all MP2787 features?

Yes-it fully supports all key MP2787 capabilities: 15-bit cell voltage and 16-bit current ADCs, hardware-configurable OC/UV/OV alarms, internal 58mA passive balancing, thermistor inputs, open-wire detection, die temperature monitoring, and lockable MTP memory. External balancing transistors can be added for higher current balancing.

What PC requirements are needed to run the MP2787 GUI?

A Windows 7 or later PC with .NET Framework 4.0, ≥25.6MB free disk space, and one available USB port is required. The GUI installs via MP2787 V1.0 installer; USBXpress driver version 4.0.0.0 must be manually installed on Windows 10 to ensure EVKT-USBSPI-00 recognition and stable SPI communication.

How do I configure hardware alarms like cell over-voltage or discharge over-current?

In the GUI's Configuration tab, enable "Voltage Monitor Enable", then set thresholds for each alarm (e.g., Cell OV = 4.25V, Discharge OC = –15A) and assign corresponding interrupt pins. These values are written to hardware registers and remain active until reconfigured-even after GUI disconnect-providing autonomous protection during testing.

Is the EV2787-0002-FP-00A board compatible with custom firmware?

Yes-the board exposes all MP2787 SPI signals (NCS, SCK, SDI, SDO, GND) and GPIOs (HV/LV), enabling integration with external microcontrollers. However, MTP programming requires strict adherence to the NSHDN voltage sequence and register write order documented in Section 3.4 of the user guide to avoid OTP CRC errors.