Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVKT-MP2796-0000

Overview

EVKT-MP2796-0000 from Monolithic Power Systems is a complete evaluation kit for the MP2796 battery management AFE, designed to validate 7–16-cell lithium-ion/polymer battery pack monitoring and protection in lab and pre-production environments. It includes the EV2796-0000-FP-00A evaluation board, EVKT-USBI2C-02 USB-to-I²C interface, cables, and GUI software supporting real-time register configuration, cell voltage/current measurement, and configurable fault response.

For engineers reviewing the EVKT-MP2796-0000 datasheet, EVKT-MP2796-0000 hardware setup, EVKT-MP2796-0000 GUI operation, or EVKT-MP2796-0000 ordering options, this kit provides full access to the MP2796's dual ADC architecture, high-side MOSFET driver control, passive cell balancing, and MTP/OTP programming flow - all with Windows-based tooling and physical test connectivity.

Technical Context

The EVKT-MP2796-0000 implements the MP2796 IC in a functional hardware environment where analog sensing paths (cell voltage, pack current via SRP/SRN, thermistor inputs), digital communication (I²C with 8-bit CRC), and power path control (HS-FET gate drive) are fully routed and validated. The board supports 18V–75.2V battery input and delivers 3.3V/5V LDO outputs for auxiliary circuitry.

It enables direct validation of key MP2796 subsystems: dual-ADC measurement chain (15-bit cell voltage, 16-bit current), programmable protection thresholds (OVP/UVP/SCP/OCP per cell and pack), die temperature monitoring, open-wire detection, and persistent dead-battery flag reporting - all controllable via GUI-driven I²C writes or one-time MTP programming.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVKT-MP2796-0000 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for battery pack validation, BMS firmware development, and safety-critical protection algorithm testing requiring stable component supply and traceable evaluation hardware.

Supply support for EVKT-MP2796-0000 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 applications.

This evaluation kit supports the MP2796 product line - a family of highly integrated battery monitor and protector ICs targeting high-reliability, multi-cell energy storage systems requiring precision analog sensing, configurable fault response, and non-volatile configuration storage.

FAQ

What is the difference between EVKT-MP2796-0000 and EVKT-MP2796-0002?

EVKT-MP2796-0000 uses the EV2796-0000-FP-00A board with I²C interface and ships with EVKT-USBI2C-02; EVKT-MP2796-0002 uses the EV2796-0002-FP-00A board with SPI interface and ships with EVKT-USBSPI-00. Both evaluate the same MP2796 IC but differ in communication protocol, pinout mapping, and GUI tool selection - I²C for simpler integration, SPI for higher-speed register access.

Does the EVKT-MP2796-0000 retain configuration after power cycle?

No. All register modifications made via I²C during GUI operation are volatile and reset on power-down. Only configurations written to MTP memory (up to two times post-factory) or OTP memory (factory-programmed) persist across cycles - and require specific voltage sequencing (7.5V on NSHDN) and command sequences to commit.

Can the EVKT-MP2796-0000 evaluate passive cell balancing functionality?

Yes. The kit supports up to 58mA per cell balancing current through external FETs, with manual or automatic control enabled via GUI-configurable registers. Balancing transistors are not included on-board but are driven by dedicated gate outputs - users must add external N-channel MOSFETs and current-limiting resistors per channel.

What PC requirements are needed to run the MP2796 GUI software?

A Windows PC (XP, 7, or later), .NET Framework 4.0, at least 25.7MB free disk space, and one available USB port are required. Driver installation must use USBXpress v4.0.0.0 - older Windows-installed versions cause communication failure and must be manually replaced.

How is thermal protection validated using this evaluation kit?

The kit allows direct observation of die temperature shutdown and recovery: when internal junction temperature exceeds the programmed threshold (configurable via register), the MP2796 halts operation and clears faults only after die temperature falls below the hysteresis point - visible in real-time GUI telemetry and confirmed by status register reads.

Is open-wire detection tested out-of-the-box on the EVKT-MP2796-0000?

Yes. Open-wire detection is enabled by default and verified by disconnecting individual cell sense lines while monitoring GUI-reported fault flags and register bits (e.g., OW_STATUS). The board's routing supports full 16-cell sensing, and floating unused channels per setup instructions confirms robustness against missing connections.