Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVL5516-R-00A

Overview

EVL5516-R-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation board for the MP5516GR power management IC, designed to demonstrate enterprise SSD power-outage protection functionality. It integrates a 20mΩ e-fuse and bidirectional buck-boost converter, supports 12V input, 28V storage voltage, 5A backup load release, I²C-configurable parameters, and real-time ADC monitoring of VIN, IIN, and PIN.

For engineers reviewing the EVL5516-R-00A datasheet, EVL5516-R-00A pinout, EVL5516-R-00A application, or EVL5516-R-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of MP5516-based power failover timing, capacitor health testing, VBUS regulation under 5A load, and COT-controlled mode transition in SSD backup systems.

Technical Context

The EVL5516-R-00A implements a complete reference design for the MP5516GR PMIC, featuring a QFN-25 (4mm×4mm) IC with integrated e-fuse and 36V-capable buck-boost converter. It uses the MPL-AL6050-1R5 inductor (1.5µH, 18A ISAT), 470µF bulk storage capacitor, and configurable resistor networks for VDET (8.4V), VBUS_RELEASE (8.6V), and VSTORAGE (28V).

Board-level functions include I²C address selection (59h/5Ah/5Bh), EN-controlled forced buck discharge, analog sensing of input power failure via R17/R19, and MTP-programmable settings for current limit (1.2–6A), switching frequency (300–1200kHz), and capacitor test thresholds (1.5V–36V).

Key Specifications

Availability

EVL5516-R-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for enterprise SSD development, data center power failover validation, and industrial backup power system prototyping requiring stable component supply and traceable reference hardware.

Supply support for EVL5516-R-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 solutions, with core expertise in DC/DC converters, PMICs, and power modules for computing, storage, and industrial applications.

The EVL5516-R-00A belongs to MPS's enterprise SSD power integrity product line, engineered specifically to validate robust, low-latency power failover and capacitor health monitoring in mission-critical storage subsystems.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the EVL5516-R-00A evaluation board?

The EVL5516-R-00A is a fully assembled reference platform for the MP5516GR PMIC, demonstrating enterprise SSD power outage protection. It validates bidirectional energy flow-charging storage capacitors during normal operation and releasing stored energy to maintain VBUS during input failure-with precise timing, current limiting, and I²C-configurable thresholds.

How do I configure the power failure detection voltage (VDET)?

VDET is set to 8.4V using resistors R17 (3kΩ) and R19 (39kΩ) per Equation (1), referencing an internal 0.6V bandgap. The board includes solder pads for modifying these values to adjust VDET between ~5V and ~12V, enabling customization for different input rail failure profiles.

Can the EVL5516-R-00A operate with input voltages other than 12V?

Yes-the MP5516GR IC on the board supports 2.65V–16V input, and the evaluation board is validated at 12V. For other inputs, users must verify inductor saturation current, capacitor voltage ratings, and VDET/VBUS_RELEASE resistor scaling to maintain safe operation and accurate fault detection.

What components are required to perform capacitor health testing?

No external components are required: the MP5516GR performs ESR and capacitance detection internally using its ADC and programmable discharge current (2mA/5mA/10mA/20mA). Enable CAP_EN via I²C register write, then trigger the test using the MTP-configured VSTRG1/VSTRG2 thresholds (default: 10.5V → 7.05V).

How is the storage voltage (VSTORAGE) set on this board?

VSTORAGE is set to 28V using R5 (33kΩ) and R6 (750kΩ) per Equation (3), referencing an internal 1.2V feedback divider. The resistor network allows adjustment from ~2V to ~36V; changing R5 or R6 alters the regulated storage bus voltage seen across CSTORAGE (470µF DIP capacitor).

Does the board support forced buck discharge via the EN pin?

Yes-applying a logic-low signal to the EN pin forces the MP5516GR into buck release mode regardless of input status, discharging VSTORAGE to maintain VBUS until depleted. This feature enables deterministic failover testing and manual backup activation without relying on automatic power-fail detection.