The MAX17015 evaluation kit (EV kit) is a complete, fully assembled and tested surface-mount PCB that features the MAX17015B highly integrated, multichemistry battery-charger control IC. The MAX17015 EV kit utilizes two single-package n-channel MOSFETs for high-side and low-side switching for the MAX17015B internal synchronous step-down converter, and two n-channel MOSFETs and one p-channel MOSFET for the main power-source selection.

The MAX17015 EV kit is capable of supplying power to a system load while simultaneously charging one or more lithium-ion (Li+) battery cells. During normal operation, the EV kit circuit automatically selects the ADAPTER input or the battery as the main power source for supplying power to the system load. If the ADAPTER input is selected as the main source and the EV kit's input-current limit is exceeded, the charge current is reduced automatically to give priority to the system load.

The EV kit's input-current limit is set to 4A while the maximum battery-charge voltage and charge-current thresholds can be configured up to 17.4V and 4A, respectively. The thresholds can be adjusted by using on-board circuitry or by connecting analog signals to the respective test points on the EV kit. A digital output signal (active-low ACOK) indicates the presence of a valid AC adapter voltage at the ADAPTER input source.