Battery-driven electronics and other power-limited systems often struggle to monitor their own energy usage without draining valuable battery life. Addressing this issue, Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has launched two new digital power monitors—the PAC1711 and PAC1811—that use roughly half the power of existing alternatives when operating at 1024 samples per second. Alongside their low-energy performance, the devices deliver immediate alerts for abnormal power events and feature a patented step-alert mechanism to detect shifts in long-term average consumption.
The PAC1711 (12-bit, single channel, 42V) and PAC1811 (16-bit, single channel, 42V) come in compact 8-pin and 10-pin VDFN packages that are footprint-compatible with SOT23-8 designs, making upgrades and second-sourcing straightforward. This drop-in compatibility helps developers integrate the monitors into existing products with minimal redesign.
Keith Pazul, Vice President of Microchip’s mixed-signal linear unit, highlighted that many portable devices currently consume more energy than necessary just to measure their own usage. He noted that these new power monitors work as stand-alone supervisory components, enabling the host MCU to remain in sleep mode until an important power-related event occurs—such as activating a display—thus improving overall system efficiency.
A key feature is the step-alert function, which continuously tracks averaged voltage and current data. If readings exceed a user-defined threshold, the device immediately signals the MCU. The monitors can also sample at slower intervals—up to every eight seconds—to further conserve power. An onboard accumulator register supports battery aging analysis, charge-time estimates, and short-term historical data logging. Both devices operate across 0–42V bus voltages and communicate via I²C, making them suitable for computing, networking, AI/ML equipment and electric mobility systems.
A mikroBUS-compatible Click board is available for hands-on evaluation, allowing engineers to test device performance easily. Microchip also offers a Linux driver with access to essential registers and a general-purpose C library with examples for use across various Microchip MCUs.
The PAC1711 is offered in VDFN-8 (PAC1711T-1E/3P) and VDFN-10 (PAC1711T-2E/9Q) packages, while the PAC1811 is available in the same formats. Pricing for the PAC1711 VDFN-8 option starts at $0.58 in 10,000-unit volumes. The evaluation board (PAC1711-Click) is available for $15.00.
Microchip Technology Inc, headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, delivers comprehensive system-level solutions that simplify design and support major markets including industrial, automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace and defense, communications, and computing.
