Microchip Launches Energy-Aware Digital Power Monitoring Solution for Smarter, More Reliable 48V Systems

Build Smarter, More Reliable 48V Power Systems with Microchip's Energy-Aware Digital Power Monitoring Solution

— New 65V digital power monitors help designers track cumulative energy consumption data and improve system responsiveness for applications requiring higher measurement margin and surge protection

As automotive, AI/data center, networking and industrial systems rapidly migrate to 48V power architectures to improve efficiency and support higher power demands, designers need not only visual monitoring of instantaneous voltage and current conditions, but also systems capable of understanding long-term energy consumption and responding intelligently to dynamic power changes. Microchip Technology Inc. today introduced the PAC1761 and PAC1861 family of 65V energy-aware digital power monitoring ICs, integrating cumulative power measurement and analysis capabilities, high-voltage measurement margin and transient surge protection to enable higher efficiency and greater resilience in 48V power architectures.

Migration to 48V power architectures requires digital power monitoring devices with higher operating margin, including up to 65V measurement range and 75V surge protection capability, to ensure devices can withstand transient voltage events. The PAC1761 and PAC1861 devices add intelligent analysis capabilities on top of this, enabling real-time awareness of and response to dynamic energy consumption changes based on cumulative power measurement data.

"The industry's focus is shifting from single-point instantaneous power measurement to understanding and responding to energy consumption behavior across the entire system lifecycle," said Keith Pazul, Vice President of Microchip's Mixed-Signal and Linear Products business unit. "The PAC1761 and PAC1861 families are designed to help customers build higher-performance and more reliable 48V systems that capture both instantaneous electrical conditions and long-term energy consumption and margin. This scalable, low-power solution reduces system monitoring overhead while offering pin-compatible package options that improve supply flexibility and reduce design risk."

Microchip's digital power monitoring devices feature programmable voltage, current and power out-of-limit alarms, support step-limit detection to identify sudden load changes, and offer configurable cumulative energy thresholds, enabling proactive system management based on both instantaneous and long-term power characteristics.

Target applications include automotive, AI/data center, networking equipment, industrial equipment, servers, telecom equipment/Power over Ethernet (PoE) and 48V power distribution systems. The 12-bit PAC1761 and 16-bit PAC1861 are available in VDFN-8 (SOT23-8-like), VDFN-10 and MSOP-10 packages, including automotive-grade ordering part numbers. Pin-compatible device options reduce redesign risk and shorten qualification cycles, allowing customers to switch devices flexibly based on performance, supply status and cost requirements.

Supporting development resources include the EV12R33A evaluation board, a Python command-line interface (CLI) with function libraries, Linux® drivers, a general-purpose C library and multiple microcontroller reference code examples.

The PAC1761 and PAC1861 families are available now. The PAC1761T-3E/E3 and PAC1861T-1E/3P in MSOP-10 packages start at $0.56 each in 10,000-unit quantities. The EV12R33A evaluation board is priced at $49. Customers can purchase directly through the Microchip website or contact Microchip sales representatives and authorized distributors for details.

About Microchip Technology Inc.

Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs, reducing risk and lowering total cost of ownership. The company's solutions serve more than 125,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Microchip is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, and provides outstanding technical support along with reliable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.