Datasheet

Evaluates: MAX5550/MAX5548
MAX5550 Evaluation Kit
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Quick Start
Required Equipment
Before beginning, the following equipment is needed:
MAX5550 EV kit (USB cable included)
A user-supplied Windows 2000/XP/Vista-compatible
PC with a spare USB port
Two digital multimeters (DMMs) for current
measurement
Optional external power supply for enhanced
performance (USB powered)
Note: In the following sections, software-related items
are identified by bolding. Text in bold refers to items
directly from the EV kit software. Text in bold and
underlined refers to items from the Windows operating
system.
Procedure
The MAX5550 EV kit is fully assembled and tested.
Follow the steps below to verify board operation:
1) Visit www.maxim-ic.com/evkitsoftware to download
the latest version of the EV kit software,
5550Rxx.ZIP. Save the EV kit software to a tempo-
rary folder and uncompress the ZIP file.
2) Install the EV kit software on your computer by run-
ning the INSTALL.EXE program inside the tempo-
rary folder. The program files are copied and icons
are created in the Windows Start | Programs
menu.
3) Verify that all jumpers (JU1–JU7) are in their default
1-2 positions, as shown in Table 1.
4) Connect the USB cable from the PC to the EV kit
board. A Building Driver Database window pops
up in addition to a New Hardware Found message
when installing the USB driver for the first time. If
you do not see a window that is similar to the one
described above after 30s, remove the USB cable
from the board and reconnect it. Administrator privi-
leges are required to install the USB device driver
on Windows.
5) Follow the directions of the Add New Hardware
Wizard to install the USB device driver. Choose the
Search for the best driver for your device option.
Specify the location of the device driver to be
C:\Program Files\MAX5550
(default installation
directory) using the Browse
button. During device
driver installation, Windows might show a warning
message indicating that the device driver Maxim
uses does not contain a digital signature. This is not
an error condition and it is safe to proceed with
installation. Refer to the USB_Driver_Help.PDF doc-
ument for additional information.
6) Start the MAX5550 EV kit software by opening its
icon in the Start | Programs menu. The EV kit soft-
ware main window appears, as shown in Figure 1.
7) To measure the OUTA current, connect the first
DMM between H2-1 (OUTA) and H2-2 (GND).
8) To measure OUTB current, connect the second
DMM between H2-3 (OUTB) and H2-4 (GND).
9) Enter 0x200 into the D9 – D0 (Shift Register Data
Bits) edit box.
10) Press the lowest Load DACA and DACB button
located at the bottom of the EV kit software main
window. This will load DACA and DACB input and
output DAC registers from the shift register.
11) Verify that the current shown on both DMMs is
approximately 1mA.