INA2181 - 26V Dual-Channel Current Sense Amp | Texas Instruments
MPN: INA2181 β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.85 | $0.85 |
| 10 | $0.72 | $7.20 |
| 100 | $0.55 | $55.00 |
| 500 | $0.42 | $210.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.35 | $350.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.31 | $930.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for INA2181 β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
INA2181A2IDGSR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
INA2181A3IDGST
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
INA2181A4IDSQR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
INA2181-Q1
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
INA2181 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | Dual-channel current sense amplifier |
| Number of Channels | 2 |
| Input Common-Mode Voltage Range | -0.2 V to 26 V |
| Common-Mode Rejection Ratio | [DATA_NEEDED: CMRR value] |
| Bandwidth | 350 kHz |
| Gain Options | 20 V/V (A1), 50 V/V (A2), 100 V/V (A3), 200 V/V (A4) |
| Output Type | Voltage output (rail-to-rail) |
| Supply Voltage Range | [DATA_NEEDED: supply range] |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +125C |
| Sensing Mode | Low-side and high-side, bi-directional |
| Package | 10-VSSOP (DGS) and 10-WSON |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Input Offset Voltage | [DATA_NEEDED: Vos value] |
| Reference Pin | Yes (REF, shared bi-directional offset) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Automotive Grade Option | INA2181-Q1 (AEC-Q100) |
INA2181 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | OUT1 β Channel 1 voltage output |
| Pin 2 | GND β Ground reference |
| Pin 3 | REF β Reference input for bi-directional output offset (shared) |
| Pin 4 | INP2 β Channel 2 non-inverting shunt input |
| Pin 5 | INN2 β Channel 2 inverting shunt input |
| Pin 6 | OUT2 β Channel 2 voltage output |
| Pin 7 | NC β No connection (verify per datasheet package pinout) |
| Pin 8 | V+ β Supply voltage (2.7V to 5.5V class) |
| Pin 9 | INN1 β Channel 1 inverting shunt input |
| Pin 10 | INP1 β Channel 1 non-inverting shunt input |
Safe Operating Area (SOA) & Thermal Characteristics
No official SOA curve available for this component. Always operate within absolute maximum ratings specified in the datasheet. Ensure adequate cooling and derate as needed.
Typical Applications
INA2181 is suitable for 6 applications: Battery Charge/Discharge Monitoring, DC-DC Converter Current Telemetry, Motor Control Current Feedback, Automotive Body and Power Modules, Industrial Automation Power Supervision, USB-C and Consumer Port Load Monitoring.
Battery Charge/Discharge Monitoring
The INA2181 fits battery systems because its bi-directional REF-pin architecture measures both charging and discharging current through a single shunt, and its dual channels can monitor pack current and a second rail simultaneously. With a -0.2V to 26V common-mode range, it works directly on 12V and 24V battery buses. The 350kHz bandwidth captures inrush and transient charge events that slower monitors miss, while rail-to-rail output keeps the full ADC range usable near zero current.
Recommended
DC-DC Converter Current Telemetry
In switching power supplies, the INA2181 provides cycle-by-cycle current visibility thanks to its 350kHz bandwidth and fast settling, enabling peak current limiting and health monitoring of each converter rail. The dual channels let one IC supervise both the input and output sides of a buck or boost stage. With common-mode up to 26V, it connects across input-current shunts on 12V and 24V intermediate bus rails while powered from the controller's 5V or 3.3V supply.
Recommended
Motor Control Current Feedback
The INA2181 serves motor drives by sensing phase or bus current quickly enough for torque-loop feedback and overcurrent protection. Its two channels can monitor two motor phases with a single device, halving the sensing BOM versus single-channel parts. The 350kHz bandwidth preserves current waveform detail for FOC algorithms running on MCUs such as TMS320F28004x, and the wide common-mode range tolerates PWM-induced common-mode swings on high-side shunts up to 26V.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Power Modules
For automotive loads such as LED lighting, pumps, and ECUs, the INA2181-Q1 variant is AEC-Q100 qualified and operates from -40C to +125C per TI documentation. Its 26V common-mode range covers 12V load-dump-adjacent rails with margin, and the dual channels allow monitoring of both high-side supply current and a return path. Cost-optimized pricing suits high-volume body electronics where every cent of BOM matters.
Recommended
Industrial Automation Power Supervision
In PLC I/O modules and factory automation racks, the INA2181 monitors 24V field-supply current across dual channels, providing fault and load diagnostics to the system controller. The voltage output interfaces directly to ADCs without extra level shifting, and the low cost enables per-channel sensing across many modules. Its extended -40C to +125C operation and small 10-VSSOP footprint suit dense industrial boards with limited space and wide ambient ranges.
Recommended
USB-C and Consumer Port Load Monitoring
Consumer adapters and USB-C power delivery sources use the INA2181 to monitor port current for overload detection and power negotiation feedback. The 2.7V-to-5.5V supply operation matches logic rails, while the 26V common-mode range safely observes the input side of charger front ends. The compact 10-VSSOP package fits space-constrained dongle and adapter designs, and low unit cost around $0.31 at volume as of 2026-08-30 keeps consumer BOMs competitive.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for INA2181 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | INA2181A2IDGSR | INA2181-Q1 | INA181A2IDGKR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 10-VSSOP (DGS) / 10-WSON | 10-VSSOP (DGS) - same | 10-VSSOP (DGS) - same | SC70-6 - different footprint |
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Number of Channels | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Gain | 20 V/V (A1) | 50 V/V | 20/50/100/200 V/V by suffix | 50 V/V |
| Input Common-Mode Range | -0.2 V to 26 V | -0.2 V to 26 V | -0.2 V to 26 V | -0.2 V to 26 V |
| Bandwidth | 350 kHz | 350 kHz | 350 kHz | 350 kHz |
| Automotive Grade | No (standard grade) | No | Yes (AEC-Q100) | No |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C |
| Approx. Price (1ku) | $0.35 as of 2026-08-30 | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-channel integration halves BOM cost (vs INA181A2IDGKR)
- Automotive-qualified variant available (vs INA2181A2IDGSR)
- Wide common-mode range independent of supply (vs generic 5.5V-max current sense amps)
Design Notes
Route Kelvin (4-wire) sense traces directly from the shunt resistor pads to the INP and INN pins. Do not share current-carrying traces with sense lines, since milliohms of trace resistance creates gain error at 20 V/V gain. Keep the two sense traces a symmetric, closely-coupled pair to reject noise, and place the INA2181 within a few millimeters of the shunt. Add a small RC filter (e.g., 10 ohm/100 nF) at the inputs if large dV/dt transients are present, accepting a small bandwidth reduction.
Drive the shared REF pin from a low-impedance source such as a buffered divider or reference IC; the REF pin impedance interacts with the internal resistor network and a high-impedance drive shifts both output offset and gain accuracy. Decouple V+ with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 2 mm of the pin. The REF offset determines zero-current output, so choose it so both charge and discharge current directions keep the rail-to-rail output within its linear range.
Select the gain suffix before finalizing the shunt value: A1 (20 V/V) suits large shunts up to ~100 mV full-scale, while A4 (200 V/V) suits low-current, small-shunt designs where shunt power dissipation dominates. Mixing gain suffixes during BOM substitution silently changes scaling by 2.5x-10x and can saturate the output at full load. Verify the pinout against the TI datasheet for your exact package (VSSOP vs WSON) before layout release.
Compliance Information
Standard INA2181 is RoHS compliant per TI product page; INA2181-Q1 variant is AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive use. REACH and halogen-free status not stated in verified data.
