An apparatus including a host interface and a power management interface. The host interface may be configured to receive control words from a host. The power management interface may be configured to (i) enable the host to read/write data from/to a power management circuit of a dual in-line memory module, (ii) communicate the data, (iii) generate a clock signal and (iv) communicate an interrupt signal. The power management interface is disabled at power on. The apparatus is configured to (i) decode the control words, (ii) enable the power management interface when the control words provide an enable command and (iii) perform a response to the interrupt signal. The clock signal may operate independently from a host clock.