ATMEGA168V-10PI - 8-bit AVR MCU 16KB 10MHz 1.8V | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA168V-10PI β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.6 | $1.60 |
| 10 | $1.45 | $14.50 |
| 100 | $1.35 | $135.00 |
| 500 | $1.3 | $650.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.26 | $1,260.00 |
ATMEGA168V-10PI Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals such as timers, UART, SPI, I2C, and ADC on one die. Within the hierarchy of embedded processors, 8-bit MCUs like the AVR ATmega family sit at the low-power, low-cost end, ideal for simple control and sensing tasks where 32-bit processors are unnecessary.
Key features include the advanced AVR RISC architecture with 131 powerful instructions, most executing in a single clock cycle, delivering up to 10 MIPS throughput at 10 MHz. The device integrates an 8-channel 10-bit ADC, two 8-bit timers, one 16-bit timer, USI-capable serial interfaces (SPI and I2C-compatible TWI), and debugWIRE on-chip debugging. In-system self-programming via the 16 KB FLASH supports field firmware updates.
Technically, the ATmega168 core uses a Harvard architecture with 32 general-purpose working registers directly connected to the ALU, allowing one-cycle instruction execution. Read-while-write FLASH enables EEPROM and FLASH updates without halting code execution. Power management includes idle, ADC noise reduction, power-save, power-down, standby, and extended standby sleep modes, with very low power consumption in power-down.
Typical applications include battery-operated sensor nodes, hobby and educational embedded boards, industrial control panels, home automation controllers, and low-cost instrumentation. The 28-PDIP through-hole package is especially popular for prototyping, breadboarding, and repair of legacy boards.
A key design consideration: the V (1.8-5.5 V) speed grade limits maximum clock to 10 MHz; for 20 MHz operation at 5 V, choose the standard ATmega168-20PI instead.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA168V-10PI β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with ATMEGA168V-10PI (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Processor, Package, ADC Channels, Communication Interfaces, Instructions.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA168V-10PU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.01 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA168A-PU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA168PA-PU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA88V-10PU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA328P-PU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA168-20PU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.78 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA168V-10PI Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | AVR |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz |
| FLASH Program Memory | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| SRAM | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Number of I/O Lines | 23 |
| ADC Channels | 8 |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit |
| Package | 28-PDIP (0.300 in, 7.62 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| On-Chip Debug | debugWIRE |
| Program Memory Type | ISP FLASH (self-programming, read-while-write) |
| Instructions | 131 (mostly single-cycle) |
| Throughput | Up to 10 MIPS at 10 MHz |
| Serial Interfaces | SPI, TWI (I2C-compatible), USART |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (I suffix) |
ATMEGA168V-10PI Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PC6 (RESET) β Reset input (active low) / Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 2 | PD0 (RXD) β USART receive / Port D bit 0 |
| Pin 3 | PD1 (TXD) β USART transmit / Port D bit 1 |
| Pin 4 | PD2 (INT0) β External interrupt 0 / Port D bit 2 |
| Pin 5 | PD3 (INT1/OC2B) β External interrupt 1 / Timer2 PWM output / Port D bit 3 |
| Pin 6 | PD4 (T0/XCK) β Timer0 clock / USART external clock / Port D bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | VCC β Digital supply voltage (1.8 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 8 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 9 | PB6 (XTAL1/TOSC1) β Crystal oscillator pin 1 / timer oscillator / Port B bit 6 |
| Pin 10 | PB7 (XTAL2/TOSC2) β Crystal oscillator pin 2 / timer oscillator / Port B bit 7 |
| Pin 11 | PD5 (OC0B/T1) β Timer0 PWM output / Timer1 clock / Port D bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | PD6 (OC0A/AIN0) β Timer0 PWM output / analog comparator positive input / Port D bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | PD7 (AIN1) β Analog comparator negative input / Port D bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | PB0 (ICP1/CLKO) β Timer1 input capture / clock output / Port B bit 0 |
| Pin 15 | PB1 (OC1A) β Timer1 PWM output A / Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 16 | PB2 (SS/OC1B) β SPI slave select / Timer1 PWM output B / Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 17 | PB3 (MOSI/OC2A) β SPI master output / Timer2 PWM output / Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 18 | PB4 (MISO) β SPI master input / Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 19 | PB5 (SCK) β SPI clock / Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 20 | AVCC β ADC supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | AREF β ADC analog reference input |
| Pin 22 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 23 | PC0 (ADC0) β ADC input channel 0 / Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 24 | PC1 (ADC1) β ADC input channel 1 / Port C bit 1 |
| Pin 25 | PC2 (ADC2) β ADC input channel 2 / Port C bit 2 |
| Pin 26 | PC3 (ADC3) β ADC input channel 3 / Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 27 | PC4 (ADC4/SDA) β ADC channel 4 / TWI data line / Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 28 | PC5 (ADC5/SCL) β ADC channel 5 / TWI clock line / Port C bit 5 |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA168V-10PI is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Educational and Hobby Embedded Boards, Legacy Industrial Control Panel Repair, Home Automation Controllers, Low-Cost Instrumentation and Metering, Motor and Actuator Control.
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The ATMEGA168V-10PI fits battery-powered sensor nodes because its 1.8 V to 5.5 V supply range tolerates discharging 2xAA or NiMH cells without a regulator, and the AVR power-down sleep mode reduces current to microamp levels. In a typical node, the MCU wakes on a timer or external interrupt, runs the internal 8 MHz RC oscillator, samples a sensor through the 8-channel 10-bit ADC, and transmits via SPI to a low-power radio. Operating at 1.8-3 V also keeps leakage low and avoids boost-converter losses. The trade-off is the 10 MHz speed cap, which limits duty-cycle computation but is rarely a constraint in wake-measure-transmit topologies.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Embedded Boards
The ATMEGA168V-10PI is widely used in education and hobbyist boards because the 28-PDIP through-hole package is breadboard-friendly, socketable, and easily hand-soldered. The 16 KB FLASH and 1 KB SRAM are sufficient for classic exercises such as LED multiplexing, UART serial, PWM motor control, and ADC-based analog experiments, while debugWIRE allows single-wire in-circuit debugging with only the RESET pin, lowering tooling cost. At 10 MHz the part executes up to 10 MIPS, fast enough for most classroom projects. Compared with surface-mount alternatives, the DIP footprint also simplifies board repairs and component reuse, a key reason the AVR DIP family remains a teaching standard.
Recommended
Legacy Industrial Control Panel Repair
For industrial control panels designed in the 2005-2010 era, the ATMEGA168V-10PI is a direct repair part for obsolete stock, and Rochester Electronics continues authorized aftermarket supply. The wide 1.8-5.5 V operating range matches legacy 3.3 V and 5 V rail systems, and the USART, SPI, and TWI interfaces talk to displays, EEPROMs, and RS-485 transceivers used in panel retrofits. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade withstands cabinet environments. When the original firmware source is lost, a new ATmega168 can be cloned from a working unit via ISP or parallel high-voltage programming, restoring function without redesign.
Recommended
Home Automation Controllers
In home automation nodes the ATMEGA168V-10PI handles relay switching, key-scanning, and sensor polling with its 23 GPIO lines and three timers. The TWI (I2C-compatible) interface connects RTC chips and temperature sensors, while the 10-bit ADC reads dimmer potentiometers and thermistors directly. Running from a 3.3 V rail keeps logic levels compatible with common IoT radio modules, and the 1.8 V floor allows operation directly from lithium coin cells in battery-only retrofit switches. The 16 KB FLASH accommodates a small protocol stack plus application logic. Power-save sleep between events keeps average consumption compatible with multi-year battery life targets.
Recommended
Low-Cost Instrumentation and Metering
The ATMEGA168V-10PI serves low-cost instrumentation through its 8-channel 10-bit ADC with internal 1.1 V or AVCC references, differential inputs, and 1x/10x/200x gain stages, enabling direct thermistor, bridge, and current-shunt measurements without an external amplifier in many designs. The internal bandgap and AREF pin support precision ratiometric conversions. At 10 MHz the core sustains thousands of conversions per second for polling-based metering loops, while the USART streams results to a host or display. Firmware can calibrate offsets into EEPROM. For multi-channel logging at modest speed, this removes the need for a separate ADC IC, cutting BOM cost in price-sensitive meters.
Recommended
Motor and Actuator Control
The ATMEGA168V-10PI drives DC and small stepper motors using its three timers: two 8-bit channels provide four PWM outputs for H-bridge control, and the 16-bit timer handles precise step sequencing and input-capture tachometer measurement. At 10 MHz, PWM resolution reaches about 10 bits at 10 kHz, adequate for fan and pump speed control. The 23 GPIO lines directly gate logic-level MOSFET drivers, and the ADC can monitor current or back-EMF for closed-loop operation. The wide 1.8-5.5 V range lets the MCU share the motor supply rail through a simple LDO. Dead-time generation and pin-change interrupts support safety interlocks in actuator applications.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA168V-10PI β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA168V-10PU | ATMEGA168A-PU | ATMEGA328P-PU | ATMEGA88V-10PU | ATMEGA168-20PU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-PDIP (0.300 in, 7.62 mm) | 28-PDIP (0.300 in) - same | 28-PDIP (0.300 in) - same | 28-PDIP (0.300 in) - same | 28-PDIP (0.300 in) - same | 28-PDIP (0.300 in) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 10 MHz | 20 MHz |
| FLASH Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| ADC Channels | 8 channels, 10-bit | 8 channels, 10-bit | 8 channels, 10-bit | 8 channels, 10-bit | 8 channels, 10-bit | 8 channels, 10-bit |
| Price (qty 1) | $1.60 | $1.60 | $1.70 | $2.30 | $1.45 | $1.55 |
Key Differentiators
- Genuine 1.8 V low-voltage operation (vs ATMEGA168-20PU)
- Lower cost per KB than 328P (vs ATMEGA328P-PU)
- DIP package enables socketed field replacement (vs ATMEGA168V-10AUR)
Design Notes
Connect AVCC (pin 20) to VCC through a low-pass LC filter (10 uH inductor and 100 nF capacitor) even if the ADC is unused - the datasheet requires AVCC to be tied to VCC for proper operation. Place a 100 nF ceramic capacitor directly across VCC (pin 7) and GND (pin 8) within 5 mm of the pins. At 5 V/10 MHz the active current is a few mA; in battery designs, use power-down sleep and wake via watchdog or external interrupt to reach microamp average consumption.
Keep the crystal (if used) within 10 mm of XTAL1/XTAL2 (pins 9-10) with short traces and load capacitors grounded at a single point close to pin 8. Route ADC traces (pins 23-26) away from PWM and crystal lines; use AREF (pin 21) with a 100 nF capacitor to ground and enable the internal reference only after it settles per datasheet timing. For breadboard prototyping, add a 100 uF bulk capacitor at the rail entry, since DIP sockets introduce inductance that causes brownout resets during relay switching.
The most common ATmega168 failure mode is leaving RESET (pin 1) floating - always pull it up with 10 k ohm and optionally a 100 nF capacitor to ground for robust ISP programming. Do not exceed 10 MHz above 2.7 V expectations; the V grade curve in the datasheet derates frequency at low voltage. When cloning legacy firmware, note that lock bits may block ISP readback - parallel high-voltage programming on pins is the only recovery. Verify fuse settings (CKSEL, SUT) after replacement, as wrong clock fuses can brick communication.
Compliance Information
RoHS/lead-free status indicated by the PI suffix per Microchip part numbering. Distributor listings (DigiKey, LCSC, Mouser) list the part as RoHS compliant. REACH and halogen-free status not stated in provided data.
