ATMEGA8515L-8JJ - 8-bit AVR MCU, 8KB Flash, 44-PLCC | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA8515L-8JJ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.85 | $5.85 |
| 10 | $5.27 | $52.70 |
| 100 | $4.68 | $468.00 |
| 500 | $4.1 | $2,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.51 | $3,510.00 |
ATMEGA8515L-8JJ Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a complete computing system on a single chip that processes data in 8-bit words. The AVR family pioneered the RISC-style load/store architecture in microcontrollers, where most instructions execute in a single clock cycle. Within the power-management hierarchy of an embedded system, the MCU sits at the top of the control chain, supervising sensors, actuators, and communication peripherals.
Key features of the ATMEGA8515L-8JJ include the AVR RISC core with 130 powerful instructions, mostly single-cycle; 32 x 8 general-purpose working registers; fully static operation; and an enhanced RISC Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses. The L suffix denotes a wide supply range of roughly 2.7 V to 5.5 V, allowing operation from 3 V or 5 V logic rails.
The external memory interface is a standout technical capability: Port A provides a multiplexed 8-bit data bus (AD0-AD7) and Port C supplies up to 16 address lines (A8-A15 plus latched A0-A7 via ADx), with RD and WR strobes on Port D, enabling expansion to 64 KB of external SRAM. Peripherals include three timers with PWM outputs, a UART, an SPI port, an analog comparator, and programmable interrupt sources.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, legacy embedded system maintenance, motor control boards, and communication equipment, where the external bus interface and PLCC socketed package simplify field replacement and through-hole-friendly assembly.
Design consideration: verify the industrial temperature grade and 8 MHz speed grade against your clock plan; the non-L ATmega8515 variants run to 16 MHz but with a narrower supply range.
This page synthesizes distributor data, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA8515L-8JJ — 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 ATMEGA8515L-8JJ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Communication Interfaces, Core Architecture, EEPROM, Instructions, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA8515-16JI
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$5.44 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8515-16JC
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$2.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8515L-8JC
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.51 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8515L-8JJ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit AVR RISC |
| Flash Program Memory | 8 KB (4K x 16) |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| Internal SRAM | 512 B |
| External Memory Support | up to 64 KB |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 8 MHz |
| Throughput | up to 16 MIPS at 16 MHz (family) |
| Instructions | 130 instructions, most single-cycle |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V (L grade) |
| Package | 44-PLCC (16.6 x 16.6 mm) |
| Pin Count | 44 |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (-40C to +85C) |
| Timers | 3 (two 8-bit, one 16-bit) |
| Communication Interfaces | UART, SPI |
| Analog Peripherals | Analog comparator |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
ATMEGA8515L-8JJ 44-plcc (16.6 x 16.6 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA8515L-8JJ (44-plcc (16.6 x 16.6 mm) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for ATMEGA8515L-8JJ.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA8515L-8JJ is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panels, Legacy Embedded System Maintenance, External-Memory Data Loggers, Motor Control and PWM Drive Boards, Embedded Communication Nodes, Educational and Prototyping Platforms.
Industrial Control Panels
The ATMEGA8515L-8JJ fits industrial control panels because its industrial temperature rating (-40C to +85C) and wide 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply range tolerate harsh cabinet environments and unregulated supply rails. The 44-lead PLCC package is socketable, allowing technicians to swap controllers in the field without desoldering - a major serviceability advantage over TQFP parts. Timers with PWM outputs drive relays, dimmers, and actuators, while the UART handles RS-485/RS-232 links to supervisory systems via a transceiver. The external memory interface supports logging buffers beyond the 512 B internal SRAM, and the watchdog timer provides automatic recovery from lockups in unattended installations.
Recommended
Legacy Embedded System Maintenance
Many installed products from the 1990s and 2000s were built around ATmega8515 devices in PLCC sockets, making the ATMEGA8515L-8JJ the natural repair and refurbishment part. Because the family remains in production at Microchip, maintenance engineers can procure genuine devices rather than risky reclaimed stock. The identical 8 KB Flash memory map means firmware extracted from the failed unit can be flashed directly into the replacement using SPI in-system programming through the socket. Its fully static core and single-cycle instruction execution preserve the timing behavior of bit-banged legacy protocols, avoiding the subtle timing regressions that occur when re-porting firmware to a different MCU architecture.
Recommended
External-Memory Data Loggers
The ATMEGA8515L-8JJ is one of few 8 KB AVRs with a full external bus: Port A supplies the multiplexed data bus AD0-AD7, Port C drives address lines up to A15, and Port D provides RD and WR strobes, enabling up to 64 KB of external SRAM. This makes it ideal for data loggers needing far more RAM than the internal 512 B - for example buffering thousands of sensor samples before writing to EEPROM or uploading over UART. A 74HC573 latch demultiplexes the shared address/data bus in the classic AVR application-note topology. Running at 8 MHz, each external RAM access completes in a few cycles, sustaining fast sample rates without DMA hardware.
Recommended
Motor Control and PWM Drive Boards
With four hardware PWM outputs (OC0, OC1A, OC1B, OC2) sourced from two 8-bit and one 16-bit timer, the ATMEGA8515L-8JJ drives DC motor H-bridges, servo positioning, and multi-channel LED or heater control without software-timing jitter. The 16-bit Timer/Counter1 provides phase-correct and fast PWM modes with adjustable resolution, while the input-capture pin (PE0) timestamps encoder or echo pulses with crystal-level precision. Its 5 V I/O directly interfaces gate drivers such as L293D-class bridges. The industrial temperature grade and brown-out detection keep PWM peripherals deterministic across supply dips, and the PLCC socket format eases controller replacement in production fixtures.
Recommended
Embedded Communication Nodes
The ATMEGA8515L-8JJ combines a hardware UART with an SPI master/slave port, letting a single 8 MHz core bridge serial field buses to SPI peripherals such as ADCs, EEPROMs, and CAN controllers. The UART supports interrupt-driven buffering for reliable multi-drop RS-485 communication, while SPI clocks can run at up to half the core frequency for fast peripheral access. External INT0/INT1 pins respond to bus activity with low latency, and the wide 2.7 V to 5.5 V operating range allows direct 3 V-to-5 V mixed-logic designs. The analog comparator on PE1/PE2 can implement zero-crossing detection for AC-line synchronization in power-line communication nodes.
Recommended
Educational and Prototyping Platforms
The ATMEGA8515L-8JJ remains popular in universities and training kits because the classic AVR RISC architecture - 130 mostly single-cycle instructions and 32 general-purpose registers - is an ideal teaching model, and the PLCC package mounts in zero-insertion-force sockets for painless reuse across lab sessions. The external memory bus lets students wire real SRAM and latch chips, a hands-on exercise modern QFN-based MCUs cannot offer. SPI in-system programming means one cheap programmer serves an entire classroom, and free AVR-GCC toolchains plus SimulIDE-style simulators cover the full development cycle. Its 5 V I/O tolerance also simplifies interfacing with legacy lab peripherals and breadboard-friendly logic families.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA8515L-8JJ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA8515-16JI | ATMEGA8515-16JC | ATMEGA8515L-8JC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-PLCC (16.6 x 16.6 mm) | 44-PLCC (16.6 x 16.6 mm) - same | 44-PLCC (16.6 x 16.6 mm) - same | 44-PLCC (16.6 x 16.6 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Flash Memory | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 8 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 8 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V at 16 MHz (narrower at speed) | 4.5 V to 5.5 V at 16 MHz (narrower at speed) | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) |
| EEPROM / Internal SRAM | 512 B / 512 B | 512 B / 512 B | 512 B / 512 B | 512 B / 512 B |
| External Memory Support | up to 64 KB | up to 64 KB | up to 64 KB | up to 64 KB |
Key Differentiators
- Wider supply range than standard-grade variants (vs ATMEGA8515-16JI)
- Industrial temperature rating over commercial equivalents (vs ATMEGA8515L-8JC)
- Socketable PLCC package aids field service (vs ATMEGA8515L-8AI)
Design Notes
The L-grade ATMEGA8515L-8JJ is specified across roughly 2.7 V to 5.5 V, but clock frequency derates with supply voltage - do not run 8 MHz at the bottom of the range without checking the speed-versus-voltage graph in the Microchip ATmega8515 datasheet. Decouple VCC with 100 nF ceramic capacitors at each supply pin plus 4.7-10 uF bulk capacitance, and connect AVCC to VCC through a low-pass RC filter when using the analog comparator to keep comparator offsets low.
If you use the external memory bus, keep the AD0-AD7 multiplexed bus and the 74HC573 address latch within a few centimeters of the MCU; long stubs on AD lines cause reflection-induced read errors at 8 MHz. Route RD/WR strobes away from the crystal traces, and ground the unused PLCC socket positions only per the datasheet - PLCC sockets add inductance, so place the 100 nF decoupling capacitors directly at the socket supply pins, not at the regulator output.
Fuse misconfiguration is the most common way to brick an ATmega8515: selecting an external clock source with no clock applied, or disabling SPI programming while the high-voltage programmer is unavailable, locks the part. Always change fuses one at a time and keep RESET accessible on the socket. Also remember the -8JJ speed grade tops out at 8 MHz - fitting a 16 MHz crystal to the L-grade part violates the datasheet maximum and causes unreliable operation, so downgrade to a 16-grade variant instead.
When expanding to external SRAM, add 22-33 ohm series resistors on AD0-AD7 and RD/WR lines to damp ringing and limit bus contention currents during bus turnaround. Configure the external memory wait states in the MCU control register for slower RAM devices; the datasheet external memory interface section defines the wait-state options. For 3 V-logic peripherals on the bus, verify VIH/VIL margins at 3 V supply before mixing rails.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the provided web data. Verify against the official Microchip product page environmental data for this exact ordering code.