ATMEGA88PA-PU - 8KB Flash 20MHz AVR MCU DIP-28 | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA88PA-PU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.95 | $2.95 |
| 10 | $2.66 | $26.60 |
| 100 | $2.3 | $230.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.85 | $1,850.00 |
ATMEGA88PA-PU Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) integrates a processor core, memory, and programmable peripherals on a single chip, sitting at the heart of embedded systems. The AVR family popularized the modified Harvard 8-bit RISC architecture, where most of its 130 instructions execute in a single clock cycle, and 32 general-purpose working registers are directly connected to the ALU. MCUs like the ATmega88PA are the entry point of the power management and control hierarchy in products ranging from appliances to industrial sensors.
Key features of the ATMEGA88PA include the picoPower technology for ultra-low sleep-mode consumption, 23 general-purpose I/O lines, a 6-channel 10-bit ADC, and operation from 1.8V to 5.5V. Three flexible 16-bit and 8-bit timers with compare modes, a programmable serial USART, and a byte-oriented Two-Wire Interface (I2C-compatible) round out the peripheral set.
Technically, the device offers In-System Programmable (ISP) FLASH with read-while-write capability, a separate boot loader section for self-programming, and an internal calibrated RC oscillator that removes the need for an external crystal in many designs. Debugging and programming use the industry-standard SPI interface via ICSP, compatible with tools such as AVRISP mkII and Arduino-style programmers.
Typical applications include home appliance control, industrial sensor nodes, battery-powered instrumentation, hobby and education platforms, and motor control tasks where 20 MHz throughput and 8 KB of code space are sufficient.
Design consideration: when running at 5V the device supports the full 20 MHz rating, but at 1.8V the maximum safe clock is limited to approximately 4 MHz per the datasheet frequency-voltage curve, so verify your voltage-clock operating point early.
This page adds value beyond the datasheet by synthesizing distributor pricing tiers, verified drop-in alternatives within the ATmega 28-pin family, and practical design notes for through-hole prototyping.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA88PA-PU 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 ATMEGA88PA-PU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Communication Interfaces, Package, Operating Temperature, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA88A-PU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA88P-20PU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA48PA-PU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA168PA-PU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.86 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA328P-PU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet βATMEGA88PA-PN
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$2.02 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA88PA-PU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | AVR |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Speed | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 8 KB (4K x 16) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| EEPROM Size | 512 x 8 B |
| RAM Size | 1K x 8 B |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Number of I/O | 23 |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit |
| Number of ADC Channels | 6 |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, POR, PWM, WDT |
| Communication Interfaces | USART, SPI, TWI (I2C-compatible) |
| Timers | Two 8-bit, one 16-bit |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (TA) |
| Package | 28-PDIP |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Technology | picoPower |
ATMEGA88PA-PU Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PC6 / RESET β Port C bit 6 or active-low Reset input |
| Pin 2 | PD0 / RXD β Port D bit 0 or USART receive input |
| Pin 3 | PD1 / TXD β Port D bit 1 or USART transmit output |
| Pin 4 | PD2 / INT0 β Port D bit 2 or external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 5 | PD3 / INT1 / OC2B β Port D bit 3, external interrupt 1, or Timer2 PWM output B |
| Pin 6 | PD4 / T0 / XCK β Port D bit 4, Timer0 external clock, or USART external clock |
| Pin 7 | VCC β Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 8 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 9 | PB6 / XTAL1 / TOSC1 β Port B bit 6, crystal oscillator input, or Timer oscillator input |
| Pin 10 | PB7 / XTAL2 / TOSC2 β Port B bit 7, crystal oscillator output, or Timer oscillator output |
| Pin 11 | PD5 / T1 / OC0B β Port D bit 5, Timer1 external clock, or Timer0 PWM output B |
| Pin 12 | PD6 / AIN0 / OC0A β Port D bit 6, analog comparator positive input, or Timer0 PWM output A |
| Pin 13 | PD7 / AIN1 β Port D bit 7 or analog comparator negative input |
| Pin 14 | PB0 / ICP1 / CLK0 β Port B bit 0, Timer1 input capture, or divided clock output |
| Pin 15 | PB1 / OC1A β Port B bit 1 or Timer1 PWM output A |
| Pin 16 | PB2 / SS / OC1B β Port B bit 2, SPI slave select, or Timer1 PWM output B |
| Pin 17 | PB3 / MOSI / OC2A β Port B bit 3, SPI master data out, or Timer2 PWM output A |
| Pin 18 | PB4 / MISO β Port B bit 4 or SPI master data in |
| Pin 19 | PB5 / SCK β Port B bit 5 or SPI serial clock |
| 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 Port C bit 0 or ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 24 | PC1 / ADC1 β Port C bit 1 or ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 25 | PC2 / ADC2 β Port C bit 2 or ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 26 | PC3 / ADC3 β Port C bit 3 or ADC channel 3 |
| Pin 27 | PC4 / ADC4 / SDA β Port C bit 4, ADC channel 4, or TWI data line |
| Pin 28 | PC5 / ADC5 / SCL β Port C bit 5, ADC channel 5, or TWI clock line |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA88PA-PU is suitable for 6 applications: Home Appliance Control, Industrial Sensor Nodes, Battery-Powered Instruments, Education and Hobby Prototyping, Motor Control and PWM Drivers, IoT Edge Sensor Interfaces.
Home Appliance Control
The ATMEGA88PA-PU is widely used in appliance control boards for washers, coffee machines, and small HVAC units, where its 23 I/O lines drive relays, buttons, and 7-segment displays, and the internal RC oscillator removes the cost of an external crystal. The 8 KB FLASH accommodates state-machine control code with a simple UI, while the 512 B EEPROM persists user settings across power cycles. Its picoPower technology keeps standby consumption low during off states, and the brown-out detector ensures safe EEPROM writes during mains dips, improving field reliability in noisy AC-line environments.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Nodes
In industrial sensing, the ATMEGA88PA-PU digitizes analog transducer signals with its 6-channel 10-bit ADC and transmits results over TWI (I2C) or USART links to PLCs or gateways. The 1.8V to 5.5V supply range allows direct operation from 3.3V or 5V industrial rails, and the industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating suits factory-floor enclosures. The internal reference, watchdog timer, and brown-out reset provide autonomous fault recovery, while the through-hole DIP-28 package simplifies servicing and rework on legacy DIN-rail or panel-mount controller boards where socketed MCUs are common.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Instruments
The ATMEGA88PA-PU's picoPower technology is designed for battery applications: power-down sleep current is minimized, and wake-up on pin change, watchdog, or timer interrupt allows duty-cycled sampling that extends battery life dramatically. With 1.8V operation, the device runs directly from two alkaline cells or a single lithium cell with a simple regulator. The 10-bit ADC reads battery voltage and sensor inputs, while the USART supports low-rate telemetry. Designers should clock down to 1-4 MHz at low voltages to stay within the datasheet frequency-voltage safe operating area and reduce dynamic current further.
Recommended
Education and Hobby Prototyping
The DIP-28 through-hole package makes the ATMEGA88PA-PU a favorite for education: it plugs into solderless breadboards, can be hand-soldered, and can be socketed for repeated reuse. It programs via ICSP with AVRDUDE, USBasp, or an Arduino-as-ISP, and works with avr-gcc and the Arduino ecosystem. The same AVR architecture as the Arduino Uno's ATmega328P means course material transfers directly. The 8 KB FLASH is ample for introductory embedded exercises covering GPIO, timers, PWM, ADC, UART, and I2C, while the low unit cost keeps lab budgets manageable across student kits.
Recommended
Motor Control and PWM Drivers
With two 8-bit timers and one 16-bit timer, the ATMEGA88PA-PU generates multiple hardware PWM channels suitable for DC motor speed control, servo actuation, and LED dimming. High-phase-correct PWM modes reduce audible noise and EMI in motor drivers, and compare-match interrupts enable closed-loop control at kilohertz rates given the 20 MIPS throughput at 20 MHz. The ADC samples back-EMF or current-shunt feedback for speed regulation, while the USART accepts set-point commands from a host. Through-hole mounting eases prototype validation of gate-driver circuitry before committing to SMT production layouts.
Recommended
IoT Edge Sensor Interfaces
The ATMEGA88PA-PU serves as a low-cost edge MCU that conditions sensor data and forwards it over USART or software UART to a radio module such as an RF transceiver or Wi-Fi co-processor. SPI and TWI interfaces connect to MEMS sensors and EEPROMs, and the 1 KB SRAM buffers telemetry frames. Its picoPower sleep modes suit duty-cycled nodes powered by batteries or energy harvesting. Designers should budget the 8 KB FLASH carefully when adding protocol stacks, and select the ATMEGA328P-PU drop-in upgrade when TLS-capable firmware or richer buffering is needed on the same footprint.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA88PA-PU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA88A-PU | ATMEGA88P-20PU | ATMEGA48PA-PU | ATMEGA168PA-PU | ATMEGA328P-PU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-PDIP | 28-PDIP - same | 28-PDIP - same | 28-PDIP - same | 28-PDIP - same | 28-PDIP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (FLASH) | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 4 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 256 B | 512 B | 1 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B | 1 KB | 2 KB |
| Max Clock Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| picoPower Low-Power Technology | Yes | No (standard A die) | Partial (P die) | Yes | Yes | Yes (P die) |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- picoPower technology for lowest sleep current (vs ATMEGA88A-PU)
- Code-space headroom via pin-compatible upgrade path (vs ATMEGA48PA-PU)
- Through-hole DIP-28 package for prototyping (vs ATMEGA88PA-AUR)
Design Notes
Observe the frequency-voltage safe operating area: per the Microchip ATmega48PA/88PA/168PA family datasheet, maximum frequency scales with VCC. At 5V the full 20 MHz is allowed; at 3.3V limit to roughly 10-13 MHz; at 1.8V only about 4 MHz. Running above the curve risks marginal timing on FLASH access. Connect AVCC (pin 20) to VCC through an LC or RC filter when using the ADC, and never leave AVCC floating, even if the ADC is unused.
For breadboard and DIP-socket use, add 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitors directly across VCC-GND (pins 7-8) and AVCC-GND (pin 20) with short leads. Fit a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the supply entry. If a crystal is used, keep it within a few millimeters of XTAL1/XTAL2 (pins 9-10) with 12-22 pF load capacitors; long breadboard wires on crystal pins are a common cause of intermittent oscillation and corrupted UART timing.
Pin 1 (PC6/RESET) must be pulled high with a 10 k resistor for reliable operation; leave it floating and brown-out or noise events will reset the device randomly. During ICSP programming, ensure SPI lines (PB3/PB4/PB5) and RESET are not heavily loaded by external circuitry - series resistors of 1 k-10 k on SPI nets isolate peripherals during flashing. Also, writing EEPROM requires the brown-out detector enabled to prevent corruption during power-down, per Microchip application guidance.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance and lead-free finish per Microchip product listing for the -PU package; REACH and halogen-free status not stated in provided data. Microchip offers ATmega48PA/88PA/168PA automotive datasheet variants for AEC-oriented use, but this commercial -PU part is not AEC-Q100 qualified.
