ATMEGA8L-8PC - 8MHz AVR 8KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA8L-8PC ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.2 | $22.00 |
| 100 | $1.95 | $195.00 |
| 500 | $1.75 | $875.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.58 | $1,580.00 |
ATMEGA8L-8PC Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals such as ADCs, timers, and serial interfaces onto one die. MCUs sit at the heart of the embedded systems hierarchy - embedded processor, microcontroller, system-on-chip - and the AVR ATmega family from Atmel (now Microchip Technology) is one of the most widely deployed 8-bit MCU architectures, famous as the heart of classic Arduino boards.
Key features of the ATMEGA8L-8PC include the advanced AVR RISC architecture with 130 powerful instructions, most executing in a single clock cycle, 32 general-purpose working registers, and two 8-bit and one 16-bit timers/counters. Peripherals include a 6-channel 10-bit ADC, USI-class serial connectivity via SPI, TWI (I2C-compatible), and UART, plus an on-chip analog comparator.
The L designation specifies low-voltage operation from 2.7V to 5.5V, making the device suitable for battery-powered designs. The -8 speed grade is rated to 8 MHz, and the P identifies the plastic 28-lead PDIP package while C denotes commercial temperature operation. In-system programmable Flash allows firmware updates without removing the device from the board.
Technical depth: fully static operation, optional Brown-out Detection, internal calibrated RC oscillator (1/2/4/8 MHz), and external or internal clock sources provide flexible timing. Power management includes idle, ADC noise reduction, and power-down sleep modes for microamp-class standby current.
Typical applications include hobbyist and educational embedded systems, low-cost industrial control, sensor acquisition boards using the 10-bit ADC, and legacy maintenance of AVR-based products.
Design consideration: when replacing an ATMEGA8L-8PC with the newer ATMEGA8A, verify fuse settings and the internal RC oscillator calibration bytes. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA8L-8PC — 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 ATMEGA8L-8PC (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC Channels, Flash Memory, Instructions, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA8L-8PU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.08 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8A-PU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.86 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8A-PI
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA8L-8PI
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$2.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8-16PI
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8L-8PC Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | AVR |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Speed | 8 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 8 KB (4K x 16) |
| SRAM | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 Bytes |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Connectivity | I2C, SPI, UART/USART |
| ADC Channels | 6 or 8 channel 10-bit |
| Number of I/O | 23 |
| Timers/Counters | 2 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit |
| Throughput | Up to 8 MIPS at 8 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) |
| Package | 28-PDIP (0.300in, 7.62mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Programmability | In-System Programmable (ISP) Flash |
| Oscillator | Internal calibrated RC (1/2/4/8 MHz) or external crystal |
| Series | AVR ATmega |
ATMEGA8L-8PC Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PC6 (RESET) — Reset input / Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 2 | PD0 (RXD) — UART receive input / Port D bit 0 |
| Pin 3 | PD1 (TXD) — UART transmit output / Port D bit 1 |
| Pin 4 | PD2 (INT0) — External interrupt 0 / Port D bit 2 |
| Pin 5 | PD3 (INT1) — External interrupt 1 / Port D bit 3 |
| Pin 6 | PD4 (T0) — Timer/Counter0 external clock input / Port D bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | VCC — Digital supply voltage (2.7V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 9 | PB6 (XTAL1/TOSC1) — Oscillator inverter input / Timer oscillator input / Port B bit 6 |
| Pin 10 | PB7 (XTAL2/TOSC2) — Oscillator inverter output / Timer oscillator output / Port B bit 7 |
| Pin 11 | PD5 (T1) — Timer/Counter1 external clock input / Port D bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | PD6 (AIN0) — Analog comparator positive input / Port D bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | PD7 (AIN1) — Analog comparator negative input / Port D bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | PB0 (ICP1) — Timer/Counter1 input capture / Port B bit 0 |
| Pin 15 | PB1 (OC1A) — Timer/Counter1 output compare A / PWM output / Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 16 | PB2 (SS/OC1B) — SPI slave select / Timer1 output compare B / Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 17 | PB3 (MOSI/OC2) — SPI master output / Timer2 PWM output / Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 18 | PB4 (MISO) — SPI master input / Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 19 | PB5 (SCK) — SPI serial clock / Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 20 | AVCC — ADC supply voltage; connect to VCC via low-pass filter |
| Pin 21 | AREF — ADC analog reference; decouple with 100 nF |
| Pin 22 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 23 | PC0 (ADC0) — ADC input channel 0 / Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 24 | PC1 (ADC1) — ADC input channel 1 / Port C bit 1 |
| Pin 25 | PC2 (ADC2) — ADC input channel 2 / Port C bit 2 |
| Pin 26 | PC3 (ADC3) — ADC input channel 3 / Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 27 | PC4 (ADC4/SDA) — ADC channel 4 / TWI data / Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 28 | PC5 (ADC5/SCL) — ADC channel 5 / TWI clock / Port C bit 5 |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA8L-8PC is suitable for 6 applications: Educational and Hobbyist Embedded Systems, Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Legacy Industrial Control Board Maintenance, Analog Data Acquisition Front-Ends, Serial Protocol Converters and Gateways, Motor and Actuator Control.
Educational and Hobbyist Embedded Systems
The ATMEGA8L-8PC is a cornerstone of maker and university embedded-systems education because its 28-PDIP through-hole package can be plugged into a breadboard without any PCB, and the AVR architecture is famously documented and tool-supported by free compilers such as avr-gcc and Microchip Studio. Its 8 KB ISP Flash is large enough for substantial student projects - motor control, serial displays, and simple RTOS experiments - while the single-cycle execution of 130 instructions keeps timing deterministic and easy to teach. The internal calibrated 8 MHz RC oscillator means projects run with no external crystal, reducing bill-of-materials cost and layout errors for beginners. The 10-bit ADC supports analog sensor labs directly. For education, the ATMEGA8A-PU (same footprint, still in production) is the recommended part for new lab inventories.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The L-variant supply range of 2.7V to 5.5V lets the ATMEGA8L-8PC run directly from two AA cells or a single lithium cell without a regulator, and its AVR power-management modes drop standby current to microamp levels. A typical node reads one or more sensors through the 6-channel 10-bit ADC, processes thresholds in the 1 KB SRAM, and reports over UART or TWI to a radio module. In power-down sleep with the watchdog disabled, consumption is on the order of 1 uA class, enabling multi-month operation on alkaline cells. The internal RC oscillator removes crystal quiescent overhead in coarse-timing designs; a 32.768 kHz crystal on TOSC1/TOSC2 provides accurate timekeeping when needed. Designers should gate sensor power with an I/O pin to avoid sensor leakage dominating the budget.
Recommended
Legacy Industrial Control Board Maintenance
A large installed base of 2000s-era industrial boards - relay controllers, pump sequencers, HVAC control modules - used the ATmega8 in 28-PDIP because through-hole assembly allowed easy field service. The ATMEGA8L-8PC remains a preferred service part for these boards: its commercial temperature rating matches indoor controller cabinets, and its 5V-tolerant I/O drives opto-isolators and relay drivers directly. Because firmware stored in the self-programming Flash can be updated in-system via the SPI header, technicians can patch logic without desoldering. For sustained maintainability, replacement stock should migrate to the ATMEGA8A-PU, which is pin-to-pin compatible and actively manufactured; fuse and lock-bit settings should be recorded from the original device before replacement so the new part can be programmed identically.
Recommended
Analog Data Acquisition Front-Ends
The integrated 6-channel (8-channel in TQFP) 10-bit ADC with an internal bandgap reference option makes the ATMEGA8L-8PC a compact acquisition front-end for temperature, voltage, and potentiometer inputs. Channels can be scanned under software control, with the ADC noise-reduction sleep mode suppressing digital noise during conversion for one extra effective bit of resolution. AVCC on pin 20 and AREF on pin 21 must be properly decoupled - 100 nF at AREF is the datasheet recommendation - to achieve datasheet-level integral linearity. For 5V systems the ADC full-scale equals the supply, simplifying ratiometric bridge sensors such as strain gauges and NTC thermistors. Results stream over SPI at up to fosc/2, enough for kilohertz-rate sampling of slow industrial processes.
Recommended
Serial Protocol Converters and Gateways
With hardware UART, SPI, and TWI (I2C) available simultaneously, the ATMEGA8L-8PC is well suited to small protocol bridges - RS-232 to I2C adapters, SPI sensor concentrators, and UART multiplexers - in legacy equipment. The UART runs from the internal oscillator for asynchronous traffic at moderate baud rates, though a crystal is recommended above 38.4 kbaud for guaranteed baud-rate accuracy across temperature. The 16-bit Timer1 with input capture can timestamp incoming pulses, while the hardware TWI master handles EEPROM and RTC peripherals without bit-banging overhead. At 8 MHz the device delivers 8 MIPS, sufficient to run double-buffered conversion between a 115.2 kbaud serial link and an I2C bus at 100 kHz. The 28-PDIP socket format matches the field-repairable construction of the equipment it serves.
Recommended
Motor and Actuator Control
The ATMEGA8L-8PC provides three PWM outputs - OC1A and OC1B on the 16-bit Timer1 plus OC2 on the 8-bit Timer2 - allowing it to drive DC motor H-bridges, servos, and LED dimmers from a single 28-pin device. At 8 MHz, the 16-bit Timer1 delivers PWM resolutions up to 16 bits at low frequency or 8-bit resolution near 31 kHz, above audibility for fan and pump control. The analog comparator (AIN0/AIN1 on Port D) supports zero-cross detection for triac phase control and back-EMF sensing in brushless drivers. The ADC can close the loop on current or speed feedback. Input pins tolerate 5V logic directly, simplifying interface with classic driver ICs. For long-life designs, the ATMEGA8A-PU retains the same peripheral set and footprint with doubled clock headroom.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA8L-8PC — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA8L-8PU | ATMEGA8A-PU | ATMEGA8A-PI | ATMEGA8-16PI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-PDIP (0.300in) | 28-PDIP (0.300in) - same | 28-PDIP (0.300in) - same | 28-PDIP (0.300in) - same | 28-PDIP (0.300in) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Max Clock Speed | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Flash / SRAM / EEPROM | 8 KB / 1 KB / 512 B | 8 KB / 1 KB / 512 B | 8 KB / 1 KB / 512 B | 8 KB / 1 KB / 512 B | 8 KB / 1 KB / 512 B |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete / legacy | Legacy stock | Active | Active | Legacy stock |
| Pinout Compatibility | Reference (28-PDIP ATmega8) | Pin-to-pin identical | Pin-to-pin identical | Pin-to-pin identical | Pin-to-pin identical |
Key Differentiators
- 2.7V low-voltage operation across full speed range (vs ATMEGA8-16PI)
- Commercial temperature cost advantage (vs ATMEGA8L-8PU)
- Legacy ATmega8 register map preserved (vs ATMEGA88V-10PU)
Design Notes
Decouple VCC (pin 7) and AVCC (pin 20) separately: 100 nF ceramic at each pin, plus 4.7-10 uF bulk near the socket. AVCC must be connected to VCC even if the ADC is unused, or the ADC port reads garbage; connect it through a 10 uH inductor or low-pass RC when ADC noise matters. Estimated: at 5V and 8 MHz, active current is roughly 3.6-5 mA per the datasheet typical curves, so a 100 mA regulator easily supplies the MCU plus a few LED/logic loads.
Decouple AREF (pin 21) with 100 nF to GND and never drive it with a low-impedance source while the internal reference is selected - doing so shorts the internal bandgap through the external source. Keep the ADC ground return separate from high-current switching ground and join them at a single point at the GND pin (pin 8 or 22). For breadboard use of the PDIP, add a 100 nF capacitor directly across pins 7 and 8 to compensate for the breadboard's parasitic inductance.
Fuse-bit misconfiguration is the most common field failure: setting SPIEN to disabled or selecting an external-clock fuse option with no clock source present bricks the device and requires a parallel/High-Voltage programmer to recover. Before replacing an ATmega8L with an ATmega8A, read the original device's fuse and lock bytes and program the replacement identically; the ATmega8A also uses revised oscillator calibration bytes. Keep RESET (pin 1) pulled up with 10 kOhm and add a 100 nF to GND for robust ISP programming.
Compliance Information
The PC suffix historically denotes a tin-lead (non-RoHS) PDIP commercial part; the lead-free counterpart carries the P/pbf-free suffix. Compliance status not stated in provided web data - verify with Microchip product page before export-controlled or RoHS-regulated production use.
