ATPL230A-AKU-R - PRIME PLC Modem 128.6Kbps | Microchip
MPN: ATPL230A-AKU-R ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.66 | $11.66 |
| 10 | $10.61 | $106.10 |
| 100 | $9.68 | $968.00 |
| 500 | $8.8 | $4,400.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.09 | $8,090.00 |
ATPL230A-AKU-R Overview
A power line communications modem is a specialized embedded device that transmits data over existing AC mains or DC power distribution wiring, eliminating the need for dedicated communication cabling. In the system hierarchy, the ATPL230A belongs to the class of application-specific microcontrollers and communication transceivers, bridging the gap between a host MCU and the physical power-line medium via an analog front end and coupling network.
Key features include full compliance with the PHY layer of the PRIME (PRoducts for Intelligent Metering Evolution) specification v1.3 and v1.4, independently selectable transmission bands up to 472 kHz, and baud rates ranging from 5.4 kbps to 128.6 kbps. Additional robust modes and frequency band extension improve link reliability in noisy grid environments, while the hardware AES-128 engine secures metering data without burdening the host processor.
The ATPL230A uses a flexible architecture composed of hardware accelerators and co-processors, enabling a highly efficient PRIME PHY implementation. An SPI interface connects the modem to an external host microcontroller, which handles PRIME MAC/CON layers and application logic. This partitioning allows firmware upgrades on the host without touching the certified PHY layer.
Typical applications include smart metering (electricity, gas, water), smart grid street lighting control, solar inverter communication, and building automation over mains wiring. The industrial temperature grade of -40C to +85C supports outdoor and cabinet-mounted metering equipment.
When designing with this device, budget the analog front end (line driver, coupling transformer, and filters) carefully, as PHY performance in CENELEC-A, FCC, and ARIB bands depends strongly on the external network; Microchip reference designs should be followed for coupling circuitry.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATPL230A-AKU-R — 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 ATPL230A-AKU-R (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Packaging, RoHS Status, Supply Voltage.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATPL230A-AKU-Y
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATPL250A-AKU-R
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATPL250A-AKU-Y
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATPL210A-A1U-Y
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATPL100A-AZU-Y
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.49 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATPL230A-AKU-R Specifications
| Product Type | Power Line Communications (PLC) base band modem |
| Protocol | PRIME PHY layer, v1.3 and v1.4 |
| Maximum Data Rate | 128.6 kbps |
| Minimum Data Rate | 5.4 kbps |
| Frequency Band | CENELEC-A, FCC, ARIB |
| Maximum Transmission Band | 472 kHz |
| Crypto Engine | AES-128 |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V (3 V to 3.6 V) |
| Interface Type | SPI |
| Package | 80-LQFP (12x12 mm) |
| Number of Pins | 80 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T/R) |
| RoHS Status | Green / RoHS compliant |
ATPL230A-AKU-R 80-lqfp (12x12 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATPL230A-AKU-R (80-lqfp (12x12 mm) package). Pin numbering, functions, and connection diagrams are defined in the manufacturer datasheet. Refer to it for the exact footprint and soldering guidelines.
No detailed pinout data available for ATPL230A-AKU-R.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATPL230A-AKU-R is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Electricity Metering, Smart Grid Street Lighting Control, Solar Inverter and PV Plant Communication, Building Automation over Mains Wiring, Smart Water and Gas Metering, Industrial Automation over Power Lines.
Smart Electricity Metering
In PRIME-based smart electricity meter deployments, the ATPL230A-AKU-R serves as the dedicated PHY modem that carries metering data over the low-voltage distribution mains, removing the need for RF spectrum licenses or dedicated data cabling. Its PRIME v1.3/v1.4 PHY compliance and 128.6 kbps maximum data rate satisfy the throughput requirements of DLMS/COSEM metering profiles, while the AES-128 hardware engine encrypts payloads without loading the host MCU. The modem operates across CENELEC-A, FCC, and ARIB bands up to 472 kHz, so one PCB design can serve European, US, and Japanese regulatory regions through firmware band selection. Its -40C to +85C industrial rating suits outdoor meter cabinets and pedestal installations.
Recommended
Smart Grid Street Lighting Control
Street lighting controllers benefit from the ATPL230A because power lines already exist at every luminaire, making PLC the lowest-installed-cost network for dimming, on/off switching, and energy monitoring. The device's additional robust modes maintain links on long, noisy overhead cable runs where multipath and impulse noise degrade conventional modulation, and the selectable band plan up to 472 kHz allows operators to move away from congested CENELEC-A sub-bands. With SPI interfacing to a lighting controller MCU, the ATPL230A offloads all PRIME PHY processing to hardware accelerators, freeing host bandwidth for DALI or 0-10 V dimming logic. The 3 V to 3.6 V supply integrates cleanly into standard 3.3 V controller rails.
Recommended
Solar Inverter and PV Plant Communication
In photovoltaic plants, the ATPL230A provides PLC connectivity between string inverters, junction boxes, and the plant gateway over existing AC wiring, giving plant operators per-string yield monitoring without commissioning separate RS-485 or Ethernet runs. The 5.4 kbps to 128.6 kbps rate range lets integrators trade throughput for robustness on long cable runs: low baud robust modes ride through inverter switching noise at high frequencies, while the full 128.6 kbps mode serves gateway aggregators. Its FCC band support covers North American installations, and CENELEC-A coverage serves European plants. The industrial temperature range and RoHS-compliant 80-LQFP construction meet inverter enclosure environmental requirements.
Recommended
Building Automation over Mains Wiring
For commercial and residential building automation, the ATPL230A enables sensors, actuators, and energy submeters to communicate over existing power circuits, avoiding rewiring costs in retrofit projects. The PRIME PHY compliance guarantees interoperability with the wider PRIME node ecosystem, and the AES-128 engine secures command channels for locks, HVAC valves, and load-control relays. Because the device partitions work as a SPI-attached modem, existing building controller firmware can add PLC connectivity with a small driver rather than a full stack rewrite; the host runs the PRIME MAC layer while the ATPL230A handles real-time PHY. Its 3.3 V operation and surface-mount LQFP-80 package suit compact wall-box controllers.
Recommended
Smart Water and Gas Metering
Battery-friendly water and gas meter endpoints that share a district data concentrator can use the ATPL230A when mains-reachable PLC paths exist between concentrator and endpoint clusters, for example in heated cabinets or combined electricity-water meter installations. The modem's low-rate robust modes (down to 5.4 kbps) maximize link margin on long, high-attenuation cable segments, and independently selectable transmission bands let integrators avoid interference from large electrical consumers. The AES-128 engine protects billing data integrity, a regulatory requirement in many utility deployments. Designers pair the ATPL230A with a low-power host MCU that sleeps between PRIME communication sessions to conserve battery capacity.
Recommended
Industrial Automation over Power Lines
In factory environments, the ATPL230A carries sensor and actuator telemetry over existing 230/400 V distribution wiring between machines, junction boxes, and SCADA gateways, avoiding cable trays in retrofit production lines. The -40C to +85C rating and industrial-grade qualification tolerate panel and cabinet temperatures, while the additional robust modes of the ATPL230A PRIME device specifically counter the impulse noise typical of variable frequency drives and contactors. The device's CENELEC-A, FCC, and ARIB band support means one controller board design ships globally with only firmware band-plan changes. Hardware AES-128 secures process control data against tampering on shared factory mains.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATPL230A-AKU-R — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATPL230A-AKU-Y | ATPL250A-AKU-R | ATPL210A-A1U-Y | ATPL100A-AZU-Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 80-LQFP (12x12 mm) | 80-LQFP - same | 80-LQFP - same | 80-LQFP - same | 80-LQFP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| PRIME Version Support | v1.3 and v1.4 | v1.3 and v1.4 | v1.3 and v1.4 (PRIME family) | v1.3 (earlier family) | v1.3 (earlier family) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C (IND TEMP) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T/R) | Tray | Tape & Reel (T/R) | Tray | Tray |
Key Differentiators
- Dedicated PRIME PHY modem with hardware accelerators (vs ATPL100A-AZU-Y)
- AES-128 hardware crypto engine (vs ATPL210A-A1U-Y)
- Footprint-compatible migration path to higher integration (vs ATPL250A-AKU-R)
Design Notes
The ATPL230A runs from a 3.3 V nominal supply (3 V to 3.6 V range) and bursts significant dynamic current during PRIME PHY transmissions. Place a bulk 10 uF ceramic plus 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor directly at each supply pin group, and isolate the modem supply from shared analog circuitry of the line driver with a ferrite bead or dedicated LDO. Supply sag during transmit bursts can corrupt PHY framing, so verify rail ripple under worst-case modulation with an oscilloscope at the IC pins, not just at the regulator output.
The ATPL230A implements only the PRIME base band PHY; the analog front end (AFE) - transmit line driver, coupling transformer or capacitor network, and band-pass filter - dominates real-world link performance. Follow the Microchip reference design for the CENELEC-A, FCC, or ARIB band you deploy in, since filter corner frequencies must match the selected band plan up to 472 kHz. Mismatched AFE filtering causes both failed regulatory measurements and degraded robust-mode margins on noisy grid segments.
The 80-LQFP (12x12 mm) package uses 0.5 mm pin pitch; fan out with 4-mil traces and define the footprint per the manufacturer land pattern before routing. Keep the SPI bus to the host MCU short (under 10 cm) and series-terminate clock lines to avoid reflections at typical SPI rates. The device is supplied in Tape & Reel (suffix -R) for automated pick-and-place; order the -Y tray variant for prototype rework where manual placement matters. Moisture sensitivity handling: bake per JEDEC guidance if floor-life is exceeded.
Do not assume drop-in substitution outside the ATPL family: no cross-brand pin-compatible PRIME LQFP-80 modems were confirmed in cross-reference data, and even family variants such as ATPL210A or ATPL100A differ in PRIME version support and robust-mode feature sets. Confirm PRIME v1.4 band-extension compliance is actually required by your target utility certification scheme before selecting a lower family member to save cost, since certifications are tied to the implemented PHY feature set.
Compliance Information
Listed as Green package (RoHS/lead-free/halogen-free) with IND TEMP grade in FindIC/AiPCBA distributor data. Not an automotive AEC-Q100 part.
