ATPL250A-AKU-R - G3-PLC Power Line Modem IC | Microchip
MPN: ATPL250A-AKU-R ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.82 | $5.82 |
| 10 | $5.42 | $54.20 |
| 100 | $4.95 | $495.00 |
| 500 | $4.55 | $2,275.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.18 | $4,180.00 |
ATPL250A-AKU-R Overview
A power line communication modem is a communication IC that transmits data over existing AC mains or DC power lines by modulating a carrier signal onto the line, eliminating the need for dedicated wiring. Within the system hierarchy, the ATPL250A sits between the physical analog line front end and the host microcontroller, offloading the computationally demanding PHY and MAC layers of the G3-PLC standard from the application processor. G3-PLC is an open standard promoted by the G3-PLC Alliance and supported by internationally recognized standards bodies, making it the dominant PLC technology for smart grid infrastructure.
Key features include flexible support for G3-PLC CENELEC, ARIB, and FCC frequency profiles, which allows one design to serve global markets with different regulatory band plans. The hardware-accelerated architecture handles OFDM modulation, forward error correction, and convolutional interleaving in dedicated logic, delivering deterministic real-time performance that a pure software implementation cannot match. The device is classified by distributors as a Network Controller & Processor IC / power line communications microcontroller.
The ATPL250A implements the G3 PHY layer with hardware accelerators and coprocessors, achieving spectral efficiency and robustness over hostile power line channels characterized by multipath fading, impulsive noise, and frequency-selective attenuation. This architecture lets a companion host MCU manage application logic, metering computation, or protocol translation while the ATPL250A transparently maintains the PLC link, including adaptive tone mapping and channel estimation.
Typical applications include smart metering (electricity meters and data concentrators), smart lighting control, industrial and home automation, and home energy management gateways. In a data concentrator, the ATPL250A aggregates PLC traffic from hundreds of meters onto a backhaul link, making its PHY efficiency directly responsible for network capacity.
When designing with the ATPL250A, pay close attention to the analog line driver and coupling network: PCB layout of the transmit path and use of the reference design from the Atmel/Microchip user manual are critical to meeting G3-PLC Alliance interoperability and local emissions regulations.
This page synthesizes verified distributor data, drop-in alternatives from the same LQFP-80 ATPL PLC family, and selection guidance not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet. Pricing and availability were last verified on 2026-09-19.
Drop-in alternatives for ATPL250A-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 ATPL250A-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:
ATPL250A-AKU-Y
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATPL230A-AKU-R
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.09 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATPL230A-AKU-Y
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATPL210A-A1U-Y
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATPL250A-AKU-R Specifications
| Product Type | G3-PLC Power Line Communication Modem IC |
| Communication Standard | G3-PLC (CENELEC, ARIB, FCC profiles) |
| Architecture | Hardware accelerators and coprocessors for G3 PHY layer |
| Package | LQFP-80 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Number of Pins | 80 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial Temp A) |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T&R) |
| Packing Level | MRL A |
| RoHS / Green | Green package (per Mouser listing) |
ATPL250A-AKU-R lqfp-80 Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATPL250A-AKU-R (lqfp-80 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 ATPL250A-AKU-R.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATPL250A-AKU-R is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Electricity Metering, Data Concentrators for AMI Networks, Smart Street Lighting Control, Home Energy Management / Home Automation, Industrial Automation over Power Lines, Solar PV Monitoring and Microinverter Gateways.
Smart Electricity Metering
The ATPL250A-AKU-R is explicitly designed for smart metering, where its G3-PLC PHY with hardware accelerators provides reliable two-way communication over the low-voltage mains wiring already present at the meter. Supporting CENELEC, ARIB, and FCC profiles lets a single meter platform be certified for European, Japanese, and FCC-regulated markets without redesigning the modem section. The coprocessor architecture handles OFDM modulation, forward error correction, and interleaving in dedicated hardware, keeping link latency deterministic even under impulsive noise on the line. The modem typically interfaces to a host metering MCU over UART or SPI, so metering firmware development proceeds independently of the PLC stack. Field reliability benefits from G3-PLC adaptive tone mapping, which the ATPL250A applies automatically as channel conditions change.
Recommended
Data Concentrators for AMI Networks
In advanced metering infrastructure, a data concentrator aggregates PLC traffic from hundreds of neighborhood meters and forwards it over cellular, Ethernet, or fiber backhaul. The ATPL250A-AKU-R fits this role because its efficient G3 PHY implementation maximizes throughput per channel and its hardware accelerators sustain multiple concurrent PLC sessions without host CPU loading. According to the Microchip datasheet, data concentrators are a named target application alongside smart meters. The device's support for all three G3 band profiles means one concentrator hardware design serves multiple regions, simplifying inventory. Designers should pair the modem with a capable host processor (for example an ATMEGA or ARM-based MCU) that runs the collection protocol and backhaul stack, since the ATPL250A offloads only the PHY layer of the PLC link.
Recommended
Smart Street Lighting Control
Power line communication is a natural fit for street lighting because each luminaire already has a mains connection, avoiding the cost and permitting burden of RF mesh or dedicated cabling. The ATPL250A-AKU-R's G3-PLC modem provides the robust, self-healing link needed across long cable runs with many tap points, and its -40C to +85C industrial rating survives outdoor cabinet environments. The hardware-accelerated PHY maintains communication over the noisy, impedance-varying channels typical of lighting networks. Microchip's datasheet names lighting among its primary target applications. Each luminaire node pairs the modem with a low-cost host MCU and relay or dimming driver, while the G3-PLC profile selection (CENELEC for Europe, FCC for wider-band deployments) matches the local regulatory environment.
Recommended
Home Energy Management / Home Automation
Home automation systems use the ATPL250A-AKU-R to send control and telemetry over existing household wiring, connecting thermostats, plugs, appliance modules, and gateway devices without new cabling. G3-PLC penetration through breakers and branch circuits is a well-known strength of the standard, and the ATPL250A's coprocessor-based PHY handles the channel estimation and adaptive tone mapping that such segmented channels demand. The datasheet lists home automation and home energy management among its target applications, and the G3-PLC Alliance interoperability framework ensures coexistence with certified devices from other vendors. The -R Tape & Reel format suits automated assembly of consumer-grade modules. Because the modem covers CENELEC, ARIB, and FCC profiles, one module design can ship globally with firmware configuration only.
Recommended
Industrial Automation over Power Lines
In factories and industrial plants, the ATPL250A-AKU-R enables machine-to-machine communication over existing power distribution lines where adding dedicated network cable is expensive or impractical. Its -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating and Green/RoHS LQFP-80 package suit control cabinet installation, and the G3 PHY's forward error correction sustains links in electrically noisy environments dominated by motor drives and switch-mode supplies. The datasheet explicitly names industrial automation as a target application. Typical architectures pair one ATPL250A per machine or panel with a host controller that maps PLC messages onto the plant protocol layer. Designers should follow the Microchip reference coupling network and pay attention to EMC layout, as industrial emissions and immunity requirements are stricter than residential ones.
Recommended
Solar PV Monitoring and Microinverter Gateways
Photovoltaic installations can use G3-PLC over the AC string or service wiring to report panel-level generation, fault status, and shutdown signaling to a gateway without radio licensing or extra cabling. The ATPL250A-AKU-R's multi-profile support (CENELEC, ARIB, FCC) matches the regional band plans solar OEMs must comply with, and the hardware-accelerated PHY delivers the robustness needed on rooftop wiring exposed to switching noise from the inverters themselves. Microchip's datasheet positions the part broadly within smart grid applications, of which distributed generation monitoring is a recognized segment. The industrial temperature rating accommodates rooftop combiner-box conditions. Pair the modem with a host MCU running the monitoring protocol; the ATPL250A transparently maintains the PLC link with adaptive tone mapping as inverter operating states change the channel.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATPL250A-AKU-R — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATPL250A-AKU-Y | ATPL230A-AKU-R | ATPL230A-AKU-Y | ATPL210A-A1U-Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | LQFP-80 | LQFP-80 - same | LQFP-80 - same | LQFP-80 - same | LQFP-80 - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Product Generation | ATPL250A (latest G3 PHY, hardware accelerators) | ATPL250A (identical die) | ATPL230A (previous generation) | ATPL230A (previous generation) | ATPL210A (earlier family) |
| Packing Option | Tape & Reel (T&R, MRL A) | Tray pack (Y) | Tape & Reel (T&R) | Tray pack (Y) | Tray pack (Y) |
| Substitution Effort | - | None - identical die, drop-in | Firmware stack change + re-certification | Firmware stack change + re-certification | Verify feature set; likely firmware change |
Key Differentiators
- Latest-generation G3 PHY with dedicated hardware accelerators (vs ATPL230A-AKU-R)
- Triple-profile regulatory coverage in one device (vs ATPL210A-A1U-Y)
- Industrial temperature with green Tape & Reel supply (vs ATPL250A-AKU-Y)
Design Notes
The ATPL250A mixes a sensitive analog PLC front end with digital PHY logic on one die, so the LQFP-80 layout must partition analog and digital grounds per the Microchip reference design. Route the transmit path (line driver output to the coupling transformer/capacitor network) short and wide, keep the RX path away from TX and switching supplies, and follow the Atmel/Microchip ATPL250A user manual (PANCoordinator-EK reference board) for the coupling network component values. Deviating from the reference coupling circuit risks failing G3-PLC Alliance interoperability testing.
Because the ATPL250A injects an OFDM carrier directly onto the mains, the complete device must pass local conducted-emissions limits (CENELEC EN 50065 class, ARIB, or FCC Part 15 rules depending on the selected profile). Estimated practical guidance: budget for a band-pass coupling network with appropriate attenuation of out-of-band products, and test the full meter/concentrator assembly - not just the modem board - early in the design cycle, since the line driver's spectral mask is only as clean as the surrounding magnetics and layout allow.
Do not assume the ATPL230A firmware stack runs unchanged on the ATPL250A: although ATPL230A and ATPL250A share the LQFP-80 footprint and are listed as replaceable parts by cross-reference sites, they are different generations with different register maps and SDKs. Plan for a firmware port, retesting against the G3-PLC certification suite, and re-running regional regulatory approvals whenever substituting across generations. Similarly, ATPL250A-AKU-Y is a true drop-in for the -R part only because the die is identical; both derive from the same 80-pin package definition.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the ATPL250A-AKU-R as 'Green' packaging (Microchip green/RoHS terminology, lead-free). REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations were not found in retrieved distributor data; obtain formal certificates from Microchip.
