DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP - 70MIPS 16-bit DSC 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.1 | $6.10 |
| 10 | $5.55 | $55.50 |
| 100 | $4.85 | $485.00 |
| 500 | $4.3 | $2,150.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.9 | $3,900.00 |
DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP Overview
A digital signal controller combines the computational horsepower of a DSP with the peripheral integration and ease of use of a microcontroller. Within the power-management hierarchy, the DSC sits above a general-purpose MCU and below a full application processor: the dsPIC33E core is a Harvard-architecture, 16-bit pipelined engine with DSP multiply-accumulate (MAC) instructions, making it a natural single-chip choice for closed-loop control systems where sensors are sampled, control algorithms execute, and power stages are driven without external signal-processing ICs.
Key features of the dsPIC33EP256MC202 include the 70 MIPS dsPIC DSC core with integrated DSP engine, high-speed PWM peripherals tailored for motor control, advanced analog peripherals, and the 256 KB self-programmable flash that gives ample headroom for field-updatable firmware. The MC (motor control) variant is specifically architected for precision motor control, providing the peripheral set Microchip positions for sensorless BLDC, PMSM, and ACIM drives.
Technically, the dsPIC33EP core executes most instructions in a single cycle and includes hardware division, 17-bit x 17-bit single-cycle MAC, and dual address generation units for DSP kernels such as FIR filters, PID loops, and Clarke/Park transforms. Code and data buses are separate (Harvard architecture), enabling simultaneous instruction fetch and operand access, which is what allows the 16-bit core to reach 70 MIPS at modest clock frequencies and low power.
Typical applications include brushless DC and permanent-magnet synchronous motor drives, digital power supplies (PFC, LLC), solar inverters, and industrial sensing and control nodes that previously required a separate MCU plus DSP.
When designing with this device, connect all VDD/VSS pairs, fit the internal regulator VCAP capacitor per the datasheet, and use any PGECx/PGEDx pair consistently for ICSP programming, as both members of the pair must be wired to the programmer.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing context, drop-in alternatives, pinout guidance, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP — 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 DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Mounting Type, SRAM, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP128MC202-H/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256GP202-H/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP128GP202-H/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP128MU502-E/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC, Harvard |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 70 MIPS |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 32 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Product Family | dsPIC33EP MC (Motor Control) |
| High-Speed PWM | Yes (motor-control oriented) |
| Analog Peripherals | Advanced analog (ADC, comparators) |
| Programming Interface | ICSP via PGECx/PGEDx pairs |
| DSP Engine | Single-cycle MAC, hardware divide |
| Grade | Automotive per AiPCBA listing |
DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master clear reset (active low), programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | AN0/VREF+/CN2B/RB0 — Analog input 0 / positive voltage reference / PORTB I/O |
| Pin 3 | AN1/VREF-/CN3B/RB1 — Analog input 1 / negative voltage reference / PORTB I/O |
| Pin 4 | AN2/SS1/CN4B/RB2 — Analog input 2 / SPI slave select 1 / PORTB I/O |
| Pin 5 | AN3/INDX/CN5B/RB3 — Analog input 3 / encoder index / PORTB I/O |
| Pin 6 | AN4/QEA/IC7/CN6B/RB4 — Analog input 4 / encoder QEA / capture input 7 / PORTB I/O |
| Pin 7 | VDD — 3.3 V power supply |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/CN7B/RA2 — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input / PORTA I/O |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/CN8B/RA3 — Oscillator crystal output / clock output / PORTA I/O |
| Pin 11 | VCAP/VDDCORE — Internal core regulator output - connect required capacitor to ground |
| Pin 12 | PGD/RP15/CN0B/RB5 — Programming data / remappable peripheral RP15 / PORTB I/O |
| Pin 13 | PGC/RP14/CN1B/RB6 — Programming clock / remappable peripheral RP14 / PORTB I/O |
| Pin 14 | RP13/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP13 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 15 | RP12/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP12 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 16 | RP11/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP11 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 17 | RP10/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP10 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 18 | RP9/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP9 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — 3.3 V power supply |
| Pin 21 | RP8/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP8 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 22 | RP7/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP7 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 23 | RP6/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP6 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 24 | RP5/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP5 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 25 | RP4/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP4 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 26 | RP3/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP3 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 27 | RP2/PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral RP2 / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
| Pin 28 | RP1/RP0-class PORTB I/O — Remappable peripheral / PORTB I/O (verify full multifunction name in datasheet) |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Brushless DC Motor Drives, Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) FOC Control, Digital Power Supplies (PFC, LLC, Buck), Solar Micro-Inverters and Renewable Energy Converters, Industrial Sensing and Control Nodes, Battery-Powered Portable Equipment.
Brushless DC Motor Drives
The dsPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP fits sensorless and hall-sensored BLDC drives because its MC peripherals combine high-speed PWM outputs with a 70 MIPS core that runs commutation and current-loop code deterministically. The 70 MIPS dsPIC33E core executes trapezoidal or field-oriented commutation math with single-cycle MAC instructions, while the advanced analog block samples phase currents for closed-loop torque control. In a typical topology, the DSC reads a shunt or in-line current sense amplifier, computes the duty update in a PWM interrupt, and drives a three-phase gate-driver IC such as the MCP802x or IR21xx family. The 256 KB flash leaves headroom for field-updatable commutation tables and fault diagnostics. Because all control, PWM, and ADC functions live on one chip, board BOM cost drops compared to MCU-plus-DSP splits, and deterministic interrupt latency simplifies current-loop tuning at multi-kHz bandwidths.
Recommended
Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) FOC Control
Field-oriented control of PMSM motors is one of the primary use cases Microchip cites for the dsPIC33E MC family. The 70 MIPS Harvard core executes Clarke and Park transforms, PI current loops, and space-vector PWM modulation within one PWM period at switching frequencies of 10-20 kHz and above. The 16-bit architecture with hardware MAC keeps cycle counts low enough to run dual current loops plus a speed loop without a floating-point coprocessor, using fixed-point Q15 arithmetic supported by the DSP engine. The 256 KB flash accommodates a full FOC stack with parameter identification routines, and the 28-pin count keeps drive boards compact. Encoder or resolver interface signals map onto the remappable RPx pins, and the high-speed PWM peripheral provides center-aligned, dead-time-controlled complementary outputs required by three-phase inverters.
Recommended
Digital Power Supplies (PFC, LLC, Buck)
The dsPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP is well suited to digital power conversion where the DSP core closes voltage and current loops around a switched power stage. Its high-speed PWM peripheral generates phase-shifted or complementary outputs with nanosecond-class resolution required by LLC half-bridge and phase-shifted full-bridge topologies, while the 70 MIPS core runs average-current-mode control for a PFC front end. The advanced analog block feeds ADC samples of input/output voltage and inductor current into control interrupts with deterministic latency. With 256 KB flash, firmware can include soft-start, burst mode, and full fault management (overcurrent, overvoltage, overtemperature) without external supervisor ICs. The 3.3 V I/O drives level-shifters or gate-driver ICs directly, and the through-hole SPDIP package simplifies prototyping on breadboard-style power stages before committing to a production PCB.
Recommended
Solar Micro-Inverters and Renewable Energy Converters
Grid-tied and off-grid solar converter designs benefit from the combination of a 70 MIPS DSC core and motor-control-class PWM in a single low-cost device. The dsPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP runs maximum-power-point-tracking (MPPT) algorithms - perturb-and-observe or incremental conductance - on the same core that executes the inverter current loops, eliminating inter-processor communication latency. The advanced analog block samples panel voltage/current and grid waveforms at rates sufficient for 50/60 Hz output synthesis with distortion compensation. The 256 KB flash holds MPPT, grid-monitoring, anti-islanding, and communication firmware simultaneously. Low-cost 16-bit operation keeps per-watt electronics cost competitive, and the industrial peripheral set supports DC-bus balancing in multi-stage architectures where each converter stage is supervised by its own DSC.
Recommended
Industrial Sensing and Control Nodes
Factory automation nodes use the dsPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP where sensor signals require DSP-class filtering - such as vibration, flow, and load-cell inputs - alongside simple actuator control. The 70 MIPS core runs FIR/IIR filter kernels using the DSP MAC engine, extracting conditioned measurements from noisy analog front ends sampled by the on-chip ADC and compared by integrated analog comparators. The remappable peripheral pin select architecture routes UART, SPI, and I2C to any suitable RPx pins, simplifying multi-drop fieldbus wiring on dense boards. The 256 KB flash supports protocol stacks (Modbus, CAN) plus a local control state machine in one image, and the 3.3 V supply integrates with modern sensor electronics. Through-hole SPDIP packaging makes this part especially convenient for rework-heavy prototyping and low-volume industrial retrofit equipment.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Equipment
Portable and battery-operated equipment such as handheld instruments, power tools, and e-mobility products use the dsPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP as a single-chip controller that both manages the battery and drives the motor or load. The 3.3 V, low-power 16-bit core provides idle and doze operating modes for conserving battery between control cycles, while remaining fast enough (70 MIPS) to run charge management and safety cutoff code deterministically. The advanced analog block monitors pack voltage and current for fuel-gauging approximations, and the comparators implement hardware-level overcurrent protection that reacts even if firmware stalls. With 256 KB flash, one image can include charge control, user interface, and fault logging. The 28-pin through-hole package supports low-volume and serviceable product designs where field replacement of the controller is desirable.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SP | DSPIC33EP128MC202-H/SP | DSPIC33EP256GP202-H/SP | DSPIC33EP128MU502-E/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP | 28-pin SPDIP - same | 28-pin SPDIP - same | 28-pin SPDIP - same | 28-pin SPDIP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| CPU Speed | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB |
| Peripheral Focus | MC (motor control: high-speed PWM, advanced analog) | MC (motor control) | MC (motor control) | GP (general purpose) | MU (USB) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V |
| Temperature/Grade Suffix | -H (automotive-grade listing per AiPCBA) | -I (industrial) | -H | -H | -E (extended) |
| Pin Compatibility | 28-pin SPDIP reference | Pin-to-pin drop-in | Pin-to-pin drop-in | Pin-to-pin drop-in | Pin-to-pin drop-in |
Key Differentiators
- Full 256 KB program memory headroom (vs DSPIC33EP128MC202-H/SP)
- Motor-control peripheral emphasis (vs DSPIC33EP256GP202-H/SP)
- Through-hole SPDIP packaging for prototyping (vs DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/MM)
Design Notes
The dsPIC33EP family powers its core from an internal regulator whose output appears on pin 11 (VCAP/VDDCORE). Fit the datasheet-specified low-ESR capacitor (family design guidance calls for a 10 uF class tantalum/ceramic) directly at this pin; do not load this node with external circuits. Insufficient VCAP capacitance is the most common root cause of random resets and debugger communication failures on dsPIC33EP boards. Connect all VDD/VSS pairs and decouple each VDD pin with 0.1 uF close to the pin.
ICSP programming requires a matched PGECx/PGEDx pair: if you route ICSPCLK to PGEC2, ICSPDAT must go to PGED2 - mixing pairs from different indices will fail to connect. Reserve header access to MCLR (with 10k pull-up), one PGEC/PGED pair, VDD, and VSS on every board, even production builds, so field firmware updates are possible. Note the device has more than one PGEC/PGED pair available on the 28-pin package, so pick the pair nearest your programming header to keep traces short.
For motor-control and digital-power layouts, keep PWM output traces short and matched to the gate-driver inputs, and return high-di/dt gate-driver currents to the power-stage bulk capacitor rather than through the DSC ground. Place the crystal within a few millimeters of OSC1/OSC2 with guard ground if an external crystal is used; otherwise drive CLKI from an external oscillator. Treat the analog inputs (AN0-AN4) as high-impedance nodes: add RC anti-alias filtering sized to the ADC acquisition window per the ADC chapter of the family reference manual.
Compliance Information
AiPCBA listing describes the part as automotive grade; RoHS/REACH declarations should be confirmed from Microchip's official product page or environmental datasheet before use in regulated markets.
