DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP - 16-bit 60MHz DSC, 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.62 | $7.62 |
| 10 | $6.9 | $69.00 |
| 100 | $6.15 | $615.00 |
| 500 | $5.7 | $2,850.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.25 | $5,250.00 |
DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP Overview
A digital signal controller combines the compute throughput of a DSP with the peripheral integration and ease of use of a microcontroller. Within the power-management hierarchy, the dsPIC33E family sits above general-purpose MCUs and below standalone DSPs: it merges a 16-bit CPU with DSP engine (single-cycle MAC, 40-bit accumulators), high-speed PWM modules, and advanced analog, making it a single-chip solution for embedded control systems.
Key features include the MCPWM (Motor Control PWM) module for complementary or independent PWM generation with dead-time insertion, a quadrature encoder interface (QEI) for position feedback, integrated operational amplifiers and comparators that reduce external BOM cost, a 12-bit ADC, CAN 2.0B for industrial networking, a 4-channel DMA controller, and the Peripheral Trigger Generator (PTG) for hardware-sequenced autonomous operation.
Architecturally, the dsPIC33EP core executes from zero-wait-state Flash at up to 70 MIPS with DSP instructions and hardware division, while the ECC-free 256 KB Flash supports self-programming for bootloaders. The multiple interrupt vectors and shadow registers deliver deterministic latency, essential for current-loop control at 20-50 kHz sampling rates in field-oriented motor drives.
Typical applications include PMSM/BLDC/ACIM precision motor control (washing machines, HVAC blowers, pumps), digital power supplies and PFC stages, and industrial automation nodes requiring CAN connectivity. The extended -40C to +125C rating suits harsh industrial and automotive-adjacent environments.
Design consideration: as a through-hole SPDIP part, this suffix is favored for prototyping and legacy repair; the VQFN/SOIC/MM suffixes (e.g., DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/MM) provide the same die for production SMT. Decouple VDD/VDDCORE via the VCAP pin per the datasheet.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in same-footprint alternatives, and practical design notes beyond the manufacturer datasheet, with pricing as of 2026-09-24.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/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 DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, SRAM, Mounting Type, Operating Temperature, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP256MC502-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP128MU502-E/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP64MC502-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.98 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP32MC502-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC |
| CPU Speed | 60 MHz (70 MIPS) |
| Flash Program Memory | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 32 KB |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (SP) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended, E) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Motor Control PWM (MCPWM) | Yes |
| Quadrature Encoder Interface (QEI) | Yes |
| Operational Amplifiers | Integrated (2 op-amps) |
| Comparators | Integrated |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit / 12-bit, 1.1 Msps |
| CAN | CAN 2.0B |
| DMA Channels | 4 |
| Peripheral Trigger Generator (PTG) | Yes |
| Peripherals | MCPWM, QEI, OpAmps, Comparators, PTG, CAN |
| DSP Engine | Single-cycle MAC, 40-bit accumulators |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master clear reset (active low), programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | AN0/VREF+/CN0/RB0 — Analog input 0 / ADC positive reference / port RB0 |
| Pin 3 | AN1/VREF-/CN1/RB1 — Analog input 1 / ADC negative reference / port RB1 |
| Pin 4 | AN2/SS1/CN2/RB2 — Analog input 2 / SPI1 slave select / port RB2 |
| Pin 5 | AN3/INDX/CN3/RB3 — Analog input 3 / QEI index / port RB3 |
| Pin 6 | AN4/QEA/IC7/CN4/RB4 — Analog input 4 / QEI phase A / capture 7 / port RB4 |
| Pin 7 | AN5/QEB/IC8/CN5/RB5 — Analog input 5 / QEI phase B / capture 8 / port RB5 |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference for logic |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RC15 — Oscillator crystal output / clock output / port RC15 |
| Pin 11 | VDD — 3.0 V to 3.6 V power supply |
| Pin 12 | SOSCI/RP4/RC13 — Secondary oscillator input / remappable peripheral RP4 / port RC13 |
| Pin 13 | SOSCO/T1CK/RP5/RC14 — Secondary oscillator output / Timer1 clock / RP5 / port RC14 |
| Pin 14 | VCAP/VDDCORE — External capacitor for internal 1.8 V core regulator (10 uF per datasheet) |
| Pin 15 | RP2/RC1 — Remappable peripheral RP2 / port RC1 |
| Pin 16 | RP36/RC2 — Remappable peripheral RP36 / port RC2 |
| Pin 17 | RP35/RC3 — Remappable peripheral RP35 / port RC3 |
| Pin 18 | RP20/RD0 — Remappable peripheral RP20 / port RD0 |
| Pin 19 | RP21/RD1 — Remappable peripheral RP21 / port RD1 |
| Pin 20 | RP0/RD2 — Remappable peripheral RP0 / port RD2 |
| Pin 21 | AN6/RP6/RB6 — Analog input 6 / RP6 / port RB6 |
| Pin 22 | AN7/RP7/RB7 — Analog input 7 / RP7 / port RB7 |
| Pin 23 | AN8/RP8/RB8 — Analog input 8 / RP8 / port RB8 |
| Pin 24 | AN9/RP9/RB9 — Analog input 9 / RP9 / port RB9 |
| Pin 25 | AVSS — Analog ground reference for ADC |
| Pin 26 | AVDD — Analog power supply for ADC (3.0 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 27 | AN10/RP10/RB10 — Analog input 10 / RP10 / port RB10 |
| Pin 28 | AN11/RP11/RB11 — Analog input 11 / RP11 / port RB11 |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP is suitable for 6 applications: BLDC/PMSM Precision Motor Control, Digital Power Supplies and PFC, Industrial Automation with CAN Networking, Home Appliance Motor Drives, Prototyping and Legacy Through-Hole Repair, HVAC and Pump Systems.
BLDC/PMSM Precision Motor Control
The DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP fits precision motor drives because its MCPWM module generates complementary PWM pairs with hardware dead-time insertion, the QEI decodes incremental encoder position, and the 70 MIPS DSP core executes field-oriented control (FOC) current loops at 20-50 kHz with deterministic interrupt latency. Integrated op-amps amplify shunt-resistor current feedback, while comparators provide cycle-by-cycle overcurrent limiting without CPU intervention, reducing external component count. In a typical 48 V BLDC drive, the DSC reads the 12-bit 1.1 Msps ADC three times per PWM period for phase currents, runs Clarke/Park transforms in the DSP engine, and updates duty cycles within the same period. Unlike generic MCUs, the MC-family peripheral interconnect keeps the entire control loop in silicon.
Recommended
Digital Power Supplies and PFC
For switch-mode power supplies, PFC stages, and DC-DC converters, the DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP provides the high-speed MCPWM with programmable dead time and trigger-synchronized ADC sampling, enabling voltage-mode or average-current-mode control at switching frequencies up to several hundred kHz. The 12-bit 1.1 Msps ADC samples input/output voltage and inductor current synchronized to the PWM trigger, while the DSP engine computes PI compensators in single-cycle MAC operations. Integrated comparators implement hardware overcurrent protection with sub-microsecond response. The extended -40C to +125C temperature range suits sealed industrial power enclosures, and CAN 2.0B supports digital-power bus management in rack and telecom rectifier systems.
Recommended
Industrial Automation with CAN Networking
The integrated CAN 2.0B controller with up to 1 Mbps operation makes the DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP a strong node controller for industrial automation: conveyor drives, HVAC blowers, pump stations, and factory sensors. The 4-channel DMA moves ADC and CAN data without CPU load, and the Peripheral Trigger Generator autonomously sequences measurement-and-actuate routines, offloading deterministic tasks from firmware. QEI accepts encoder input from motion axes, while the remappable RPn pin scheme lets designers route UART, SPI, I2C, and PWM to any of the 28 pins for flexible board layout. The 256 KB Flash accommodates protocol stacks plus OTA-style bootloader code with headroom for field upgrades.
Recommended
Home Appliance Motor Drives
Washing machines, dishwashers, fans, and refrigeration compressors demand sensorless or encoder-based motor control over wide line voltages and harsh ambient conditions. The DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP addresses this with sensorless FOC and six-step algorithms running on the 70 MIPS core, op-amps and comparators for low-cost single-shunt current sensing, and extended -40C to +125C qualification for hot motor-adjacent mounting. The 256 KB Flash stores multi-speed profiles and fault-recovery routines, and the PTG automates startup sequencing. Using one DSC for both control and housekeeping (UART-to-WiFi bridges, user-interface scanning) reduces bill-of-material cost versus separate MCU plus driver-controller architectures.
Recommended
Prototyping and Legacy Through-Hole Repair
The SPDIP through-hole package of the DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP makes it the preferred suffix for prototyping, university labs, and repair of legacy industrial equipment where surface-mount rework is impractical. It plugs into standard 0.3-inch DIP-28 sockets, accepts ICSP programming from PICkit-class tools, and tolerates repeated insertion cycles. Because the /SP suffix shares the identical die, firmware, and pin functions with SOIC (/SO) and QFN (/MM) siblings per Microchip datasheet DS70000657, code developed on the SPDIP part transfers directly to production SMT boards without modification, de-risking the transition from bench prototype to volume manufacturing.
Recommended
HVAC and Pump Systems
Commercial HVAC air handlers and variable-speed pumps require efficient motor drives that operate reliably across wide ambient ranges and communicate with building-management networks. The DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP combines sensorless motor control on the 70 MIPS DSP core with integrated CAN 2.0B for BACnet-style networked control, eliminating an external CAN controller. Its op-amps and comparators enable low-cost shunt-based current feedback, the QEI supports pumps with speed-feedback encoders, and the -40C to +125C extended grade survives rooftop and mechanical-room environments. The 256 KB Flash accommodates efficiency-optimization algorithms plus communication stacks in a single-chip solution.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MC502-E/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256MC502-I/SP | DSPIC33EP128MU502-E/SP | DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SP | DSPIC33EP64MC502-I/SP | DSPIC33EP32MC502-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (SP) | 28-pin SPDIP - same | 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 | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB |
| CPU Speed | 60 MHz (70 MIPS) | 60 MHz (60 MIPS-class core) | 60 MIPS-class core | 60 MHz | 60 MHz | 60 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| USB OTG | No | No | Yes (MU family) | No | No | No |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature range for hot environments (vs DSPIC33EP256MC502-I/SP)
- Maximum Flash in the family footprint (vs DSPIC33EP64MC502-I/SP)
- Motor-control peripheral set vs USB family (vs DSPIC33EP128MU502-E/SP)
Design Notes
Supply 3.0 V to 3.6 V on both VDD (pin 11) and AVDD (pin 26), decoupled with 0.1 uF ceramics placed within 5 mm of each pin. The pin 14 VCAP/VDDCORE output requires a low-ESR 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor to ground per the family datasheet - do not connect it to VDD and do not omit it, or the internal 1.8 V core regulator will oscillate and the device will not start. AVDD should be filtered (ferrite bead plus 1 uF plus 0.1 uF) from the digital rail for full 12-bit ADC accuracy.
On through-hole SPDIP prototype boards, keep the PWM outputs (RPn remappable pins) physically separated from the QEI encoder inputs (RB3-RB5) to prevent crosstalk that causes spurious encoder counts. Use the Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) feature to route PWM away from noisy analog traces near RB0-RB5. Route AVSS/AVDD star-connected to the supply, not daisy-chained through VSS/VDD, especially in motor-drive layouts where power-ground ripple reaches hundreds of millivolts.
MCLR (pin 1) must never be left floating: tie it to VDD through a 10 k resistor with a 0.1 uF to ground for robust reset, and keep ICSP access for programming. During Flash self-programming, the core stalls - size watchdog timeouts accordingly. When configuring FOSC, verify that the PLL settings do not request a core clock above 60 MHz/70 MIPS, or the device will fail electrical spec even though code may appear to run at room temperature.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per Microchip product page for current-production dsPIC33E devices. AEC-Q100 qualification applies to some dsPIC33E automotive variants; specific qualification for the -E/SP suffix not stated in provided data.
