DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL - 16-bit DSC 256KB Flash 60 MIPS | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.06 | $8.06 |
| 10 | $7.4 | $74.00 |
| 100 | $6.8 | $680.00 |
| 500 | $6.2 | $3,100.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.7 | $5,700.00 |
DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL Overview
A digital signal controller combines the computation throughput of a digital signal processor with the peripheral integration and control logic of a microcontroller. Within the power-management hierarchy, the dsPIC33E family sits between general-purpose 16-bit MCUs and dedicated DSPs, offering a modified Harvard architecture, DSP multiply-accumulate instructions, and high-resolution PWM peripherals in a single chip, making the DSC category the standard choice for embedded motion control and digital power conversion.
Key features include the 70 MIPS-class dsPIC33E core (this speed grade runs at 60 MIPS), 256KB self-programmable Flash organized as 85.5K x 24, 32KB of RAM, and a high-speed PWM module purpose-built for motor control. The H temperature grade supports -40C to +150C operation, extending use into high-ambient environments such as under-hood and industrial drive enclosures.
Technical depth comes from the integrated analog subsystem: a 10-bit ADC running at 1.1 Msps with four sample-and-hold circuits or a 12-bit ADC at 500 ksps with one sample-and-hold, up to three on-chip op amp/comparators with direct ADC connection, and programmable references. Connectivity includes CAN, I2C, SPI, UART/USART, IrDA, LIN, and QEI for encoder feedback. Flexible and independent ADC trigger sources synchronize sampling to the PWM events that dominate digital power loops.
Typical applications are precision motor control (BLDC, PMSM, ACIM with Field Oriented Control), digital power supplies and solar inverters, and automotive/industrial actuators. The high-speed PWM with fault inputs and the QEI interface make it a natural single-chip servo controller.
Design consideration: at 60 MIPS the core draws its peak current at 3.3V, so provide low-impedance 3.3V rails with local decoupling, and confirm that the +150C ambient limit is compatible with your junction-temperature budget at full clock rate.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the same VTLA-44 footprint, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL — 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 DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, Qualification, CAN, Motor Control PWM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/TL
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP512MC504-H/TL
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP128MC504-H/TL
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP64MC504-H/TL
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP32MC504-H/TL
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | dsPIC33E 16-bit |
| Core Speed | 60 MIPS |
| Program Memory Size | 256 KB Flash (85.5K x 24) |
| RAM Size | 32 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Package | 44-pin VTLA |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tube |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +150C (H grade) |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit at 1.1 Msps (4 S&H) or 12-bit at 500 ksps (1 S&H) |
| On-chip Op Amps/Comparators | Up to 3 |
| PWM | High-speed PWM for motor control |
| Connectivity | CAN, I2C, SPI, UART/USART, IrDA, LIN, QEI |
| Architecture | Modified Harvard, DSP-enhanced |
| Programmability | Self-programmable Flash (EP) |
| Qualification | Automotive |
| Category | Digital Signal Controllers & Processors (DSC/DSP) |
DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL 44-pin vtla Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL (44-pin vtla package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL is suitable for 6 applications: BLDC/PMSM Motor Control (FOC), Digital Power Supplies and Inverters, Automotive Actuators and Body Control, Industrial Servo Drives and Robotics, Sensor Signal Acquisition Nodes, High-Ambient Embedded Control (Lighting, Appliances).
BLDC/PMSM Motor Control (FOC)
The DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL fits brushless DC and permanent-magnet synchronous motor drives because its high-speed PWM module provides complementary outputs with programmable dead time and fault shutdown, while the QEI interface reads encoder feedback directly. The 60 MIPS dsPIC33E core executes field-oriented control current loops at 10-20 kHz with headroom for sensorless observers. The 10-bit ADC at 1.1 Msps with four sample-and-hold circuits samples phase currents and the DC bus simultaneously, triggered by PWM events for jitter-free control timing. The H grade's -40C to +150C range suits drives in sealed enclosures. With 256KB Flash, the same controller holds the FOC engine, protocol stack, and diagnostics without external memory.
Recommended
Digital Power Supplies and Inverters
In digitally controlled AC-DC, DC-DC, and solar micro-inverter designs, the DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL provides the deterministic loop timing that digital power requires. Its high-speed PWM supports phase-shifted full-bridge, LLC, and buck-boost topologies with sub-nanosecond-class resolution adjustments, and the up-to-three on-chip op amp/comparators implement cycle-by-cycle current limiting without external op amps. The 12-bit ADC at 500 ksps delivers the voltage and current feedback precision needed for tight regulation, while flexible independent ADC trigger sources synchronize sampling to switching instants. The 3.3V core with 60 MIPS throughput handles multi-loop control plus compensation, and the H temperature grade tolerates power-supply internal ambient temperatures up to +150C.
Recommended
Automotive Actuators and Body Control
The DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL suits automotive actuator control - electronic throttle, HVAC blowers, fuel pumps, and window lifts - where the H grade's -40C to +150C ambient range and automotive screening match under-hood and near-engine environments. The on-chip CAN interface connects the actuator to vehicle networks without an external CAN transceiver controller core, and LIN/IrDA-capable UARTs cover body-network nodes. The 12-bit ADC at 500 ksps reads position potentiometers and current shunts, while the high-speed PWM drives H-bridge stages with current-limit protection. With 256KB Flash, diagnostics, OBD-relevant routines, and flash wear-leveled calibration data fit on-chip, reducing BOM cost in high-volume actuator designs.
Recommended
Industrial Servo Drives and Robotics
For servo drives and robotic joint controllers, the DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL acts as a single-chip motion engine. The QEI module decodes quadrature encoder signals in hardware, freeing CPU cycles for the position and velocity cascades running on the 60 MIPS core above the FOC current loop. The 10-bit ADC with four sample-and-hold channels captures three phase currents plus bus voltage in one trigger event, and the high-speed PWM fault inputs respond to overcurrent trips without software latency. Its 256KB Flash stores multiple motion profiles and fieldbus stacks (CAN, UART-based protocols). The 44-pin VTLA footprint keeps the controller compact enough to mount directly on the drive PCB inside the robot arm.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Acquisition Nodes
The DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL works well as an intelligent analog acquisition node: its direct-connect op amp/comparator inputs condition sensor signals such as pressure bridges and thermocouple amplifiers, and the 12-bit, 500 ksps ADC converts them with flexible, independent trigger sources that can pace sampling from a timer rather than the PWM. DSP multiply-accumulate instructions implement on-chip digital filtering, RMS computation, and FFT-based spectral analysis, offloading the host in distributed systems. SPI and I2C interfaces stream processed data to displays or a supervisory controller, while CAN and UART handle long industrial cable runs. The 150C-capable H grade allows placement inside pumps, compressors, and exhaust-path sensing modules.
Recommended
High-Ambient Embedded Control (Lighting, Appliances)
In high-temperature appliance and lighting electronics - oven controls, cooktop power stages, HID and LED ballasts - the DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL's -40C to +150C rating removes the derating constraints that standard 85C microcontrollers impose near heat-generating power stages. The high-speed PWM drives switching stages with precise dead time, the ADC samples output current and NTC feedback, and comparators provide hardware-level overcurrent shutdown. The 3.3V supply integrates easily with isolated auxiliary bias rails, and 256KB Flash accommodates touch-sensing libraries, HMI logic, and communication stacks simultaneously. The self-programmable Flash supports field firmware updates over UART or CAN for serviceability in installed appliances.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/TL — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/TL | DSPIC33EP512MC504-H/TL | DSPIC33EP128MC504-H/TL | DSPIC33EP64MC504-H/TL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-pin VTLA (TL) | 44-pin VTLA (TL) - same | 44-pin VTLA (TL) - same | 44-pin VTLA (TL) - same | 44-pin VTLA (TL) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Program Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 512 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB |
| RAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Core Speed | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +150C (H) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +150C (H) | -40C to +150C (H) | -40C to +150C (H) |
| ADC | 10-bit 1.1 Msps / 12-bit 500 ksps | 10-bit 1.1 Msps / 12-bit 500 ksps | 10-bit 1.1 Msps / 12-bit 500 ksps | 10-bit 1.1 Msps / 12-bit 500 ksps | 10-bit 1.1 Msps / 12-bit 500 ksps |
| Peripheral Set (PWM/ADC/OpsAmps/CAN/QEI) | High-speed PWM, 3 op amps, CAN, QEI | Identical | Identical | Identical | Identical |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -40C to +150C temperature range (vs DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/TL)
- Double the Flash headroom in the same footprint (vs DSPIC33EP128MC504-H/TL)
- Integrated analog reduces external BOM (vs DSPIC33EP64MC504-H/TL)
- Honest trade-off: obsolescence risk (vs dsPIC33CH64MP506 (cross-family))
Design Notes
At 60 MIPS, the dsPIC33EP core draws its peak supply current from the 3.3V rail. Provide a low-impedance 3.3V supply (e.g., an LDO or buck rated well above the datasheet IDD max) with 0.1uF ceramic decoupling at each VDD pin plus a 4.7-10uF bulk capacitor per the family datasheet. During Flash self-programming, current transients increase; a solid bulk capacitor prevents brown-out resets. Configure the brown-out detector and use the internal voltage regulator settings exactly as specified in DS70000657.
Verify package-suffix pin mapping before reusing layouts: the TL (VTLA-44), PT (TQFP-44), and ML (QFN-44) versions of the dsPIC33EP256MC504 have different physical pin assignments even though the die is identical. Also note the H grade is obsolete - if substituting an -I/TL unit into a design qualified for +150C ambient, the operating envelope shrinks by 65C, which can fail late-life production builds. Cross-check the datasheet pinning chapter for the exact package before releasing a PCB revision.
Route the high-speed PWM outputs away from the ADC analog inputs to prevent switching noise coupling into motor-control current sampling. Use the flexible ADC trigger sources to sample phase currents synchronously at the center of the PWM low-side conduction interval, minimizing ripple-induced error. Keep the analog supply (AVDD) filtered with an RC network as shown in the family datasheet's ADC chapter, and separate the analog ground plane from the PWM return path under the controller.
Estimated: at a +125C ambient near the top of the -40C to +150C range, allowable self-heating is only about 25C before the 150C junction limit (assuming junction = ambient + self-heating). At 60 MIPS the core dissipates on the order of 100-200 mW, which the 44-pin VTLA dissipates through the PCB; use continuous ground pour and thermal vias under the exposed structure. For enclosures approaching +150C, measure actual junction temperature rather than relying on ambient ratings alone.
Compliance Information
The findic listing describes the part as automotive-qualified and the H grade maps to Microchip's extended automotive temperature range, but formal RoHS/REACH/AEC-Q100 status for this exact obsolete MPN was not stated in the provided data; confirm with Microchip product Change notifications before use.
