DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT - 70MIPS 16-bit DSC 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.5 | $6.50 |
| 10 | $6.1 | $61.00 |
| 100 | $5.45 | $545.00 |
| 500 | $4.95 | $2,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.6 | $4,600.00 |
DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT Overview
A digital signal controller combines the compute architecture of a digital signal processor with the peripheral integration and deterministic control of a microcontroller. Within the power management IC and embedded control hierarchy, DSCs sit between general-purpose MCUs and application-specific DSPs, making them the standard choice for closed-loop motor control and digital power conversion where fast multiply-accumulate operations and precise PWM generation coexist with general-purpose I/O and communication peripherals.
Key features include the 16-bit dsPIC33E CPU core with DSP engine (barrel shifter, 40-bit accumulator, single-cycle MAC), operating frequencies up to 60 MHz core clock with 70 MIPS instruction throughput per the Microchip product page, four-channel DMA, and multiple internal bus architectures for parallel peripheral access. The MC (motor control) variant integrates high-speed PWM modules and, per the Mouser listing, on-chip op-amps, reducing external analog component count in current-sensing and signal-conditioning paths.
The dsPIC33EP architecture supports software development in C and assembly via Microchip MPLAB X IDE with XC16 compiler, in-circuit debugging through the ICSP/ICD interface, and the industry-standard Programming methods shared across the PIC24/dsPIC33 ecosystem. Flash self-programming enables field firmware updates, while boundary-scan support aids board-level manufacturing test, as noted in Microchip device documentation.
Typical applications include brushless DC and PMSM motor drives (sensorless and sensored FOC), digital switched-mode power supplies and PFC stages, solar inverters, UPS systems, and industrial automation nodes that require deterministic real-time control plus serial connectivity.
A key design consideration is supply integrity: with a 3.0V to 3.6V supply and 70 MIPS switching activity, place low-ESR 0.1uF decoupling at every VDD/VSS pair and follow the datasheet reference design for oscillator and PGD/PGC routing.
This page synthesizes distributor listings, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT — 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-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash), Maximum CPU Speed.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PTVAO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MC504-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP128MC504-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP64MC504-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP32MC504-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC core |
| Max MIPS | 70 MIPS |
| Core Clock Frequency | up to 60 MHz |
| Flash Program Memory | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 32 KB |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 3.6 V (nominal 3.3 V) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm), 0.8 mm pitch |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tray |
| DMA Channels | 4 |
| Integrated Op-Amps | Yes (per Mouser listing) |
| DSP Engine | Single-cycle MAC, 40-bit accumulator, barrel shifter |
| Boundary Scan | Supported |
| Product Series | dsPIC33EP (MC motor-control family) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT Interfaces & Connectors
DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | 3.0 V to 3.6 V (nominal 3.3 V) |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 3.0 V to 3.6 V (nominal 3.3 V) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
Power input and thermal parameters for DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Sensorless BLDC / PMSM Motor Drives, Digital Switch-Mode Power Supplies and PFC, Solar Micro-Inverters and UPS, Industrial Automation and Motion Control Nodes, Battery Management and Charging Systems, Embedded Sensing and Data Acquisition.
Sensorless BLDC / PMSM Motor Drives
The DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT fits brushless DC and permanent-magnet synchronous motor drives because its 70 MIPS DSP core executes field-oriented-control current loops at well above the electrical frequencies of typical motors, while the MC-family high-speed PWM generates complementary outputs with programmable dead time. Integrated op-amps amplify shunt-resistor current feedback, and four DMA channels move ADC results without CPU intervention, preserving cycles for control math. A typical topology uses three half-bridges with phase-current sensing; the single 3.3V supply and -40C to +85C industrial rating suit appliance, HVAC-blower, and industrial-pump environments.
Recommended
Digital Switch-Mode Power Supplies and PFC
Digital power supplies benefit from the DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT because the 60 MHz core and deterministic interrupt latency implement voltage-mode or current-mode loops with programmable compensation, while high-resolution PWM supports constant on-time and phase-shifted full-bridge topologies. The on-chip op-amps condition current-shunt signals, and the 12-bit ADC samples in synchronization with PWM edges to avoid switching noise, improving control-loop accuracy. Four DMA channels keep sample streams off the CPU. The 256 KB Flash leaves ample room for multiple converter profiles, soft-start sequences, and PMBus-style communication firmware in telecom-rectifier and PFC front-end designs.
Recommended
Solar Micro-Inverters and UPS
Grid-tied micro-inverters and uninterruptible power supplies require simultaneous MPPT computation, grid synchronization, and inverter PWM generation - exactly the mixed DSP-plus-control workload the DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT provides with its 70 MIPS core, single-cycle MAC engine, and high-speed PWM. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature range suits outdoor and enclosed power-electronics environments, and 256 KB Flash stores grid-code tables and anti-islanding routines. Integrated op-amps reduce the external front-end for voltage and current sensing. In UPS designs the DSC manages transfer-switch sequencing and battery charging from one controller, cutting BOM count and simplifying safety review.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and Motion Control Nodes
In factory automation, the DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT serves as a real-time motion controller for stepper and servo axes, coordinating PWM output, quadrature-encoder input, and communication peripherals on one deterministic core. The 44-pin TQFP footprint fits compact I/O boards, while boundary-scan support simplifies production testing of densely populated assemblies, per the Microchip USA device description. The 16-bit architecture with DSP instructions handles vibration analysis and filtering locally, reducing host CPU load on the network. Remappable RPn pins let one PCB serve multiple axis variants purely through firmware, shortening development cycles for machine builders standardizing on a common control board.
Recommended
Battery Management and Charging Systems
Battery chargers and battery-management systems use the DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT to implement CC/CV charging profiles, cell balancing, and fault protection in firmware. The synchronized ADC sampling measures charge current precisely at PWM-off points, improving coulomb-counting accuracy, while the integrated op-amps condition cell-voltage inputs. The 3.0V to 3.6V single-supply operation simplifies power-tree design from a DC bus. With 256 KB Flash, charge algorithms for multiple chemistries (Li-ion, lead-acid, NiMH) coexist in one image and are selected at runtime. The industrial -40C to +85C range covers e-mobility chargers, portable power stations, and telecom backup-battery cabinets.
Recommended
Embedded Sensing and Data Acquisition
The DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT doubles as a smart sensor node: its ADC synchronized to timers via DMA delivers jitter-free sampling for vibration, audio, and power-quality measurements, and the DSP engine performs FFTs and digital filters locally, transmitting summarized spectra instead of raw data. The 32 KB RAM buffers multi-channel acquisitions, and remappable pins adapt the same firmware to different sensor front ends. The 44-pin TQFP is hand-assemblable for prototyping yet fine-pitch enough for dense boards. Industrial temperature rating and RoHS compliance make the part suitable for condition-monitoring retrofits on existing factory equipment and building infrastructure.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PTVAO | DSPIC33EP256MC504-E/PT | DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT | DSPIC33EP128MC504-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (10x10) | 44-pin TQFP (10x10) - same | 44-pin TQFP (10x10) - same | 44-pin TQFP (10x10) - same | 44-pin TQFP (10x10) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Max Performance | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C | Extended grade (-40C to +125C) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Peripheral Emphasis | MC - high-speed PWM, op-amps | MC - identical | MC - identical | GP - general-purpose peripherals | MC - identical |
| Pin-to-Pin Drop-In | Reference | Yes - 100% | Yes - 100% | Yes - same footprint, different peripheral mix | Yes - same footprint |
Key Differentiators
- MC-family integrated op-amps and high-speed PWM (vs DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT)
- Extended temperature option without redesign (vs DSPIC33EP256MC504-E/PT)
- Largest Flash in the 44-pin MC footprint (vs DSPIC33EP128MC504-I/PT)
Design Notes
Design the 3.3V rail for the full dynamic load: a dsPIC33EP running at 70 MIPS with peripherals switching can draw peak currents well above the average, so use a regulator with adequate transient response and place bulk capacitance (10uF) near the device. Estimated: budget at least 10% supply headroom above nominal load to cover peak switching current. Keep all VDD pins within 3.0V to 3.6V; brown-out during Flash write can corrupt program memory, so enable the internal brown-out reset in configuration words.
Place a 0.1uF ceramic decoupling capacitor at each VDD/VSS pair of the 44-TQFP, within 2 mm of the pins, plus one 10uF bulk capacitor per supply domain. Follow the Microchip family datasheet reference layout: keep the oscillator traces short and guarded by ground, and route PGD/PGC programming lines to a header even in production boards for field firmware updates. Exposed analog routing (op-amp inputs, ADC channels) should cross a clean ground area away from PWM switching loops.
Three frequent mistakes with dsPIC33EP devices: (1) forgetting that peripheral pin select (PPS) must map RPn pins to UART/SPI functions in software before those peripherals work - symptoms are 'dead' serial ports; (2) driving 5V logic directly into pins - the 3.0V to 3.6V supply means absolute-maximum input ratings are exceeded, requiring level shifting; (3) substituting the E-grade part in a production thermal test without updating qualification - the -I part is qualified only to +85C. Verify configuration-bit settings against the datasheet when migrating between family members.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per OnlineComponents and distributor listings. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status not stated in retrieved data.
