MC68HC908JL8CSP - 8MHz 8-bit HC08 MCU 8KB Flash 32-SDIP | NXP
MPN: MC68HC908JL8CSP ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.2 | $8.20 |
| 10 | $7.4 | $74.00 |
| 100 | $6.55 | $655.00 |
| 500 | $5.85 | $2,925.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.2 | $5,200.00 |
MC68HC908JL8CSP Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing an 8-bit central processing unit, on-chip program memory, working RAM, and a set of peripheral modules. Within the broader taxonomy it sits at the lowest end of embedded computing - sub-32-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC. The HC08 family from NXP/Freescale (formerly Motorola) is one of the longest-running 8-bit MCU lines and remains in production for cost-sensitive, long-lifecycle industrial and appliance designs.
Key features of the MC68HC908JL8CSP include a 26-pin general-purpose I/O set, an SCI (serial communications interface), a multi-channel timer with PWM outputs, an LED driver, a low-voltage detect (LVD) block, and power-on reset (POR). It runs at a maximum bus frequency of 8 MHz from a 3 V to 5.5 V supply, and supports in-system Flash programming via the standard HC08 monitor ROM.
The device uses the enhanced M68HC08 CPU core (CPU08) with a 16-bit stack pointer, a 16-bit index register (H:X), and a flat 16-bit memory model that maps Flash, RAM and I/O registers into a single 64 KB linear address space. This architecture gives the HC08 strong C-compiler support relative to older 6800/6805 cores while retaining the small code footprint that makes it attractive for low-cost embedded products.
Typical applications include appliance control (white goods, HVAC blowers), simple motor control (small brushed DC and BLDC pre-drivers), LED display drivers and signage, low-end remote/keypad controllers, and battery-powered metering nodes. Its wide supply tolerance and on-chip analog (LVD) make it well-suited to industrial-grade, 5 V-only boards.
When designing with this MCU, budget at least one crystal or resonator plus a decoupling cap per VDD pin pair, and reserve the IRQ pin and monitor ROM entry conditions for in-circuit programming and in-application firmware updates. Plan Flash endurance (typically 1k to 10k cycles per block) and watchdog refresh timing into your firmware architecture from day one.
This page synthesizes distributor stock, same-family pin-compatible alternatives, and application guidance not found in the bare manufacturer datasheet - useful when you need to drop-in replace a hard-to-find HC08 part on an existing 32-SDIP board.
Drop-in alternatives for MC68HC908JL8CSP — 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 MC68HC908JL8CSP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Mounting Type, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MC68HC908JL8CSPE
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC68HC908JK8CSP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68HC908JL3CSP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68HC908KL8CSP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68HC08JL8CSP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68HC908JL8CSP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | HC08 |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Core Architecture | M68HC08 CPU (CPU08) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 8 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 8 KB (8K x 8) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| RAM Size | 256 B (256 x 8) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 26 |
| Connectivity | SCI (Serial Communications Interface) |
| Peripherals | LED driver, LVD, POR, PWM, Timer |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3 V to 5.5 V (typical HC08 range) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Package | 32-SDIP (CSP) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (SDIP) |
| Part Status | Obsolete |
| Family | M68HC08 (CSIC) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (COP) |
MC68HC908JL8CSP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | IRQ — External interrupt request input (active low) |
| Pin 2 | PTA0 — Port A bit 0 / keyboard interrupt |
| Pin 3 | PTA1 — Port A bit 1 / keyboard interrupt |
| Pin 4 | PTA2 — Port A bit 2 / keyboard interrupt |
| Pin 5 | PTA3 — Port A bit 3 / keyboard interrupt |
| Pin 6 | PTA4 — Port A bit 4 / keyboard interrupt |
| Pin 7 | PTA5 — Port A bit 5 / keyboard interrupt |
| Pin 8 | PTA6 — Port A bit 6 / keyboard interrupt |
| Pin 9 | PTA7 — Port A bit 7 / keyboard interrupt |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | OSC1 — Crystal/oscillator input |
| Pin 13 | OSC2 — Crystal/oscillator output |
| Pin 14 | RST — Reset input (active low) |
| Pin 15 | PTB0 — Port B bit 0 |
| Pin 16 | PTB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 17 | PTB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 18 | PTB3 — Port B bit 3 / PWM channel |
| Pin 19 | PTB4 — Port B bit 4 / PWM channel |
| Pin 20 | PTB5 — Port B bit 5 / PWM channel |
| Pin 21 | PTB6 — Port B bit 6 / PWM channel |
| Pin 22 | PTB7 — Port B bit 7 / PWM channel |
| Pin 23 | PTC0 — Port C bit 0 / SCI Tx |
| Pin 24 | PTC1 — Port C bit 1 / SCI Rx |
| Pin 25 | PTC2 — Port C bit 2 |
| Pin 26 | PTC3 — Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 27 | PTC4 — Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 28 | PTC5 — Port C bit 5 |
| Pin 29 | PTC6 — Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 30 | PTC7 — Port C bit 7 |
| Pin 31 | VSS — Ground (second ground pin) |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (second supply pin) |
Typical Applications
MC68HC908JL8CSP is suitable for 6 applications: White-Goods and Appliance Control, Low-End HVAC Blower and Fan Controllers, LED Display and Signage Drivers, Industrial Keypad / Remote Controllers, Battery-Powered Metering Nodes, Cost-Sensitive Automotive Accessories (Pre-Integration).
White-Goods and Appliance Control
The MC68HC908JL8CSP is well suited to white-goods and small appliance control boards where cost, ruggedness, and 5 V supply tolerance matter more than raw MIPS. Its 26 GPIO pins can directly drive triac opto-couplers, relay coils, and segmented LED status displays, while the on-chip timer/PWM module handles brushed DC motor speed control for fans, pumps, and dispensers.
Recommended
Low-End HVAC Blower and Fan Controllers
Small HVAC blower boards and thermostat peripherals pair naturally with the MC68HC908JL8CSP. The multi-channel PWM drives a TRIAC or FET stage for variable fan speed, while the SCI serial port streams telemetry back to a master controller over a simple RS-232 or RS-485 link. Wide 3 V to 5.5 V supply tolerance handles unregulated wall adapters, and the LVD/POR ensures clean resets on brownouts.
Recommended
LED Display and Signage Drivers
The MC68HC908JL8CSP's dedicated LED driver peripheral and 26 GPIO pins are well matched to multiplexed 7-segment or dot-matrix LED signage. The PWM channels provide software-controlled brightness without external DACs, and the 8 MHz core is fast enough to scan 8-digit displays at >100 Hz without flicker.
Recommended
Industrial Keypad / Remote Controllers
For industrial keypads, remote controllers, and simple operator-interface panels the MC68HC908JL8CSP gives enough Flash (8 KB) for state-machine firmware plus key-debounce and a SCI link to a host. The COP watchdog and POR block protect against brownout-induced lockups, while the 32-SDIP package is friendly to hand-rework on industrial PCBs.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Metering Nodes
Battery-powered metering nodes such as water/gas meter counters and remote sensor endpoints can leverage the MC68HC908JL8CSP's 3 V minimum supply and low-power run modes. The on-chip LVD gives a clean low-battery warning, and the SCI port supports low-duty-cycle wake-and-report telemetry. The 8 KB Flash accommodates compressed sensor data buffers and small protocol stacks.
Recommended
Cost-Sensitive Automotive Accessories (Pre-Integration)
Although the industrial-grade CSP suffix is not AEC-Q100 qualified, the underlying HC08 silicon is used in many pre-integration automotive accessory designs (interior lighting, mirror controllers, simple body controllers) on 32-SDIP boards. Designers prototyping such parts can use the MC68HC908JL8CSP with confidence that the same die is the basis of longer-lifecycle automotive order codes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MC68HC908JL8CSP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MC68HC908JL8CSPE | MC68HC908JK8CSP | MC68HC908JL3CSP | MC68HC908KL8CSP | MC68HC08JL8CSP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 32-SDIP | 32-SDIP - same | 32-SDIP - same | 32-SDIP - same | 32-SDIP - same | 32-SDIP - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core | HC08 (8-bit, 8 MHz) | HC08 (8-bit, 8 MHz) | HC08 (8-bit, 8 MHz) | HC08 (8-bit, 8 MHz) | HC08 (8-bit, 8 MHz) | HC08 (8-bit, 8 MHz) - mask-ROM |
| Program Memory (Flash/ROM) | 8 KB Flash | 8 KB Flash | 8 KB Flash | 3 KB Flash | 8 KB Flash | 8 KB ROM (mask) |
| RAM Size | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 128 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Number of I/O | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | CSP suffix - non-RoHS (Pb-bearing) | Yes (RoHS, Pb-free SDIP) | CSP suffix - same as this part | CSP suffix - same as this part | CSP suffix - same as this part | CSP suffix - same as this part |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete / NRND | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Identical drop-in with RoHS compliance (vs MC68HC908JL8CSPE)
- Same-family with expanded timer set for more PWM channels (vs MC68HC908JK8CSP)
- Smaller Flash footprint for cost-sensitive replacement (vs MC68HC908JL3CSP)
- Mask-ROM variant for high-volume cost reduction (vs MC68HC08JL8CSP)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 8 MHz internal bus, 5 V supply, full GPIO toggling, the MC68HC908JL8CSP draws roughly 15-20 mA active. Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD pin (pins 11 and 32) and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum polymer cap at the board supply entry. Keep the analog/LED-driver return currents on a separate ground trace back to the regulator to avoid digital ground bounce on the VSS pins.
Keep the crystal traces between OSC1 (pin 12) and OSC2 (pin 13) as short as possible and symmetric. Place a ground guard ring around the crystal and load capacitors to keep 32 kHz or 8 MHz noise from coupling into adjacent Port B PWM channels. Add a 4.7 kohm pull-up on RST (pin 14) and a 100 nF cap to VDD to ensure clean Power-on-Reset timing per the HC08 datasheet.
Do not rely on the watchdog alone for safe operation - the COP timer must be refreshed from a non-zero-running code path; test the windowed mode if you do. Avoid leaving unused Port B pins floating; configure them as outputs in firmware or pull them externally. The CSP suffix is not lead-free - if you are building a RoHS-compliant board, use the CSPE (lead-free) or move to a still-active same-footprint order code.
The SCI lines (PTC0/Tx, PTC1/Rx) are 5 V CMOS-level and tolerant of typical RS-232 transceivers. If you drive long cables, add a series 100 ohm resistor and TVS clamp to the Tx line; do not exceed the 8 mA source/sink rating per HC08 GPIO. PWM outputs on PTB3-PTB7 are not high-current - use external FET drivers (e.g. a small gate driver) for motor or TRIAC loads above 10 mA.
Compliance Information
CSP suffix indicates Pb-bearing (non-RoHS) SDIP packaging. The CSPE suffix variant is the lead-free RoHS-compliant alternative on the same 32-SDIP footprint. HC08 family devices are not AEC-Q100 qualified in their industrial CSP/CP suffixes.
