MC908GR8ACDWE - HC08 8-bit MCU, 7.5KB Flash, 28-SOIC | NXP
MPN: MC908GR8ACDWE ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
MC908GR8ACDWE Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single-chip computer integrating a CPU core, program memory, RAM, I/O ports, and peripherals such as timers and serial interfaces. Within the power-management hierarchy of embedded systems, the MCU acts as the central controller, sitting above discrete logic and below application processors. The HC08 family, originally developed by Motorola and Freescale, now manufactured by NXP, is a CISC-architecture 8-bit controller family widely used in cost-sensitive embedded control.
Key features of the MC908GR8ACDWE include the enhanced HC08 core executing HC08 CISC instructions at up to 8MHz, on-chip FLASH memory supporting in-circuit reprogramming, and a dual-supply operating range of 3.3V to 5V that bridges legacy 5V industrial designs and lower-power 3.3V systems. The wide-body 28-SOIC (DWE suffix) package provides generous 2.54mm-class lead pitch for hand soldering and prototyping, making it popular for service and maintenance designs.
Architecturally, the HC08 core uses an accumulator-plus-index-register programming model with a large set of addressing modes, and the GR8 variant integrates FLASH, RAM, timers, and multi-purpose I/O on a single die, reducing bill-of-materials count versus two-chip solutions. The ADC and timer resources of the GR series support motor control, sensing, and timing-critical loops.
Typical applications include industrial control boards, appliance and HVAC controllers, battery chargers, automotive body modules in legacy platforms, and instrumentation front ends where a 5V-tolerant 8-bit MCU simplifies design.
When designing with this device, verify supply-voltage selection (3.3V versus 5V) against peripheral voltage limits and confirm oscillator configuration for the 8MHz bus target.
This page synthesizes distributor inventory data, parametric comparisons, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MC908GR8ACDWE — 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 MC908GR8ACDWE (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Size, Package, RAM Size, Manufacturer, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MC908QY8CDWE
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View Datasheet →MC908GR32ACFUE
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View Datasheet →MC908GR32AVFAE
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View Datasheet →MC908GR16AVFAER
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →MC908GR48ACFUE
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View Datasheet →MC908GR8ACDWE Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | HC08 |
| Core Architecture | 8-bit CISC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 8 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Program Memory Size | 7.5 KB (7.5K x 8) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V / 5 V |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Package | 28-SOIC (0.295 in, 7.50 mm Width) |
| Package Suffix | DWE (wide-body SOIC) |
| Product Category | Microcontrollers - MCU |
| Instruction Set | HC08 CISC |
| Supplier Device Package | 28-SOIC W |
| Distribution Method | Rail |
| Data Size | 8-bit |
| Manufacturer | NXP USA Inc. (original Freescale/Motorola product) |
MC908GR8ACDWE 28-soic w Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MC908GR8ACDWE (28-soic w 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 MC908GR8ACDWE.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MC908GR8ACDWE is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Boards, Appliance and HVAC Controllers, Battery Chargers, Legacy Automotive Body Modules, Instrumentation Front Ends, IoT Sensor Nodes (Legacy Retrofit).
Industrial Control Boards
The MC908GR8ACDWE fits industrial control boards that need a rugged 5V-capable 8-bit controller with FLASH updatability. Its HC08 core at up to 8MHz handles sequencer logic, relay driving, and sensor polling loops, while the 3.3V/5V operating range allows direct interfacing with legacy 5V PLC-style I/O without level shifters. The 7.5KB FLASH is sufficient for state-machine control code with communication framing, and in-circuit FLASH programming enables field firmware updates. In retrofit scenarios, matching the wide 28-SOIC footprint keeps existing PCBs serviceable, which is why this part persists in industrial sustainment inventories despite its end-of-life status.
Recommended
Appliance and HVAC Controllers
White-goods and HVAC boards benefit from the MC908GR8ACDWE's combination of FLASH memory, timer resources, and 5V I/O that directly drives Triac-trigger and relay circuits. The 8MHz bus supports PWM generation for fan and blower speed control, while the ADC channels read thermistor and NTC temperature feedback for closed-loop regulation. Its 7.5KB FLASH holds full appliance control state machines including fault handling and retry logic. Because appliance designs have long service lives, the wide-body 28-SOIC package with hand-solderable leads simplifies repair and rework on production lines and in field service depots worldwide.
Recommended
Battery Chargers
Smart battery charger designs use the MC908GR8ACDWE to implement charge-profile state machines, termination detection, and fault protection. The ADC monitors battery voltage and current-sense inputs, while PWM timer outputs drive buck or linear charging stages. The 3.3V/5V supply flexibility lets the MCU share the charger's auxiliary rail, and 7.5KB FLASH accommodates Li-ion, NiMH, and lead-acid profile tables with safety timeout logic. HC08 code longevity matters in charger products that require regulatory requalification, since keeping the same MCU avoids retesting firmware behavior across production revisions over multi-year product lifecycles.
Recommended
Legacy Automotive Body Modules
Legacy automotive body-control submodules - mirror switches, seat controllers, lighting sequencers - were widely built on Motorola HC08 parts, and the MC908GR8ACDWE's 5V tolerance and FLASH memory match those design rules. Maintenance of such platforms requires the original or pin-compatible MCU to avoid requalification. The 8MHz bus handles LIN-style polled communication in simple implementations, and timer channels generate lamp PWM dimming. Because these modules remain in service for decades, sourcing end-of-life MCUs through authorized aftermarket channels such as Rochester Electronics is the standard sustainment route, paired with verified substitutes for volume repairs.
Recommended
Instrumentation Front Ends
Bench and panel instruments use the MC908GR8ACDWE as the supervisory controller managing front-panel buttons, display multiplexing, and measurement sequencing. The HC08 core's deterministic CISC execution simplifies timing analysis for scan loops, and the ADC digitizes slow-moving process signals at 3.3V or 5V reference levels. The 7.5KB FLASH stores calibration constants and serial-protocol handlers for RS-232-class links via the MCU's serial interface resources. The wide SOIC package's through-assembly-friendly pitch suits hand-built calibration jigs and small-batch instruments where automatic placement is not economical.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Nodes (Legacy Retrofit)
Retrofit sensor nodes that must integrate into installed HC08-based ecosystems use the MC908GR8ACDWE to preserve existing protocol firmware while adding sensing front ends. The 5V I/O tolerance connects directly to industrial sensor outputs such as 0-5V transducer signals, and the ADC plus timer set supports periodic sampling with wake-on-event power strategies. In these retrofit scenarios the MCU's end-of-life status is acceptable because volumes are small and long-term support comes from remaining stock and aftermarket suppliers, while new sister nodes migrate to the MC9S08 family to regain active lifecycle status.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MC908GR8ACDWE — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MC908QY8CDWE | MC68HC908LB8CDWE | MC908GR32ACFUE | MC908GR48ACFUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC W (7.50mm) | 28-SOIC W - same | 28-SOIC W - same | 28-SOIC W (FU) - same | 28-SOIC W (FU) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core | HC08 8-bit CISC | HC08 8-bit CISC | HC08 8-bit CISC | HC08 8-bit CISC | HC08 8-bit CISC |
| Flash Memory | 7.5 KB | 8 KB class | 8 KB class | 32 KB | 48 KB |
| Max Clock Frequency | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V / 5 V | 3.3 V / 5 V | 3.3 V / 5 V | 3.3 V / 5 V | 3.3 V / 5 V |
| Peripheral Focus | General-purpose GR (timers, ADC) | QY compact general-purpose | LB with LCD driver | GR general-purpose, larger flash | GR general-purpose, largest flash |
| Lifecycle Status | EOL (aftermarket/stock) | EOL (aftermarket/stock) | EOL (aftermarket/stock) | EOL (aftermarket/stock) | EOL (aftermarket/stock) |
Key Differentiators
- General-purpose GR subfamily with larger usable FLASH than QY-class peers (vs MC908QY8CDWE)
- Straightforward GR-family memory upgrades within the same footprint class (vs MC908GR48ACFUE)
- Honest trade-off: no active-production successor in the same package (vs MC9S08GT16CFBE)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD with a 0.1uF ceramic capacitor placed within 10mm of the pin, plus a 4.7-10uF bulk capacitor per board. The HC08 tolerates 3.3V or 5V operation; do not mix rail domains on port pins without checking the datasheet's absolute maximum ratings for the chosen supply. Estimated: a 5V rail with 20mA average MCU and I/O load dissipates only 100mW in the device, so no thermal copper pour is needed in the 28-SOIC wide-body package under typical HC08 current consumption figures.
The DWE wide-body suffix is essential: NXP HC08 ordering numbers encode package and temperature in the suffix, and a DWE part will not drop into a narrow-body SOIC-28 footprint (7.50mm vs 3.90mm width). Confirm the temperature-range letter in the ordering code against your environment before ordering aftermarket stock, and verify that FLASH programming voltage/timing requirements of the GR8 die are met by your in-circuit programmer, since early HC08 monitor ROM entry procedures differ from MC9S08 parts.
Keep the IRQ and RESET lines pulled up with 10k resistors and add 0.1uF filtering on RESET to prevent spurious resets in electrically noisy industrial environments - a common reliability issue in HC08 legacy designs. Route oscillator traces short and guard them from PWM/relay-driving traces. Because this part is end-of-life, consider adding a footprint-compatible spare landing pattern or documenting the MC908QY8CDWE cross-reference on the assembly drawing for future repair flexibility.
Compliance Information
Compliance status was not stated in the verified web data; many later-production MC908 DWE parts were RoHS-compliant, but this must be confirmed from the official NXP product page or certificate before procurement.
