MC908KX2VDWE - 8-Bit HC08 MCU, 2KB Flash, 8MHz | NXP
MPN: MC908KX2VDWE ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.95 | $2.95 |
| 10 | $2.66 | $26.60 |
| 100 | $2.36 | $236.00 |
| 500 | $2.1 | $1,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.86 | $1,860.00 |
MC908KX2VDWE Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory, data RAM, I/O ports, and timing peripherals on one die, sitting at the entry level of the microcontroller hierarchy (MCU -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC). The HC08 family from Motorola/Freescale, now part of NXP Semiconductors, is a CISC-architecture 8-bit MCU line derived from the earlier 68HC05, offering upward-compatible object code, low-power CMOS technology, and in-circuit flash programmability for cost-sensitive embedded control.
Key features of the MC908KX2 include its compact 2KB self-programmable flash memory suitable for small control loops, 192 bytes of on-chip RAM, an internal oscillator that eliminates an external crystal in many designs, and operation from a 3.3V or 5V supply. The 13 I/O lines provide enough connectivity for switch sensing, relay or LED driving, and serial communication in minimal-pin-count systems.
Technically, the device executes the HC08 CISC instruction set at 8 MHz, built on a low-power CMOS process. The V-grade suffix and wide SOIC (DWE) body indicate the specified operating voltage/temperature variant and 7.50 mm package width. Flash memory allows field reprogramming, an advantage over one-time-programmable ROM parts in the same family.
Typical applications include small appliance control, automotive accessory modules, battery chargers, and simple industrial sensing nodes where a small flash MCU with internal clocking reduces bill-of-materials cost.
A key design consideration is lifecycle status: this HC08 KX-series part is generally treated as end-of-life by distributors, so new designs should verify long-term supply or consider a drop-in or software-portable successor.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MC908KX2VDWE — 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 MC908KX2VDWE (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory Size, Mounting Type, Core Processor, Program Memory Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MC908KX2MDWE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC908KX2CPE
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC908QY2ACDTE
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC68HC908QY2CPE
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.69 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC908QT2ACPE
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC908KX2VDWE Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | HC08 (8-bit CISC) |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Speed | 8 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 2KB (2K x 8) FLASH |
| RAM Size | 192 x 8 |
| Number of I/O | 13 |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V / 5 V |
| Technology | CMOS |
| Package / Case | 16-SOIC (0.295 in, 7.50 mm Width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tube |
MC908KX2VDWE 16-soic (0.295 in, 7.50 mm width) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MC908KX2VDWE (16-soic (0.295 in, 7.50 mm width) 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 MC908KX2VDWE.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MC908KX2VDWE is suitable for 6 applications: Small Appliance Control, Battery Charger Control, Industrial Sensor Node, Automotive Accessory Modules, Consumer Electronics Timing Control, Legacy Board Maintenance and Repair.
Small Appliance Control
The MC908KX2VDWE fits small appliance control boards - coffee makers, fans, and small kitchen devices - because its 2KB flash and 192 bytes of RAM are sufficient for button scanning, timer sequencing, and simple state machines, while the internal oscillator removes the cost of a crystal. Its 13 I/O lines drive LEDs, relays, and read switches directly at 3.3V or 5V. Placed as the sole controller on the board, it executes the HC08 CISC instruction set at 8 MHz, fast enough for human-interface timing in the millisecond range. The trade-off is modest program space: firmware must be written tightly in C or assembly, and feature creep beyond roughly 2KB requires moving to the 4KB MC908KX2MDWE, which shares the same 16-SOIC W footprint.
Recommended
Battery Charger Control
In low-cost battery charger designs, the MC908KX2VDWE supervises charge sequencing by reading voltage and current thresholds through its I/O, driving charge-indicator LEDs, and gating the charging element via a GPIO-controlled transistor. The 8 MHz HC08 core executes the constant-current/constant-voltage state machine deterministically, and the internal oscillator keeps the component count minimal for price-sensitive consumer chargers. Operating from a 5V rail aligns directly with typical charger logic levels. Designers should note the 192-byte RAM limit when implementing averaging filters, and the end-of-life status of the part: for continuing production, the pin-compatible 4KB MC908KX2MDWE provides headroom for added termination algorithms without a PCB change, while new designs should target the active MC9S08 family.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Node
For simple industrial sensing points - limit-switch monitoring, temperature-threshold alarms, and 4-20 mA transmitter front ends - the MC908KX2VDWE offers a compact controller with 13 I/O lines, an internal oscillator, and 3.3V/5V operation that tolerates industrial logic rails. The 8 MHz HC08 core runs polling loops and simple filtering within its 192-byte RAM budget, and the 16-pin SOIC wide body (7.50 mm) provides robust leads suitable for vibration-prone panels. Because it is a flash device, calibration constants and thresholds can be updated in the field without swapping ROM parts. The main consideration is lifecycle: given EOL status, use the same-footprint MC908KX2MDWE for continuity, or qualify an active S08 device for new node designs with longer supply commitments.
Recommended
Automotive Accessory Modules
HC08 KX-series devices were widely used in automotive accessory electronics such as mirror controllers, seat-adjust modules, and lighting sequencers. The MC908KX2VDWE serves these roles with its flash programmability for variant firmware, 13 I/O lines for switch and lamp interfaces, and 5V operation matching automotive logic rails. The 8 MHz internal-clock core handles debounce and PWM duties in the microsecond-to-millisecond range, and the wide SOIC body withstands typical under-hood accessory enclosure conditions. Note two cautions: there is no verified AEC-Q100 qualification for this exact part number, and the device is end-of-life, so any continuing automotive production should secure last-time-buy inventory or port to NXP's automotive-qualified S12 families, accepting a board-level redesign.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics Timing Control
Timer-based consumer products - egg cookers, irrigation timers, light controllers - map well onto the MC908KX2VDWE. The internal oscillator provides the clock base for software timekeeping, eliminating an external crystal and reducing BOM cost, while 13 I/O lines interface a small keypad, display segments, and a relay or triac driver. At 8 MHz the HC08 core easily services 10 ms tick interrupts and multiplexes a simple LED display, all within the 2KB flash and 192-byte RAM budget. Because timing accuracy depends on the internal oscillator's tolerance, products requiring minute-accurate timekeeping over long periods should verify oscillator drift per the family datasheet or use an external clock option. The same-footprint MC908KX2MDWE offers firmware headroom for added features.
Recommended
Legacy Board Maintenance and Repair
A significant ongoing use of the MC908KX2VDWE is sustaining engineering: repairing and reworking legacy control boards whose firmware was locked to the HC08 KX2 silicon. Since the part is end-of-life, maintenance buyers source it from distributor residual stock or authorized excess channels such as Rochester-sourced listings on DigiKey Marketplace. When repairing, match not only the part number but also flash contents - a fresh blank part must be programmed with the original image via the HC08 monitor-mode entry. Where boards were built with the 4KB MDWE variant, the same socket accepts either device. XAIPART stocking supports tube-quantity purchases for service organizations that maintain fleets of HC08-based equipment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MC908KX2VDWE — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MC908KX2MDWE | MC908KX2CPE | MC908QY2ACDTE | MC68HC908QY2CPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 16-SOIC (0.295 in / 7.50 mm Width) | 16-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same | 16-PDIP | 16-TSSOP | 16-PDIP |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale) | 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 |
| Program Memory | 2KB FLASH | 4KB FLASH | 2KB FLASH | 2KB FLASH | 2KB FLASH |
| Max Speed | 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 |
| Lifecycle Status | EOL | EOL | EOL | EOL | EOL |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest flash density in the KX2 family keeps cost minimal (vs MC908KX2MDWE)
- Internal oscillator eliminates external timing components (vs MC68HC908QY2CPE)
- Wide SOIC body suits industrial assembly (vs MC908KX2CPE)
Design Notes
The MC908KX2VDWE accepts a 3.3V or 5V supply. Decouple the VDD pin with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within a few millimeters of the pin, plus a bulk 4.7-10 uF capacitor per board. At 5V and 8 MHz, HC08 core current is in the milliamp range, so supply design is trivial, but brown-out behavior matters in appliance environments: review the family datasheet's low-voltage inhibit/reset specifications and, if the application writes flash in the field, ensure VDD remains above the flash-programming minimum voltage throughout the erase/program cycle.
Two pitfalls dominate HC08 KX2 projects. First, the 192-byte RAM disappears quickly - avoid deep C call stacks and large buffers; use static allocation and review the map file. Second, flash endurance is finite (per family datasheet); do not put frequently updated counters in flash - keep them in RAM and persist to flash only on power-down events. Also remember the internal oscillator tolerance: do not use it for precise baud-rate UART timing without characterizing your lot, and budget a margin in any timekeeping firmware.
The 16-SOIC wide body (7.50 mm) uses a standard 0.65 mm-pitch land pattern; keep traces to the 13 I/O lines short and avoid routing noisy loads (relay coils, triac gates) adjacent to the oscillator or reset pins. Unused I/O should be configured as outputs driving low or inputs with pull-ups per the family datasheet guidance to prevent floating-node current and EMI susceptibility. Because the device is EOL, consider laying out the footprint to also accept the MC908KX2MDWE (identical SOIC W footprint) so a flash upgrade requires no board revision.
On a single- supply 8-bit MCU running at 8 MHz, signal integrity issues are usually caused by load switching rather than the MCU itself. When driving inductive or mains-side loads, isolate with optocouplers or adequate snubbers, and provide a star ground so switching return currents do not cross the MCU ground reference. The 13 I/O lines have limited source/sink capability per the family datasheet - use driver transistors for lamps and relays rather than driving them directly from GPIO pins.
Compliance Information
Compliance data was not present in the verified web sources for this legacy part. Because the MC908KX2VDWE is an older HC08 device, some date codes may predate RoHS exemption-free lead-free requirements; confirm plating and compliance certificates with the supplier for your specific lot.
