MC9S08SE8VRL - 8KB Flash 8-Bit S08 20MHz MCU | NXP 28-PDIP
MPN: MC9S08SE8VRL ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.5 | $7.50 |
| 10 | $6.75 | $67.50 |
| 100 | $5.95 | $595.00 |
| 500 | $5.2 | $2,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.65 | $4,650.00 |
MC9S08SE8VRL Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path, integrating a CPU, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), timers, communication peripherals, and I/O pins on one die. The MC9S08SE8VRL sits within the S08 sub-family of the broader HCS08 architecture — a CISC core descended from the M68HC08 line that excels at byte-oriented control tasks with predictable interrupt latency. In the component taxonomy it occupies the 8-bit MCU node, sitting below 16-bit (S12) and 32-bit (ColdFire/ARM Cortex-M) MCUs within Freescale/NXP's automotive and industrial portfolio.
Key features include an integrated 20MHz internal oscillator eliminating the need for an external crystal, 24 general-purpose I/O pins, multiple timer/PWM modules, and an on-chip 5V regulator that supports operation directly from a 5V battery or unregulated supply. The S08SE series was specifically designed for human-interface and appliance applications where BOM cost and robustness outweigh raw processing throughput.
Architecturally, the S08 core executes most instructions in 1-2 bus cycles and supports a Background Debug Mode (BDM) for non-intrusive in-circuit programming and debugging via a single-wire interface. The integrated voltage regulator with internal trimming and brownout detection provides high noise immunity in motor-control environments, while the 5V-tolerant I/O simplifies connection to legacy analog and power components commonly found in appliance subsystems.
Typical applications include BLDC and universal-motor control in power tools and vacuum cleaners, sensor management in security systems and treadmill consoles, motor commutation in robotic lawnmowers, and user-interface/HMI control in white goods. The wide operating voltage (typically 2.7V to 5.5V) and integrated peripherals (ADC, PWM, timers, SCI/SPI, IIC) cover most cost-driven sub-system designs without external glue logic.
When designing with the MC9S08SE8VRL, place decoupling capacitors (100nF plus 4.7uF bulk) within 10mm of the VDD pins and avoid running high-current motor traces parallel to the crystal-less oscillator PCB region to minimize EMI-induced clock drift at high temperatures.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in S08 alternatives in the same 28-PDIP footprint, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MC9S08SE8VRL — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MC9S08SE4VRL
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC9S08SE8VWG
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC9S08SE8CTG
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC9S08PT16VLF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F876A-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC9S08SE8VRL Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale Semiconductor) |
| Series | S08SE |
| Core Processor | HCS08 (8-bit) |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 8 KB (8K x 8) Flash |
| RAM Size | 512 B |
| Number of I/O Pins | 24 |
| Package / Case | 28-DIP (0.600 inch, 15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 2.7 V to 5.5 V (5 V typical) |
| Peripherals | LVD, PWM, Timer, SCI, SPI, IIC, ADC, BDM |
| Data Converters | A/D 10-channel 10-bit |
| Connectivity | I2C, SCI, SPI |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +105 C (VRL suffix) |
| Packaging | Tube |
MC9S08SE8VRL Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VREFH — ADC voltage reference high |
| Pin 2 | TCLK/PTA5 — Timer external clock / GPIO PTA5 |
| Pin 3 | PTA4 — GPIO PTA4 |
| Pin 4 | PTA3 — GPIO PTA3 |
| Pin 5 | PTA2 — GPIO PTA2 |
| Pin 6 | PTA1 — GPIO PTA1 (sometimes BKGD function) |
| Pin 7 | PTA0 — GPIO PTA0 (sometimes BKGD/M function) |
| Pin 8 | PTC5 — GPIO PTC5 |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Power supply input (2.7V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 11 | PTC4 — GPIO PTC4 |
| Pin 12 | PTC3 — GPIO PTC3 |
| Pin 13 | PTC2 — GPIO PTC2 |
| Pin 14 | PTC1 — GPIO PTC1 |
| Pin 15 | PTC0 — GPIO PTC0 |
| Pin 16 | PTB7 — GPIO PTB7 |
| Pin 17 | PTB6 — GPIO PTB6 |
| Pin 18 | PTB5 — GPIO PTB5 |
| Pin 19 | PTB4 — GPIO PTB4 |
| Pin 20 | PTB3 — GPIO PTB3 |
| Pin 21 | PTB2 — GPIO PTB2 |
| Pin 22 | PTB1 — GPIO PTB1 |
| Pin 23 | PTB0 — GPIO PTB0 |
| Pin 24 | RESET_b — Active-low reset input |
| Pin 25 | TPM1CH2/PTE2 — Timer/PWM channel / GPIO PTE2 |
| Pin 26 | TPM1CH1/PTE1 — Timer/PWM channel / GPIO PTE1 |
| Pin 27 | TPM1CH0/PTE0 — Timer/PWM channel / GPIO PTE0 |
| Pin 28 | BKGD/MS — Background Debug Mode / Mode Select |
Typical Applications
MC9S08SE8VRL is suitable for 7 applications: Power Tool Motor Control, Vacuum Cleaner and Robotic Lawnmower Controllers, Security and Alarm System Panels, Personal Care and Handheld Devices, White-Goods and Small Appliance Subsystems, Treadmill and Exercise Equipment Consoles, Industrial Treadmills and Vacuum-Cleaner Motors.
Power Tool Motor Control
The MC9S08SE8VRL is well-matched to power-tool motor-control firmware in cordless drills, saws, and rotary tools. Its 20MHz HCS08 core executes trapezoidal commutation loops in well under 100us, while the integrated PWM module drives three-phase half-bridges directly with dead-time generation. The on-chip 10-bit ADC samples back-EMF and current-sense signals across ten channels, feeding speed/torque loops without external sample-and-hold. Compared to a discrete analog solution, the S08SE consolidates regulation, commutation, and user-interface logic in one chip. Designers pair it with NXP's MC33039 or MC33887 FET drivers and use BDM for in-the-field firmware calibration. The 2.7-5.5V supply range simplifies direct operation from 5V Li-ion rails, and 24 GPIO pins easily cover HMI buttons, LED feedback, and trigger input without an I/O expander.
Recommended
Vacuum Cleaner and Robotic Lawnmower Controllers
Robotic lawnmowers and premium vacuum cleaners leverage the MC9S08SE8VRL to manage wheel/blade BLDC motors, obstacle sensors, and wireless HMI via the integrated SCI (UART) for radio modules. The 8KB Flash holds cut-pattern navigation and adaptive power-control tables while 512B RAM covers per-session sensor buffers. Its 5V-tolerant I/O is key for direct interfacing with legacy motor driver ICs found in the appliance supply chain, avoiding level shifters. The internal oscillator eliminates crystal sourcing headaches in price-sensitive SKUs where every BOM cent matters. Brownout detection protects against motor-back-EMF dips during stall events, and the BDM port lets technicians dump crash logs from inside service-replacement units. The 28-PDIP package still dominates hand-built disposable-test fixtures used by European aftermarket service channels.
Recommended
Security and Alarm System Panels
Security panels and PIR-based alarm systems fit naturally on the MC9S08SE8VRL because the S08 core handles up to 24 wired zones while using minimal quiescent current during armed-but-idle states. The integrated I2C and SPI buses tie into digital keypads and Freescale/NXP RFID readers; two SCI channels support dial-up or cellular communicators. Flash is plenty for zone-configuration logic and event logging while 512B RAM covers momentary debounce buffers. The -40 to +105C industrial temperature range (VRL suffix) survives attic, basement, and outdoor-cabinet mounting. The 5V supply rails directly power PIR motion sensors without level shifting. Design teams use the BDM interface to push encrypted firmware updates during service calls — a major reliability win for hard-to-reach installations.
Recommended
Personal Care and Handheld Devices
Hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, epilators, and other personal-care devices run on the MC9S08SE8VRL thanks to its low BOM cost, wide supply range, and small Flash footprint requirements. The on-chip HCS08 keeps firmware small enough to fit in 8KB while leaving room for motor-speed curves, charging profiles, and haptic feedback routines. Direct 5V-tolerant GPIOs connect to triblade motor FETS, button matrices, and battery-monitoring ADCs without external protection. Battery-powered shavers and trimmers benefit from the deep-sleep modes drawing microamp-level idle current between user actions. The internal clock eliminates crystal costs and trim steps, a critical win for sub-$30 retail categories where every component decision feeds into margin.
Recommended
White-Goods and Small Appliance Subsystems
The MC9S08SE8VRL is the go-to MCU for sub-system controllers inside coffee makers, blenders, induction-ready heater control boards, and other white goods where it shares the box with a larger host MCU. It drives user-facing elements (display panels, button keypads, indicator LEDs) and offloads timing-critical tasks such as temperature sensing, water-level pulse counting, and timer-based recipes. The integrated 5V regulator and brownout protection operate reliably across rectified mains-derived rails with minimal external filtering. I2C and SPI link cleanly to digital temperature sensors, EEPROM settings, and the host control bus. The 28-PDIP form factor is still favored for hand-repairable service parts and tooling in the appliance industry, keeping spare-unit cost low.
Recommended
Treadmill and Exercise Equipment Consoles
Treadmills, exercise bikes, and elliptical consoles harness the MC9S08SE8VRL to drive multi-segment LCD/LED displays, scan keypads for resistance/incline input, and process tachometer pulses from belts and flywheels. The 20MHz core handles debounced button scanning and PWM-driven LED bargraphs in tight update cycles that cheaper 8-bit cores struggle with. SCI/UART ports link to heart-rate receivers and the network/Bluetooth modules common in modern fitness equipment. The wide temperature range (VRL suffix) tolerates garage gyms and workouts where ambient swings span 0-40C daily. Designers use the chip's small Flash footprint for firmware-over-the-air bootloader stubs that pull updated workout profiles from a paired mobile app — a path to silicon reuse across product lines.
Recommended
Industrial Treadmills and Vacuum-Cleaner Motors
Industrial-grade vacuum cleaners and continuous-duty treadmills deploy the MC9S08SE8VRL in their motor-control units because it balances compute, I/O, and cost across duty cycles up to 12+ hours. Three-phase BLDC commutation routines run inside the 20MHz budget with cycles to spare for thermal compensation and head-LED PWM. The integrated ADC samples motor current on up to 10 channels, allowing joint monitoring of winding currents and supply-rail regulation without an external MUX. Compared to discrete analog designs, the S08SE cuts BOM by 30% and simplifies EMC certification. The 28-PDIP package supports custom service fixtures used in field maintenance, where technicians swap fully tested motor-control modules without BGA-level rework tools.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MC9S08SE8VRL — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MC9S08SE4VRL | MC9S08SE8VWG | MC9S08SE8CTG | MC9S08PT16VLF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-PDIP (0.600 inch) | 28-PDIP (0.600 inch) - identical | 28-SOIC (wide body) - same footprint family | 28-TSSOP - same die SMD | 32-LQFP |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | Microchip Technology |
| CPU Core | HCS08 8-bit, 20MHz | HCS08 8-bit, 20MHz - same | HCS08 8-bit, 20MHz - same | HCS08 8-bit, 20MHz - same | PIC16 14-bit, 5 MIPS (5MHz) |
| Flash Memory | 8 KB | 4 KB (-50%) | 8 KB (same) | 8 KB (same) | 14.3 KB (+79%) |
| RAM | 512 B | 512 B (same) | 512 B (same) | 512 B (same) | 368 B (-28%) |
| I/O Count | 24 | 24 (same) | 24 (same) | 24 (same) | 22 (-2) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.7V to 5.5V (5V typ.) | 2.7V to 5.5V (same) | 2.7V to 5.5V (same) | 2.7V to 5.5V (same) | 2.0V to 5.5V |
| Crystal Required | No (internal oscillator) | No (same) | No (same) | No (same) | Yes (no internal oscillator on A version) |
| In-Circuit Debug | Yes (BDM single-wire) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (ICSP) |
Key Differentiators
- 5V-tolerant integrated regulator and higher 20MHz core vs PIC16F876A 5 MIPS (vs PIC16F876A-I/SP)
- Higher Flash density (8KB) than the related 4KB S08SE option (vs MC9S08SE4VRL)
- Single-wire BDM debug interface simplifies field firmware updates (vs PIC16F876A-I/SP (ICSP requires 4 signals))
Design Notes
Place 100nF X7R ceramic decoupling within 5mm of the VDD pin (pin 10) and a 4.7uF-10uF bulk capacitor with low ESR on the same rail. The S08SE includes an internal 5V regulator and brownout detector, but motor-induced transients in vacuum cleaner / power-tool applications can still cause spurious reset events if bulk decoupling is too far from the MCU. Ground the bulk capacitor directly to VSS (pin 9) using a short return trace — avoid stitching the ground through other components.
Estimated: at full CPU activity (~20MHz, all peripherals active) on a 28-PDIP through-hole footprint with ~100 sq. cm of 2-layer copper pour, junction temperature rise above ambient is approximately 18-22C. The PDIP-28 package has theta_JA roughly in the 65-80 C/W range per legacy Freescale packaging notes. This thermal envelope is generous for the S08SE's typical 30-50mA active current; sensor signal integrity is well preserved even inside sealed motor housings. Consider ventilation slots if the MCU sits adjacent to power-FETs exceeding 1W.
Route BKGD (pin 28) and RESET_b (pin 24) traces away from PWM/motor outputs to avoid in-circuit debug mode lockup during EMI events. Keep the BKGD trace under 75mm total length and add a 4.7k pull-up to VDD if firmware uses BDM at start-up. For production builds that omit the BDM connector, leave test pads on VDD, BKGD, and RESET_b on the bottom copper so P&E programmers can still attach during firmware bring-up or service.
Do not latch the BKGD/MS pin to logic low at start-up unless intending to enter active background debug mode — accidental logic low during power-on can halt the MCU with no foreground execution. Verify the VREFH pin (pin 1) is tied to VDD or a stable analog reference; floating it can cause erratic ADC readings especially in temperature and current-sensing paths. Remember that the MC9S08SE8 internal oscillator trim varies over temperature; for high-speed UART communications above 38400 baud, calibrate against the actual system oscillator at operating temperature rather than trusting room-temperature trim values.
The S08SE PWM outputs (TPM1CH0..2 on pins 25-27) can switch faster than 20kHz; keep these traces at least 5mm away from analog ADC inputs (shared PTB and PTC pins) and place a small RC filter on each ADC channel that multiplexes motor-current sense. The 28-PDIP package provides no dedicated analog-isolation guard, so plan the bottom-copper pour with a small cut-out region around the ADC-capable GPIO to keep digital PWM return currents away from the analog reference area.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, and conflict-mineral compliance flags were not present in the Verified Web Data search snippets; visit the NXP product page or request the Compliance Reports directly from NXP/Customer Service for the lot-specific status. AEC-Q100 is not applicable — the S08SE family targets consumer and industrial applications, not automotive safety-critical designs (those use S08 automotive variants).
