MCHC908JK8MPE - 8KB Flash 8-bit HC08 MCU | NXP | DIP-20
MPN: MCHC908JK8MPE ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.41 | $8.41 |
| 10 | $7.18 | $71.80 |
| 100 | $5.62 | $562.00 |
| 500 | $4.39 | $2,195.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.85 | $3,850.00 |
MCHC908JK8MPE Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path, suited for applications where cost, deterministic behavior, and low power matter more than raw throughput. Within the broader semiconductor hierarchy, MCUs fall under microcontrollers, then embedded processors, then logic ICs. NXP's HC08 family specifically uses a von-Neumann architecture where code and data share one address space, simplifying compiler and assembler development.
Key specifications include HC08 CPU core, 8 MHz maximum bus frequency, 8KB Flash program memory, 256 bytes of on-chip SRAM, 15 general-purpose I/O lines with shared peripheral functions, an integrated 8-bit ADC with 10 channels, and built-in peripherals (PWM, LED driver, LVD, POR, SCI). Two oscillator options (internal or external) and a wide 2.7V-5.5V supply range simplify system power design.
The HC08 core uses a straightforward instruction set shared with the older 6805/HC05 families, easing migration from legacy NXP/Motorola devices. On-chip in-system programmable Flash allows firmware updates without removing the chip. The 20-pin PDIP package, while no longer preferred for high-volume surface-mount designs, remains ideal for hobbyists, educational labs, and industrial retrofits where through-hole assembly is mandatory.
Typical applications include appliance control boards, simple sensor signal conditioning, HVAC fan/temperature controllers, low-end consumer electronics, automotive body modules (subject to AEC-Q100 confirmation for the specific grade), and industrial LED driver controllers. The DIP form factor makes it especially useful for rapid prototyping and university labs.
Designers should provide a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD/VSS pins, route the RESET pin with a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD, and configure the ADC reference for stable conversions. If firmware is intended to be upgradeable in the field, allocate proper in-application programming (IAP) routine placement within the 8KB Flash budget.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric and pin-compatible drop-in alternatives (including cross-brand options), and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for MCHC908JK8MPE — 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 MCHC908JK8MPE (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Maximum Clock Frequency, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MCHC908JK1CPE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MCHC908JK3CPE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68HC908JK3CPE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F876A-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F877A-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →MCHC908JK8MPE Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | HC08 |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Program Memory Size | 8 KB (8K x 8) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| RAM Size | 256 x 8 (256 bytes) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 8 MHz |
| Number of I/O Pins | 15 |
| Package / Case | 20-DIP (0.300", 7.62 mm) |
| ADC | On-chip, 8-bit, 10-channel |
| Connectivity | SCI |
| Peripherals | LED, LVD, POR, PWM |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Packaging | Tube |
MCHC908JK8MPE Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | IRQ — External interrupt / keyboard wakeup |
| Pin 2 | PTA0/KBD0 — Port A bit 0 / keyboard wakeup |
| Pin 3 | PTA1/KBD1 — Port A bit 1 / keyboard wakeup |
| Pin 4 | PTA2/KBD2 — Port A bit 2 / keyboard wakeup |
| Pin 5 | PTA3/KBD3 — Port A bit 3 / keyboard wakeup |
| Pin 6 | PTA4 — Port A bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | PTA5 — Port A bit 5 |
| Pin 8 | PTA6 — Port A bit 6 |
| Pin 9 | PTA7 — Port A bit 7 |
| Pin 10 | PTB0/ATD0 — Port B bit 0 / ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 11 | PTB1/ATD1 — Port B bit 1 / ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 12 | PTB2/ATD2 — Port B bit 2 / ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 13 | PTB3/ATD3 — Port B bit 3 / ADC channel 3 |
| Pin 14 | PTB4/ATD4 — Port B bit 4 / ADC channel 4 |
| Pin 15 | PTB5/ATD5 — Port B bit 5 / ADC channel 5 |
| Pin 16 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Supply voltage (2.7 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 18 | OSC1 — Crystal/clock input |
| Pin 19 | OSC2 — Crystal output |
| Pin 20 | RESET — Reset input (active low) |
Typical Applications
MCHC908JK8MPE is suitable for 6 applications: Consumer Appliance Control, Educational Microcontroller Labs, HVAC Fan / Temperature Controllers, LED Driver / Signage Lighting Controllers, Automotive Body Modules (legacy retrofit), Industrial Sensor Conditioning.
Consumer Appliance Control
The MCHC908JK8MPE's 8 KB Flash, 15 I/O lines, internal oscillator, and 10-channel 8-bit ADC match the requirements of typical white-goods control boards such as microwave ovens, washing-machine sub-controllers, and rice cookers. The ADC inputs handle temperature (NTC) and humidity (capacitive) sensors directly, while PWM outputs drive triac-controlled heating elements or buzzer tones. The HC08 core executes simple state machines and timed sequencing logic within a few hundred instructions, fitting easily in the 8 KB budget. Compared with a switching regulator upstream, the MCU's low EMC signature eliminates extra shielding on white-goods control boards.
Recommended
Educational Microcontroller Labs
Universities and coding clubs favor the MCHC908JK8MPE in the 20-DIP package because DIP parts fit standard 20-pin ZIF sockets on development boards and are easy to flash in-circuit. The HC08 core's straightforward instruction set is ideal for teaching fundamentals such as register-level programming, stack discipline, and timer interrupts. With 8 KB of Flash, students can implement several small projects (LED chasers, stopwatches, I2C glue) without running out of code space. The internal oscillator eliminates the need to teach external crystal design in introductory courses.
Recommended
HVAC Fan / Temperature Controllers
HVAC sub-controllers often need 4-6 ADC inputs (temperature, humidity, pressure), 4-6 digital I/O (relays, triac phase-angle drive), and a simple UART to a central controller. The MCHC908JK8MPE provides 10 ADC channels and 15 I/O lines, which is a comfortable fit for multi-zone fan-coil units. Its 8-bit ADC resolution is sufficient for thermistor-based temperature feedback (typically 1 C resolution after conditioning). The wide 2.7V-5.5V supply tolerance lets the MCU run directly from a rectified 5 V transformer rail.
Recommended
LED Driver / Signage Lighting Controllers
LED signage dimmers and animation controllers use PWM channels to drive strings of high-brightness LEDs at varying duty cycles. The MCHC908JK8MPE has multiple PWM peripherals and supports up to 15 I/O, allowing simultaneous control of multiple LED banks from a single MCU. The 8 MHz clock provides adequate PWM frequency (~1 kHz) to avoid audible flicker while still producing smooth dimming. Because the part is obsolete, new designs benefit from cross-brand drop-in alternatives such as PIC16F876A, which adds 10-bit PWM resolution.
Recommended
Automotive Body Modules (legacy retrofit)
Older automotive body modules (window controllers, mirror adjusters, simple seat modules) often used the MCHC908JK8MPE because of its wide supply tolerance and through-hole repairability. The HC08 JK family is rated for the -40 C to +125 C automotive operating range. For new automotive designs, consult the AEC-Q100-qualified Q-version part number. Field repairs and warranty stock remain a use case where authentic MCHC908JK8MPE is preferred over re-spinning the module with a modern MCU.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning
The MCHC908JK8MPE is well-suited for industrial 4-20 mA sensor conditioning boards that aggregate several analog inputs into a single UART/SPI feed. Its on-chip ADC handles 8 channels of precision-input instrumentation at a 10 ms per sample rate. The 256 byte RAM, while modest, is sufficient for storing scaling factors and digital filter coefficients. The DIP package eases field replacement by technicians without needing hot-air rework stations.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MCHC908JK8MPE — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MCHC908JK1CPE | MCHC908JK3CPE | MC68HC908JK3CPE | PIC16F876A-I/SP | PIC16F877A-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-DIP (PDIP-20) | 20-DIP - same | 20-DIP - same | 20-DIP - same | 20-DIP (SPDIP-20) - same | 20-DIP (SPDIP-20) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | HC08 (8-bit) | HC08 (8-bit) - same | HC08 (8-bit) - same | HC08 (8-bit) - same | PIC16 (8-bit RISC) | PIC16 (8-bit RISC) |
| Max Clock | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 8 KB | 1 KB | 4 KB | 3.6 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB |
| RAM | 256 B | 128 B | 128 B | 128 B | 368 B | 368 B |
| ADC | 8-bit, 10-ch | 8-bit, 10-ch | 8-bit, 10-ch | 8-bit, 10-ch | 10-bit, 8-ch | 10-bit, 8-ch |
| I/O | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 22 (DIP exposure differs; pick package-matched 876A-I/SP variant) | 33 (40-pin part) |
Key Differentiators
- 8 KB Flash capacity (vs MCHC908JK1CPE / MCHC908JK3CPE)
- Wide supply voltage tolerance (vs PIC16F876A-I/SP)
- 10 ADC channels (vs PIC16F876A-I/SP)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD and VSS pins (pin 17 and pin 16) of the MCHC908JK8MPE. Add a bulk 10 uF electrolytic or tantalum on the same 5 V rail to handle in-rush when the RESET line is released. Estimated: an HC08 JK8 chip typically draws 15-25 mA when all peripherals are active, so a 10 uF bulk capacitor with <100 mOhm ESR keeps VDD within 50 mV of nominal during CPU cold-start.
Do NOT omit the external pull-up resistor on the RESET pin (pin 20). The HC08 JK family requires an external 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for reliable cold-start; without it the part may fail to exit reset or exhibit erratic startup. If in-circuit programming is needed, route the RESET line to the programmer header but never drive it low during normal operation.
When laying out the 20-DIP footprint, leave at least 2 mm clearance around the package to accommodate socketed debugging or hand rework. Position the decoupling capacitor within one pin pitch of VDD/VSS to minimize inductance. Keep the OSC1/OSC2 traces short and routed symmetrically to the crystal/ceramic resonator to reduce EMI and frequency error.
The HC08 ADC shares its input channels with the PTB port, so reading any analog pin while it is being driven high by external logic will cause ADC conversion errors. Always switch the PTB pins to high-impedance input mode before initiating an ADC read, and pause PWM outputs that share the same pins during sensitive conversions.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not explicitly stated in retrieved snippets. The Partstack listing tagged the temperature grade as 'AUTOMOTIVE' which would correspond to an automotive-grade MCHC908JK8 variant; confirm exact suffix before AEC-Q100 claim. For new RoHS-compliant designs, choose a current-generation Microchip or NXP S08-series MCU in PDIP.
