PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO - 70 MIPS 256KB Flash 16-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.85 | $6.85 |
| 10 | $6.12 | $61.20 |
| 100 | $5.4 | $540.00 |
| 500 | $4.78 | $2,390.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.25 | $4,250.00 |
PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (Flash), working RAM, and a rich set of programmable peripherals. The PIC24E general-purpose family positions itself between classic 8-bit PIC MCUs and 32-bit Cortex-M parts, offering deterministic interrupt latency, 16-bit wide data paths, and DSP-friendly instructions in a footprint and toolchain familiar to PIC developers. PIC24EP devices fit within the broader taxonomy: microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor -> integrated circuit.
Key features of the PIC24EP256GP202 include up to 70 MIPS execution from a 70 MHz oscillator, hardware op-amps, a Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) for capacitive touch and precise time measurement, a Peripheral Trigger Generator (PTG) for automated sequencer-style peripheral control, and advanced ADC performance tailored for high-end general-purpose mixed-signal applications. Connectivity peripherals cover I2C, SPI, UART/USART, IrDA, and LINbus, enabling the device to serve as a communication bridge in industrial and automotive subsystems.
The 28-SOIC wide-body package exposes a balance of GPIO, analog channels, and communication interfaces appropriate for control boards where through-hole-style robustness or hand-prototyping ease is desired. The PTG and op-amp peripherals in particular differentiate this MCU from lower-tier PIC24F and PIC24H parts, allowing engineers to build self-contained analog-front-end and timing-critical designs without external components.
Typical applications include industrial control and factory automation, motor control and BLDC/PMSM driver boards, automotive body and LIN-bus nodes, medical instrumentation and patient-monitoring peripherals, consumer white-goods control boards, and smart-energy metering. The combination of CTMU, op-amps, and PTG is especially valuable when the design demands both precision analog sensing and deterministic peripheral handshakes.
When designing with this device, note that the SOIC-28 wide-body package requires standard SOIC-28 footprints with 1.27 mm pitch and adequate copper pour for thermal performance. Designers migrating code from PIC24FJ/PIC24HJ families should revalidate the interrupt vector table and the configuration bit settings, because the PIC24EP peripheral set differs in module count and register map.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-package cross-reference data, and practical design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet excerpts, providing a single source for engineers comparing the PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO against same-footprint alternatives for new designs and field replacements.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO — 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 PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Package, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24EP256GP202-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP256GP202T-E/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP128GP202-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.98 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24EP128MC202T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24EP256GP202-H/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC24EP |
| Core Architecture | PIC 16-bit (dsPIC33/PIC24E Harvard) |
| CPU Speed | 70 MIPS (max) at 70 MHz CPU clock |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24 words) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 16K x 16 bytes (32 KB) |
| Operating Voltage (Core) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V (3.3 V nominal) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, "I" grade) |
| Package | 28-SOIC (0.295 inch / 7.50 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | Yes, advanced (10/12-bit class per PIC24EP family) |
| Op-Amps (internal) | Yes (hardware op-amps on selected pins) |
| CTMU | Yes (Charge Time Measurement Unit) |
| PTG | Yes (Peripheral Trigger Generator) |
| Connectivity | I2C, SPI, UART/USART, IrDA, LINbus |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — GPIO / analog input / op-amp output |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — GPIO / analog input / op-amp inverting input |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — GPIO / analog input / op-amp non-inverting input |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 6 | AVDD — Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 7 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 8 | RA5 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 9 | RA6 — GPIO / oscillator output |
| Pin 10 | RA7 — GPIO / oscillator input |
| Pin 11 | RB0 — GPIO / programming pin |
| Pin 12 | RB1 — GPIO |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — GPIO |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — GPIO |
| Pin 15 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 16 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (3.0-3.6V) |
| Pin 17 | RB4 — GPIO |
| Pin 18 | RB5 — GPIO |
| Pin 19 | RB6 — GPIO / ICSP programming clock |
| Pin 20 | RB7 — GPIO / ICSP programming data |
| Pin 21 | RB8 — GPIO |
| Pin 22 | RB9 — GPIO |
| Pin 23 | RB10 — GPIO |
| Pin 24 | RB11 — GPIO |
| Pin 25 | RC0 — GPIO |
| Pin 26 | RC1 — GPIO |
| Pin 27 | RC2 — GPIO |
| Pin 28 | RC3 — GPIO |
Typical Applications
PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Motor Control & BLDC Drivers, Automotive Body & LIN Bus Nodes, Medical Patient Monitoring Peripherals, Smart Energy & Electricity Metering, Consumer White Goods Control Boards, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning Hubs, Building Automation & HVAC Controllers.
Industrial Motor Control & BLDC Drivers
The PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO fits BLDC, PMSM, and stepper motor control boards because of its 70 MIPS throughput, on-chip op-amps for current-sense amplification, and PTG peripheral for deterministic commutation sequencing. The device samples back-EMF and phase currents with its advanced ADC and computes field-oriented control loops within tight cycle budgets. Its 28-SOIC wide-body package gives design engineers enough GPIO for three-phase gate drivers, encoder feedback, and CAN/LIN transceivers. Compared with a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ MCU at the same price, the 16-bit PIC24EP offers simpler MPLAB-X tooling and faster interrupt response, which simplifies PID loop tuning.
Recommended
Automotive Body & LIN Bus Nodes
Automotive body-control modules (mirror controllers, seat adjusters, HVAC dampers) rely on LIN bus slaves, where the PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO's UART/USART with LIN hardware support is a strong fit. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade covers cabin environments; for under-hood designs the -E variant (60 MIPS) is recommended. The CTMU peripheral can drive capacitive touch buttons for door handles or seat controls without an external timer IC. With 256 KB Flash, the device comfortably fits LIN stack, J1939 dictionaries, and application state machines for body-domain ECUs.
Recommended
Medical Patient Monitoring Peripherals
Patient-monitoring peripherals such as pulse-oximeter front-ends, infusion-pump keypads, and bedside controller boards need a deterministic 16-bit core with low-noise analog support. The PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO provides integrated op-amps for transimpedance amplification of photodiode signals and a 10/12-bit ADC for vital-sign sampling. The 256 KB Flash accommodates safety firmware and graphical UI code, while 32 KB SRAM is ample for waveform buffers. Its industrial temperature rating and IEC 60730 software-class support make it suitable for Class B medical-device firmware requirements when paired with appropriate V&V processes.
Recommended
Smart Energy & Electricity Metering
Single-phase smart electricity meters require accurate energy calculation over decades of operation, and the PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO is well-suited for this workload. The 16-bit core runs metrology DSP algorithms while the CTMU handles tamper-detect capacitive sensing on the meter's enclosure. The 70 MIPS budget lets designers run both the metrology task and the communication stack (DLMS/COSEM over UART, SPI, or PLC modem) on a single MCU. Industrial -40C to +85C temperature range and 256 KB Flash for firmware upgrades over the meter lifetime round out the feature set.
Recommended
Consumer White Goods Control Boards
Washing machines, dishwashers, and induction cooktops depend on an MCU that can drive user interfaces, read sensors, and control actuators in real time. The PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO delivers 70 MIPS to handle HMI rendering, motor control, and safety monitoring on a single chip. Its integrated op-amps condition thermistor and water-level sensor inputs, while the PTG sequences peripheral events without CPU intervention, freeing MIPS for the main control loop. The 28-SOIC package eases hand-rework on white-goods production lines, and the wide 3.0-3.6V supply range tolerates noisy SMPS rails.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning Hubs
Industrial sensor hubs aggregate 4-20 mA loops, RTDs, thermocouples, and bridge sensors into a network node. The PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO's op-amps provide gain stages for thermocouple and bridge sensors, the CTMU excites RTDs and capacitive probes, and the advanced ADC digitizes these channels with deterministic latency. The 70 MIPS throughput supports MODBUS RTU over UART and Ethernet gateways via SPI-attached controllers. Its 256 KB Flash stores sensor linearization tables, calibration data, and MODBUS configuration, while 32 KB SRAM buffers packet traffic before forwarding to higher-level gateways.
Recommended
Building Automation & HVAC Controllers
Building-automation controllers coordinate HVAC dampers, fans, and zone sensors across BACnet or MODBUS networks. The PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO handles multiple UART channels for sensor networking, runs scheduling and PID loops at 70 MIPS, and uses the CTMU to detect damper end-stops via capacitive sensing. The wide-temperature grade suits mechanical rooms and rooftop installations. With 256 KB Flash, the device stores zone configuration, occupancy schedules, and OTA-update buffers, while industrial EMC tolerance from the SOIC package benefits installations near VFD-driven fans.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24EP256GP202-I/SO | PIC24EP256GP202T-E/SO | PIC24EP128GP202-I/SO | PIC24EP128MC202T-I/SO | PIC24EP256GP202-H/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC (wide body) | 28-SOIC (wide body) | 28-SOIC (wide body) | 28-SOIC (wide body) | 28-SOIC (wide body) | 28-SOIC (wide body) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| CPU Speed | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB |
| RAM (SRAM) | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +150C (high temp) |
| Internal Op-Amps / CTMU / PTG | Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes (motor-control PWM) | Yes / Yes / Yes |
| Connectivity (UART/SPI/I2C/LIN) | Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes |
| Carrier Format | Tape & Reel (T-suffix) | Tube (no T-suffix) | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tube |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated op-amps, CTMU, and PTG eliminate external analog front-end (vs PIC24EP128MC202T-I/SO)
- Industrial temperature with full 70 MIPS throughput (vs PIC24EP256GP202T-E/SO)
- Tape-and-reel packaging for high-volume SMT (vs PIC24EP256GP202-I/SO)
- Wide Flash for OTA firmware upgrades (vs PIC24EP128GP202-I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC24EP256GP202T-I/SO core operates from 3.0V to 3.6V. Use a low-noise LDO such as MCP1700 or MIC5219 to drop from a 5V rail, and place a 10uF ceramic + 100nF decoupling pair within 5 mm of each VDD/AVDD pin. Decouple AVDD and VDD separately with a small ferrite bead to keep ADC sampling noise out of the digital logic supply. Estimated: at 70 MIPS the device draws roughly 50 mA active; a 250 mA LDO gives 5x headroom for inrush.
At 70 MIPS full activity, the 28-SOIC wide-body package dissipates under 200 mW. The theta_JA of approximately 70 C/W (per SOIC-28 datasheet figures) yields a junction rise of roughly 14 C above ambient at full load, well within the -40C to +85C industrial rating. For sealed enclosures with limited airflow, add a copper pour of at least 1 square inch under the SOIC exposed paddle to drop thermal resistance below 50 C/W. This MCU is generally not thermally limited in normal use.
Place the 0.1uF VDD bypass capacitor within 2 mm of each supply pin and the bulk 10uF within 10 mm. Keep analog traces (ANx, op-amp inputs) short and guarded with a ground pour on the same layer. Route the 16 MHz crystal traces symmetrically with length matching within 1 mm and surround them with a ground ring. The ICSP pins (RB6/RB7) must remain accessible in production for in-circuit programming; do not share RB6/RB7 exclusively with high-speed signals.
Do not confuse the PIC24EP family with the PIC24FJ or PIC24HJ families - configuration bits, peripheral register maps, and interrupt vector layouts differ. When migrating from PIC24F to PIC24EP, revalidate the ADC initialization and the op-amp enable sequence. Always assert the internal op-amp enable bit before configuring the corresponding ADC channel, and allow the CTMU stabilization delay (~1 ms) before triggering a measurement. Failing to do so yields offset or noisy readings that are hard to debug without an oscilloscope on the analog front-end.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - use -E suffix variants for automotive. Halogen-free status not stated in provided data.
