PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP - 16-bit 70MIPS 256KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.42 | $7.42 |
| 10 | $6.68 | $66.80 |
| 100 | $5.94 | $594.00 |
| 500 | $5.2 | $2,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.65 | $4,650.00 |
PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (RAM), and configurable peripherals (timers, ADC, PWM, communication interfaces) into one IC. PIC24E-family MCUs are 16-bit dsPIC-style controllers optimized for mixed signal processing and control, sitting between classic 8-bit PIC MCUs and 32-bit ARM Cortex-M parts. The "EP" series adds motor-control specific peripherals such as high-speed PWM, op amps, and quadrature encoder interfaces that simplify closed-loop field-oriented control (FOC) firmware.
Key features include a 70 MIPS (15.6 ns instruction cycle) modified-Harvard dsPIC core, 256KB Flash with self-programming capability, dual 40-bit accumulators for DSP, and peripheral pin select (PPS) for flexible I/O mapping. The integrated op amps and 12-bit ADC (with up to 10 Msps on select variants) enable direct current sensing and back-EMF measurement in motor drives, eliminating external signal conditioning. Available peripherals include motor-control PWM, input capture, output compare, UART, SPI, I2C, and CAN.
Typical applications include BLDC/PMSM motor drives (FOC firmware), industrial servo control, fan and pump controllers, HVAC compressors, and home appliances. The wide 3.0-3.6V VDD range simplifies designs migrating from 3.3V systems, while dual 40-bit accumulators allow hardware multiply-accumulate (MAC) operations for sensorless control algorithms.
When designing with this part, plan for the SPDIP-28 footprint with 0.1uF decoupling on each VDD/AVDD pair and place the crystal or external oscillator within 5 mm of OSC1/OSC2 to minimize EMI. Programming via ICSP requires dedicated PGECx/PGEDx pin access; ensure these are accessible on the PCB edge or test pad array.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP — 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 PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Mounting Type, ADC, Communication, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24EP256MC202-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP256MC202-E/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.07 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24EP256MC202-H/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP128MC202-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24EP256MC204-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit PIC24E dsPIC |
| CPU Speed (max) | 70 MIPS (60 MIPS with DOZE enabled) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24 instruction words) |
| RAM | 32 KB |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature (I grade) | -40C to +85C |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (0.300 inch, 7.62 mm) |
| ADC | 12-bit, 10 channels (10 Msps on dedicated ADC channels) |
| PWM Channels | 6 (motor-control PWM with 1.04 ns resolution) |
| Op Amps | 3 internal (select variants) |
| Comparators | 3 internal |
| Communication Interfaces | 2x UART, 2x SPI, 2x I2C, 1x CAN (ECAN) |
| I/O Pins | 21 |
| DMA Channels | 8 |
| Timers | 9 (16-bit/32-bit) |
| Pin Count | 28 |
| Mounting Type | Through-hole (SPDIP) |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O / Analog input 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3 — Digital I/O / Analog input 3 |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (3.0-3.6V) |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/RA5 — Crystal oscillator input |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 10 | RA7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RB0/AN8 — Digital I/O / Analog input 8 |
| Pin 12 | RB1/AN9 — Digital I/O / Analog input 9 |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / Programming clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / Programming data |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 21 | RC2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 22 | RC3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 23 | RC4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 24 | RC5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 25 | RC6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 26 | RC7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | AVDD — Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 28 | AVSS — Analog ground |
Typical Applications
PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP is suitable for 6 applications: BLDC and PMSM Motor Control, Industrial Servo and Stepper Drives, HVAC Compressor and Fan Controllers, Home Appliance Motor Drives, Power Tools and Cordless Devices, Robotics and Drone Propulsion.
BLDC and PMSM Motor Control
The PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP's integrated motor-control PWM (6 channels, 1.04 ns resolution), 3 internal op amps, and quadrature encoder interface (QEI) make it ideal for sensorless and sensored FOC motor drives. With 70 MIPS DSP performance and dual 40-bit accumulators, it executes Clarke/Park transforms in under 5 us, enabling 20 kHz control loops for 50,000 RPM PMSM motors. The 32 KB RAM fits state-machine observers and BEMF estimators without external memory, reducing BOM cost in BLDC fan and pump designs.
Recommended
Industrial Servo and Stepper Drives
The PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP supports closed-loop servo control via its high-resolution PWM and QEI for incremental encoder feedback. The 16-bit ADC with 10 Msps capability on dedicated channels samples current and voltage at PWM frequency without missing events, essential for torque-ripple minimization in precision servo drives. CAN 2.0B connectivity integrates into EtherCAT/CANopen industrial networks, while the 32 KB RAM holds trajectory planning tables for point-to-point motion profiles.
Recommended
HVAC Compressor and Fan Controllers
Variable-speed HVAC compressors and fans benefit from the PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP's sensorless FOC firmware capabilities, reducing acoustic noise by 6-10 dB compared to trapezoidal commutation. The internal op amps sense phase current directly without external instrumentation amplifiers, and the comparators enable hardware overcurrent protection that latches PWM within one cycle. Operating from 3.3V simplifies interface to digital temperature sensors and I/O expansion chips.
Recommended
Home Appliance Motor Drives
Washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators use the PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP to drive drum, pump, and compressor motors with energy-efficient variable-speed control. The Flash self-programming capability supports field firmware updates via appliance service mode, while the wide operating temperature range (-40C to +85C industrial grade) handles under-counter and garage installations. Internal op amps reduce the BOM by eliminating 3 external current-sense amplifiers, lowering cost in consumer-grade products.
Recommended
Power Tools and Cordless Devices
Battery-powered drills, saws, and impact drivers use the PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP's 70 MIPS core to run sensorless BLDC control with back-EMF zero-crossing detection, achieving 90%+ motor efficiency at 18-36V battery packs. The low-power sleep modes and brown-out reset extend battery life by 15-20% compared to discrete analog controllers. CAN or UART connectivity supports next-generation smart tool diagnostics and brushless motor telemetry for service shops.
Recommended
Robotics and Drone Propulsion
Quadcopter and small-robot ESCs (electronic speed controllers) use the PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP to drive 4-6 brushless motors at 24 kHz with active freewheeling for reduced switching losses. The high-resolution PWM (1.04 ns edge granularity) enables silent sinusoidal commutation, while the 12-bit ADC and op amps provide precise current limiting for motor protection during stall conditions. The compact SPDIP-28 package simplifies prototyping, with field-programmable Flash for tuning flight-controller gains.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24EP256MC202-I/SS | PIC24EP256MC202-E/SP | dsPIC33EP256MC202-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SPDIP-28 (0.300 inch) | SSOP-28 (surface-mount) | SPDIP-28 (same) | SPDIP-28 (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core Architecture | PIC24E 16-bit dsPIC, 70 MIPS | PIC24E 16-bit dsPIC, 70 MIPS | PIC24E 16-bit dsPIC, 60 MIPS | dsPIC33EP 16-bit DSP, 70 MIPS |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| RAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (AEC-Q100 Grade 1) | -40C to +85C |
| AEC-Q100 Qualified | No (industrial only) | No | Yes (Grade 1) | No |
| DSP Extensions | Yes (dual 40-bit accumulators, MAC) | Yes | Yes | Yes (branded) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated motor-control analog front end (vs dsPIC33EP256MC202-I/SP)
- Wide operating voltage and temperature range (vs PIC24EP256MC202-E/SP (automotive))
- Higher MIPs than automotive variants (vs PIC24EP256MC202-H/SP (AEC-Q100 Grade 0))
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor on every VDD pin (pin 6) and a separate 0.1 uF on AVDD (pin 27), with both VSS (pin 7) and AVSS (pin 28) tied to a low-impedance ground plane. Estimated: at 70 MIPS the core draws ~50 mA from VDD with peaks to 70 mA during Flash writes; AVDD should be filtered through a ferrite bead or 10 ohm resistor to reduce digital switching noise coupling into ADC measurements. Brown-out reset (BOR) must be enabled in configuration bits to protect Flash during voltage sags below 3.0V.
The PIC24EP256MC202-I/SP SPDIP-28 package has a theta_JA of approximately 60 C/W in still air. At full 70 MIPS with all peripherals active and 3.6V VDD, typical power dissipation is ~250 mW, giving a junction temperature rise of 15C above ambient. In enclosed motor-drive enclosures at 60C ambient, ensure the device stays below 100C junction (derate to 50 MIPS or 60 MIPS). For sustained operation at 85C ambient, use forced-air cooling or thermal vias under the exposed copper of the PCB pad beneath the SPDIP-28 row.
Route the crystal traces (OSC1 pin 8, OSC2 pin 9) as short as possible, under 10 mm, with a ground guard trace on both sides to minimize EMI pickup. Keep motor-control PWM outputs (RC1-RC6 area) physically separated from analog inputs (RA0-RA4) by at least 5 mm to prevent switching noise coupling into current-sense signals. Use a 4-layer PCB with a dedicated ground plane and 3.3V power plane for production designs; 2-layer boards work for prototypes but require careful ground stitching.
Do not leave unused I/O pins floating - configure them as outputs or enable the internal weak pull-up in software to prevent current drain through input buffer oscillation. When using the ADC in 12-bit mode, add at least 1 uF bypass on AVDD and a 10 nF on the analog input pin to prevent kickback noise from the sample-and-hold capacitor. The peripheral pin select (PPS) feature can remap functions but requires unlocking the IOLOCK bit sequence - forgetting to lock after configuration leaves the device in a debug state.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose -E/SP variant for automotive. Lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip environmental compliance documentation.
