Microchip Technology 25LC080A-E/P

Overview

25LC080A-E/P from Microchip Technology Inc. is an 8 Kbit SPI Serial EEPROM with 1024 × 8-bit organization, 16-byte page size, and 2.5–5.5 V supply range. It supports Industrial (–40°C to +85°C) and Automotive (–40°C to +125°C) temperature grades, features hardware write protection via WP pin, and delivers 1,000,000 erase/write cycles for use in automotive body control modules and industrial sensor calibration storage.

For engineers reviewing the 25LC080A-E/P datasheet, 25LC080A-E/P pinout, 25LC080A-E/P application, or 25LC080A-E/P equivalent, key selection criteria include its 10 MHz max clock speed, 5 ms internal write cycle time, block-level write protection (0/¼/½/all array), HOLD pin for interrupt-safe SPI pausing, and Pb-free PDIP-8 packaging compliant with RoHS.

Technical Context

The 25LC080A-E/P implements a standard SPI Mode 0,0/Master-Slave interface with separate SI (data-in) and SO (data-out) lines, requiring CS low and HOLD high for normal operation. Its instruction set includes READ (0x03), WRITE (0x02), WREN/WRDI, RDSR/WRSR, enabling byte/page writes and status register access at any time-even during active write cycles.

Write operations require explicit WREN activation before each WRITE command; the write enable latch resets automatically after successful WRITE, WRSR, WRDI, or power-up. Page writes are constrained to 16-byte boundaries (0000h–000Fh, 0010h–001Fh, etc.), and crossing boundaries causes wraparound-not sequential addressing-mandating firmware-level boundary checks.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

25LC080A-E/P is supplied in an 8-lead Plastic Dual In-Line Package (PDIP) with 300 mil body width, RoHS-compliant matte tin plating, and industry-standard pinout. The package is through-hole mountable and suitable for prototyping, legacy PCBs, and high-reliability industrial assemblies where thermal cycling resistance and mechanical stability are critical.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar serial EEPROM applications.

Compared with 25LC080A-E/P, the 25LC080A-I/P offers identical performance at lower cost for non-automotive use, while the AT25080B-SSHL-T sacrifices HOLD functionality and page-size compatibility for alternate vendor sourcing-neither is pin- or firmware-compatible without redesign.

Availability

25LC080A-E/P is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive body electronics, industrial sensor calibration, medical infusion pump configuration, and smart energy meter firmware parameter storage requiring stable component supply across extended temperature ranges and long product lifecycles.

Supply support for 25LC080A-E/P includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of microcontrollers, analog devices, and memory solutions, headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, with global design and manufacturing infrastructure.

The 25LC080A-E/P belongs to Microchip's 25XX080A/B family of SPI Serial EEPROMs, engineered for reliable nonvolatile data storage in automotive, industrial, and medical systems where write endurance, data retention, and hardware-level write protection are mandatory.

FAQ

What is the maximum clock frequency supported by the 25LC080A-E/P?

The 25LC080A-E/P supports a maximum clock frequency of 10 MHz when VCC is 4.5 V to 5.5 V. At 2.5 V ≤ VCC < 4.5 V, the maximum clock drops to 5 MHz, and at 1.8 V ≤ VCC < 2.5 V, it is rated for 3 MHz. These deratings ensure timing margin compliance across voltage and temperature ranges per DS21808D AC Characteristics Table 1-2.

Does the 25LC080A-E/P require external pull-up resistors on its SO or SI lines?

No, the 25LC080A-E/P does not require external pull-up resistors on SO or SI. The SO pin is actively driven and tri-stated when deselected; SI is a CMOS input with negligible leakage. Pull-ups are unnecessary and may interfere with SPI bus sharing or violate VIH/VIL thresholds specified in DC Characteristics Table 1-1.

How does the HOLD pin function during an active SPI transaction in the 25LC080A-E/P?

The HOLD pin in the 25LC080A-E/P suspends SPI communication mid-sequence when pulled low while SCK is low. All inputs (except CS) are ignored, SO goes high-impedance, and the internal state is preserved. Resuming requires bringing HOLD high while SCK remains low-ensuring deterministic resumption without data loss or reinitialization.

Can the 25LC080A-E/P be used with a 1.8 V microcontroller SPI interface?

No, the 25LC080A-E/P is not rated for 1.8 V operation. Its minimum VCC is 2.5 V, and its input thresholds (VIH1, VIL1) are defined for VCC ≥ 2.7 V. For 1.8 V systems, Microchip's 25AA080A-E/P (1.8–5.5 V) is the functionally equivalent alternative with identical pinout and instruction set.

What happens if a page write crosses a 16-byte boundary in the 25LC080A-E/P?

If a page write command attempts to cross a 16-byte boundary (e.g., writing 16 bytes starting at address 0x000F), data wraps around to the start of the same page (0x0000) instead of advancing to the next page. This overwrites previously written bytes in that page. Firmware must enforce boundary alignment to prevent unintended data corruption.