MCP42050T-E/SL

Digital Potentiometers Overview

The MCP42050T-E/SL is a dual-channel digital potentiometer manufactured by Microchip Technology. It features two independent 50 kΩ potentiometers, each with 256 tap positions controlled via an SPI serial interface. The device operates on a single supply voltage ranging from 2.7V to 5.5V and supports industrial temperature ranges of -40°C to +85°C or extended ranges up to +125°C depending on the specific suffix variant. Key electrical characteristics include a maximum INL and DNL of ±1 LSB, a typical wiper resistance of 175 Ω at 5V, and a static supply current of less than 1 µA. The SOIC-14 package includes dedicated hardware shutdown and reset pins for power management.

Digital Potentiometers Feature Summary

• Dual-channel architecture with two independent 50 kΩ potentiometers
• 256-tap resolution controlled via standard SPI interface (Mode 0,0 and 1,1)
• Hardware Shutdown (SHDN) and Reset (RS) pins for power saving and mid-scale initialization
• Low power consumption with <1 µA static supply current

Digital Potentiometers Applications

• Audio volume control and tone adjustment circuits
• Programmable gain amplifiers and variable attenuators
• Voltage reference trimming and calibration systems
• LCD bias voltage generation and contrast adjustment

Digital Potentiometers Procurement Notes

Verify the 'E' temperature suffix against the required operating range, as datasheet specifications vary between Industrial (-40°C to +85°C) and Extended (-40°C to +125°C) grades. Confirm that the 'T' tape-and-reel packaging aligns with automated assembly requirements. Ensure the SPI clock frequency does not exceed 10 MHz under standard conditions or ~5.8 MHz in daisy-chain configurations.

Digital Potentiometers Selection Notes

Select this component when dual-channel linear resistance control is required without volatile memory retention. Compare against the MCP42050-I/SL if only industrial temperature ratings are sufficient. Consider the MCP42050T-E/ML for smaller MSOP-10 footprint needs, noting that pinouts may differ. Verify that the 50 kΩ nominal resistance matches the impedance requirements of the target analog circuit.

Digital Potentiometers Part Context

This part belongs to the MCP41XXX/MCP42XXX family of 256-position digital potentiometers. The MCP42XXX designation indicates a dual-channel configuration, distinguishing it from the single-channel MCP41XXX series. The 'SL' suffix denotes the 14-pin SOIC package, while 'T' indicates tape-and-reel packaging. This family utilizes low-power CMOS technology and offers channel-to-channel matching of less than 1% for the dual versions.

Digital Potentiometers Replacement Considerations

The MCP42050-I/SL is a direct functional equivalent with identical electrical specifications but limited to the industrial temperature range. For surface-mount alternatives with different footprints, the MCP42050T-E/ML (MSOP-10) offers similar functionality but requires verification of pin compatibility. No other cross-model substitutes are confirmed in the provided documentation.