interface

MCP4017

Every spec below is cited to the manufacturer datasheet. Pick your exact ordering code, compare the closest alternatives, then ask the assistant what it means for your design.

00 — Overview

What the MCP4017 family does

The MCP4017/18/19 are 7-bit digital potentiometers or rheostats with volatile memory available in SC70-5 and SC70-6 packages. These devices offer 128 steps with resistor networks ranging from 5kΩ to 100kΩ and support a wide operating voltage range of 1.8V to 5.5V. They feature a simple I2C protocol for control, low static current of 2.5µA, and a typical bandwidth of 2MHz for the 5kΩ configuration. The parts include low wiper resistance of 100Ω and low temperature coefficients of 10ppm for ratiometric operation. Engineers typically use them to replace mechanical pots in applications requiring precise, programmable resistance control. The family includes the MCP4017 rheostat, MCP4018 potentiometer, and MCP4019 rheostat, all designed for compact space-constrained designs.

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Start building with MCP4017 → Every number above is cited straight from the datasheet — ask what they mean for your design, and the assistant answers from the same source documents.
Ordering code:
01 — Key specifications

MCP4017 datasheet parameters

ParameterMinTypMaxConditionsSource
quiescent current — 45 µA 80 µA Serial Interface Active, Write all 0's to Volatile WiperVDD = 5.5V, FSCL = 400 kHz; (note 8); AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS Microchip datasheet, p. 4 — AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS
supply voltage range 2.7 V — 5.5 V Analog Characteristics specified; AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS Microchip datasheet, p. 4 — AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS
operating temperature -40 °C — 125 °C Microchip datasheet, p. 11 — TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTICS
data rate — 400 kbps — I2C Fast Mode, FSCL max 400 kHz Microchip datasheet, p. 9 — TABLE 1-1: I²C BUS START/STOP BITS REQUIREMENTS
rise time — — 1 µs 100 kHz mode; Cb is specified to be from 10 to 400 pF; I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE) Microchip datasheet, p. 10 — TABLE 1-2: I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE)
fall time — — 300 ns 100 kHz mode; Cb is specified to be from 10 to 400 pF; I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE) Microchip datasheet, p. 10 — TABLE 1-2: I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE)
output voltage low — — 400 mV VDD \geq 2.0\text{V}, IOL = 3\text{ mA}; {ol}; Digital Inputs/Outputs (SDA, SCK) Microchip datasheet, p. 8 — AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS (CONTINUED)
channel count — 1 — Microchip datasheet, p. 2
01 — Key specifications

MCP4018 datasheet parameters

ParameterMinTypMaxConditionsSource
quiescent current — 45 µA 80 µA Serial Interface Active, Write all 0's to Volatile WiperVDD = 5.5V, FSCL = 400 kHz; (note 8); AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS Microchip datasheet, p. 4 — AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS
supply voltage range 2.7 V — 5.5 V Analog Characteristics specified; AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS Microchip datasheet, p. 4 — AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS
operating temperature -40 °C — 125 °C Microchip datasheet, p. 11 — TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTICS
data rate — 400 kbps — I2C Fast Mode, FSCL max 400 kHz Microchip datasheet, p. 9 — TABLE 1-1: I²C BUS START/STOP BITS REQUIREMENTS
rise time — — 1 µs 100 kHz mode; Cb is specified to be from 10 to 400 pF; I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE) Microchip datasheet, p. 10 — TABLE 1-2: I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE)
fall time — — 300 ns 100 kHz mode; Cb is specified to be from 10 to 400 pF; I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE) Microchip datasheet, p. 10 — TABLE 1-2: I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE)
output voltage low — — 400 mV VDD \geq 2.0\text{V}, IOL = 3\text{ mA}; {ol}; Digital Inputs/Outputs (SDA, SCK) Microchip datasheet, p. 8 — AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS (CONTINUED)
channel count — 1 — Microchip datasheet, p. 2
01 — Key specifications

MCP4019 datasheet parameters

ParameterMinTypMaxConditionsSource
quiescent current — 45 µA 80 µA Serial Interface Active, Write all 0's to Volatile WiperVDD = 5.5V, FSCL = 400 kHz; (note 8); AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS Microchip datasheet, p. 4 — AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS
supply voltage range 2.7 V — 5.5 V Analog Characteristics specified; AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS Microchip datasheet, p. 4 — AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS
operating temperature -40 °C — 125 °C Microchip datasheet, p. 11 — TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTICS
data rate — 400 kbps — I2C Fast Mode, FSCL max 400 kHz Microchip datasheet, p. 9 — TABLE 1-1: I²C BUS START/STOP BITS REQUIREMENTS
rise time — — 1 µs 100 kHz mode; Cb is specified to be from 10 to 400 pF; I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE) Microchip datasheet, p. 10 — TABLE 1-2: I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE)
fall time — — 300 ns 100 kHz mode; Cb is specified to be from 10 to 400 pF; I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE) Microchip datasheet, p. 10 — TABLE 1-2: I²C BUS DATA REQUIREMENTS (SLAVE MODE)
output voltage low — — 400 mV VDD \geq 2.0\text{V}, IOL = 3\text{ mA}; {ol}; Digital Inputs/Outputs (SDA, SCK) Microchip datasheet, p. 8 — AC/DC CHARACTERISTICS (CONTINUED)
channel count — 1 — Microchip datasheet, p. 2
03 — Alternatives

Closest matches to MCP4017

SN65HVD3082E 9.4× higher quiescent current, 2.7× lower output voltage low, 2.0× lower data rate
GM3085E 3.1× higher quiescent current, 2.5× higher data rate, 1.9× lower operating temperature
PCA9557BS 2.4× lower quiescent current, 1.9× lower operating temperature, 1.1× lower supply voltage range
MAX3232 6.7× higher quiescent current, 1.6× lower data rate, 1.2× lower operating temperature
PCA9509 10.0× higher quiescent current, 2.0× lower data rate, 2.0× lower output voltage low
PCA9517D 1.9× lower operating temperature, 1.3× higher output voltage low, similar data rate
RS0102 18.0× lower quiescent current, 1.9× lower operating temperature, 1.3× lower output voltage low
ADM2483BRW 4.0× lower output voltage low, 2.5× lower rise time, 1.9× lower operating temperature
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