MCP4162-503E/SN Microchip Integrated Circuit (Small Outline Packages) In Stock
The MCP4162-503E/SN is a single-channel digital potentiometer from Microchip with 256 wiper steps and a 50 kΩ end-to-end resistance. It uses an increment/decrement control interface and is housed in an 8-pin SOIC package for straightforward PCB integration. Suited for DC gain control, offset trimming, and calibration applications requiring fine-grained resistance adjustment.
- Manufacturer
- Microchip
- Package
- Small Outline Packages
- Pin Count
- 8
- Lifecycle
- ACTIVE
- Datasheet
- MCP4162-503E/SN Datasheet PDF
- Category
- Integrated Circuit
- Price
- From $0.8540(MOQ 1)
- Temp Range
- -40.0°C to 125.0°C
- RoHS
- Compliant
- Lead Time
- 3–7 business days
- Shipping
- DHL Express · Worldwide
What are the key features of MCP4162-503E/SN?
- 256-step single-channel digital potentiometer with 50 kΩ end-to-end resistance providing approximately 196 Ω per step for fine-grained analog resistance adjustment
- Simple 2-signal increment/decrement control interface driveable from any 2 GPIO pins without requiring an SPI or I2C peripheral
- Standard 8-pin SOIC package with RoHS-compliant lead-free finish enabling direct mechanical replacement of 50 kΩ mechanical trimmer potentiometers in existing PCB designs
What is MCP4162-503E/SN used for?
The MCP4162-503E/SN is applied in industrial calibration equipment and precision measurement instruments where a 50 kΩ mechanical trimmer needs to be replaced with a software-adjustable element that can be recalibrated remotely or on the fly. Its 256-step resolution provides approximately 196 Ω per increment, enabling accurate gain and offset adjustments in analog front-end circuits connected to temperature sensors, load cells, and pressure transducers. The device is also used in programmable reference voltage dividers and adjustable LED current limiters in lighting control systems where the resistance setting is updated infrequently and low cost is a priority.
What are the specifications of MCP4162-503E/SN?
| Pbfree Code | Yes |
| Manufacturer Package Code | SOIC-8 |
| Factory Lead Time | 8Weeks |
| YTEOL | 9 |
| Bandwidth-Nom | 0.2kHz |
| Control Interface | INCREMENT/DECREMENT |
| Converter Type | DIGITAL POTENTIOMETER |
| JESD-30 Code | R-PDSO-G8 |
| JESD-609 Code | e3 |
| Number of Functions | 1 |
| Number of Positions | 129 |
| Package Body Material | PLASTIC/EPOXY |
| Package Equivalence Code | SOP8,.25 |
| Package Shape | RECTANGULAR |
| Package Style | SMALL OUTLINE |
| Peak Reflow Temperature (Cel) | 260 |
| Qualification Status | Not Qualified |
| Resistance Law | LINEAR |
| Resistance Tolerance-Max | 20% |
| Resistor Terminal Voltage-Max | 5V |
| Supply Current-Max | 1mA |
| Supply Voltage-Nom | 5V |
| Surface Mount | YES |
| Technology | CMOS |
| Temperature Coefficient-Nom | 150ppm/°C |
| Temperature Grade | AUTOMOTIVE |
| Terminal Finish | Matte Tin (Sn) |
| Terminal Form | GULL WING |
| Terminal Pitch | 1.27mm |
| Terminal Position | DUAL |
| Total Resistance-Nom | 50000Ω |
| Package | Small Outline Packages |
Compliance & Regulatory
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes (Pb-Free) |
| Moisture Sensitivity Level | MSL 1 |
| ECCN | EAR99 |
| HTS Code | 8542.39.00.01 |
| Country of Origin | Mainland China, Thailand |
Where can I find the MCP4162-503E/SN datasheet?
MCP4162-503E/SN Datasheet DownloadOfficial datasheet from Microchip
What are equivalent replacements for MCP4162-503E/SN?
No known alternates. Submit an RFQ and our team can suggest alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fine-grained is the resistance adjustment on the MCP4162-503E/SN, given its 256 steps and 50 kΩ range?
With 256 wiper positions spanning a 50 kΩ end-to-end resistance, each increment step changes the resistance by approximately 196 Ω. This resolution is sufficient for gain trim, offset null, and reference voltage adjustment in 12-bit and lower ADC front-end circuits, where the expected trim range is typically a few kilohms and 196 Ω per step provides at least 15 to 20 correction increments within any ±2 kΩ calibration window.
What is the bandwidth of the MCP4162-503E/SN, and how does it constrain the signal frequencies it can handle in a resistor divider?
The MCP4162-503E/SN has a nominal bandwidth of 0.2 kHz (200 Hz), meaning the internal resistance behaves predictably only for DC and very low-frequency AC signals below that limit. This makes the device appropriate for slow-changing analog signals such as temperature sensor outputs, calibration bias voltages, and DC gain-setting networks, but not for audio or RF signal paths. For applications requiring adjustment at audio frequencies, a higher-bandwidth potentiometer such as the MCP4141 with a 1 MHz bandwidth would be needed.
Can the MCP4162-503E/SN be driven without an SPI bus, and what microcontroller resources are required?
Yes, the MCP4162-503E/SN uses a simple 2-wire increment/decrement interface rather than a full SPI bus, so it requires only 2 GPIO output pins from any microcontroller. Each positive pulse on the UP pin advances the wiper by 1 step (196 Ω), and each pulse on the DOWN pin reduces it by 1 step. This makes the device usable on low-pin-count 8-bit microcontrollers or even discrete logic circuits that cannot spare the 3 or 4 pins needed for SPI.
For a designer replacing a 50 kΩ mechanical trimmer, what wiper resistance should be added to the circuit model when using MCP4162-503E/SN?
The MCP4162-503E/SN has a non-zero wiper resistance, typically around 75 Ω to 100 Ω, that appears in series with the selected resistance between the wiper terminal and the resistive element tap. In a 50 kΩ application with 256 steps this wiper resistance represents less than 0.2% of the full scale, so its impact is negligible for most calibration uses, but precision circuits that need end-to-end resistance accuracy better than 0.5% should include the wiper resistance in the worst-case tolerance analysis.
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More from Microchip
| Qty. | Unit Price | Ext. Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1+ | $1.2700 | $1.27 |
| 25+ | $1.0600 | $26.50 |
| 100+ | $0.9700 | $97.00 |
| 1000+ | $0.9400 | $940.00 |
| 5000+ | $0.8620 | $4310.00 |
| 7500+ | $0.8540 | $6405.00 |
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