Clifford Heath wrote:
> The Motorola/Freescale $25 eval board uses a 78L05,
> and runs the MCU at 5V. Why, when the data sheet says it
> expects 3V? Granted the abs max is 6V, but surely they'd
> want the eval board to run at the rated voltage?

908Q run at 3..5 volts. Even their low voltage reset circuit can be 
tuned to one of these two power supply voltages.

The Motorola/Freescale $25 eval board uses a 78L05,
and runs the MCU at 5V. Why, when the data sheet says it
expects 3V? Granted the abs max is 6V, but surely they'd
want the eval board to run at the rated voltage?

Was it just to avoid a more expensive 3V '232 variant?