EmbeddedRelated.com
The 2026 Embedded Online Conference
    Parts    24LC256-I/P
24LC256-I/P

MCHP24LC256-I/P

Microchip
Pin- and function-compatible 256-Kbit I2C EEPROM alternative from Microchip.
Active9,125 in stock
Datasheet Digi-Key Mouser Compare Prices

Overview

The 24LC256-I/P is a 256 Kbit (32K x 8) I2C serial EEPROM designed for reliable non-volatile data storage. It features a wide operating voltage range of 2.5V to 5.5V and a low standby current of only 1.5 microamps, making it suitable for battery-powered applications. This specific variant comes in a through-hole 8-pin PDIP package, making it ideal for prototyping and legacy system maintenance.

Why Choose This Part

This EEPROM offers high durability with over one million erase/write cycles and data retention exceeding 200 years. It simplifies hardware design with Schmitt trigger inputs for noise suppression and is cascadable, allowing up to eight devices on the same I2C bus for expanded memory capacity.

Applications

Configuration Storage
Storing device calibration constants, user settings, and network configuration data that must persist through power cycles.
Data Logging
Recording sensor telemetry or event logs using the 64-byte page write buffer to minimize write cycle overhead.
Firmware Backup
Acting as a secondary storage location for small bootloader routines or look-up tables in embedded systems.
Prototyping
Integrating into breadboard-based designs for students and engineers testing I2C bus communication protocols.

Key Specifications

Technology EEPROM
Access Time 900 ns
Memory Size 256Kbit
Memory Type Non-Volatile
Memory Format EEPROM
Mounting Type Through Hole
Package / Case 8-DIP (0.300", 7.62mm)
Clock Frequency 400 kHz
Memory Interface I2C
Voltage - Supply 2.5V ~ 5.5V
Memory Organization 32K x 8
Operating Temperature -40degC ~ 85degC (TA)
Supplier Device Package 8-PDIP
Write Cycle Time - Word, Page 5ms

Getting Started

To use this part, connect the SDA and SCL lines to your microcontroller's I2C pins with external pull-up resistors, and tie the WP pin to ground to enable write operations. For software development, use standard I2C libraries like Wire.h for Arduino or Microchip's MCC to handle the 2-byte addressing required for 256Kbit densities.

The 2026 Embedded Online Conference