Basic Product Information
Part Number: AT24C02
| Field |
Value |
| Manufacturer |
Microchip Technology (formerly Atmel) |
| Device Type |
AT24C02 |
| Package |
8-PDIP / 8-SOIC / 8-TSSOP / 8-UDFN |
| Compliance |
RoHS3 Compliant |
| Grade |
Industrial (-40°C to +85°C) / Extended (-40°C to +125°C) |
Core Electrical Parameters
| Parameter |
Value |
Unit |
| Memory Type |
EEPROM (Non-Volatile) |
– |
| Memory Density |
2 |
Kbit |
| Memory Organization |
256 × 8 |
byte |
| Page Size |
8 |
byte |
| Number of Pages |
32 |
– |
| Interface |
I2C (2-Wire Serial) |
– |
| Max Clock Frequency |
400 kHz (1.7V) / 1 MHz (≥2.5V) |
– |
| Supply Voltage Range |
1.7 ~ 5.5 |
V |
| Active Read Current |
0.4 (typ) / 1.0 (max) |
mA |
| Active Write Current |
2 (typ) / 3 (max) |
mA |
| Standby Current |
6 (max) |
µA |
| Write Cycle Time |
5 (max) |
ms |
| Write Endurance |
1,000,000 |
cycles |
| Data Retention |
100 |
years |
| Access Time |
450 ~ 900 |
ns |
| Write Protect Pin |
Yes (WP — protects upper half when HIGH) |
– |
| Devices per I2C Bus |
Up to 8 (A0/A1/A2 address pins) |
– |
| Schmitt Trigger Inputs |
Yes (noise suppression) |
– |
| Operating Temperature |
-40 ~ +85 / -40 ~ +125 |
°C |
| MSL |
1 (Unlimited) |
– |
| ECCN |
3A991B1B1 |
– |
Core Features & Advantages
The AT24C02 is the industry-standard 2 Kbit I2C EEPROM — the most widely deployed non-volatile memory for parameter storage in embedded systems, with decades of proven field reliability and an unmatched second-source ecosystem.
- Primary Function: 2 Kbit (256 × 8) I2C serial EEPROM with byte/page write, hardware write protection, Schmitt trigger inputs, and ultra-low standby current in compact 8-pin packages.
- Advantages:
- Universal I2C EEPROM Standard — Zero Learning Curve: The AT24C02 defines the de facto I2C EEPROM protocol. Every major MCU vendor provides driver libraries, and the 1010xxxx addressing scheme is supported by every I2C scanner, programmer, and embedded OS on the market. This means zero driver development risk, zero compatibility testing, and instant productivity for any engineering team.
- 1.7V ~ 5.5V Wide Operating Voltage: The voltage range spans from 1.7 V (direct coin-cell operation) to 5.5 V (legacy 5 V systems), making the AT24C02 one of the few EEPROMs that works across the entire embedded voltage spectrum without level shifters. Combined with 6 µA standby current, it is ideal for battery-backed configuration storage that must retain data for years.
- 1 Million Write Cycles / 100-Year Data Retention: The 1M-cycle endurance and 100-year retention far exceed typical application requirements (e.g., daily configuration updates over a 10-year product life consume only ~3,650 cycles — 0.37% of rated endurance). This eliminates wear-leveling complexity and provides engineering margin for unexpected write-intensive scenarios.
Typical Application Scenarios
- Industry: Consumer Electronics / Industrial / Medical / Automotive / IoT
- Equipment: Smart meters, home appliances, industrial controllers, medical instruments, automotive ECUs, sensor nodes
- Use Cases:
- MCU Configuration Parameter Storage: Store device calibration data, communication settings, and user preferences that must survive power cycles. The 256-byte capacity precisely fits typical configuration structs (WiFi credentials, sensor offsets, PID tuning parameters), while hardware write protection prevents accidental corruption of critical factory calibration data.
- Multi-Sensor Node with Shared I2C Bus: Up to 8 AT24C02 devices can share a single I2C bus via A0/A1/A2 address pins, providing 16 Kbit of distributed non-volatile storage across a sensor array. Each sensor module carries its own calibration EEPROM, enabling hot-swappable modules without centralized storage management.
- Automotive ECU Fault Code Logging: The extended temperature grade (-40°C to +125°C) and 100-year data retention make the AT24C02 suitable for storing DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) history in automotive ECUs. The WP pin protects logged fault codes from accidental overwrite while allowing new codes to be stored in the unprotected lower half of the array.
Market Reference Price
| Market |
Price Range |
Currency |
| Huaqiangbei Spot |
$0.02 – $0.08 |
USD |
| Overseas B2B |
$0.29 – $0.46 |
USD |
Related Models Comparison
| Model |
Difference |
Application |
| AT24C04 |
4 Kbit (512 × 8), 16-byte page, same pinout and protocol |
Double density with identical PCB layout |
| AT24C512C |
512 Kbit, same I2C protocol, larger page (128 bytes) |
Firmware update staging and large data logs |
| AT24CS02 |
Same 2 Kbit + factory-programmed 128-bit unique serial number |
Anti-counterfeiting and device serialization |
| M24C02-WMN6P |
STMicroelectronics equivalent, pin-compatible, same I2C address map |
Second source / supply chain diversification |
