MCP6002 PCB Design Guide: Footprint, Pinout, and Alternatives
Dual 1 MHz CMOS op-amp with rail-to-rail input/output; 1.8–6 V supply, 100 µA per channel
The MCP6002 is Microchip's default dual CMOS op-amp for low-voltage, battery-powered designs: rail-to-rail input and output, a 1 MHz gain-bandwidth product, and 100 µA of quiescent current per channel — all from a single supply as low as 1.8 V. It comes in the standard 8-pin dual-op-amp pinout (PDIP, SOIC, MSOP, and a 2x3 mm DFN with exposed thermal pad) and is available in both industrial (−40 to +85 °C) and extended (−40 to +125 °C) temperature grades.
The MCP6002 is the CMOS answer to the LM358's limitations in low-voltage circuits. Unlike the LM358, the MCP6002 swings its output to within 25 mV of either rail (measured at 5.5 V with light load), its input common-mode range exceeds the rails by 300 mV, and it draws less than a third of the quiescent current. The tradeoff: the 6 V absolute maximum supply voltage rules it out for the 12 V and 24 V rails where the LM358 still earns its keep.
The MCP6002 is not a precision amplifier — its ±4.5 mV max offset and 28 nV/√Hz noise density place it squarely in the general-purpose category. But its picoamp-level input bias current at room temperature, phase-reversal protection, and generous 90° phase margin make it a forgiving part that is hard to oscillate accidentally. For almost any 3.3 V or 5 V signal-chain task that doesn't demand microvolt precision, the MCP6002 is the safe, well-stocked choice.
What breaks boards
The transition region at VDD − 1.1 V can degrade distortion
The MCP6002 achieves rail-to-rail input with two parallel differential input stages that hand off at VCM = VDD − 1.1 V (§4.1.3). Crossing this region introduces a small shift in offset voltage, which can show up as crossover distortion in AC signals biased near mid-supply. For noninverting stages, the datasheet recommends keeping the common-mode voltage away from this handoff point when low distortion matters. A common fix is to bias the input signal below VDD − 1.1 V or above it — not straddling both.
Output swing to the rails assumes light load and overdrive
The headline 'VSS + 25 mV to VDD − 25 mV' output range is measured at VDD = 5.5 V with 0.5 V of input overdrive and RL = 10 kΩ tied to mid-supply. In practice, output headroom degrades noticeably under heavier load (see Figure 2-14 in the datasheet). The short-circuit output current collapses from ±23 mA at 5.5 V to only ±6 mA at 1.8 V. A 1.8 V circuit expecting the MCP6002 to drive more than a few milliamps will be disappointed.
Capacitive loads above ~100 pF need an isolation resistor at unity gain
The 90° phase margin is specified with CL = 60 pF. At G = +1, the MCP6002 becomes unstable with capacitive loads above roughly 100 pF. The datasheet provides a full RISO selection chart (Figure 4-4) parameterized by noise gain and load capacitance. A 100 Ω to 1 kΩ series resistor at the output is typically enough. Skipping this step when driving long traces, MOSFET gates, or ADC inputs produces the ringing and oscillation that designers often blame on the part.
Input bias current jumps from picoamps to nanoamps at high temperature
At +25 °C the input bias current is ±1 pA typical — excellent for photodiode transimpedance amplifiers and high-impedance sensors. At +85 °C it rises to ±19 pA, and at the extended-temperature limit of +125 °C it reaches ±1100 pA, a 1000× increase. A transimpedance amplifier with a 1 MΩ feedback resistor that sees negligible offset at room temperature develops over 1 mV of additional input-referred error at +125 °C. If you are pushing the extended temperature grade, re-run your error budget at the hot corner.
The 6 V absolute maximum is unforgiving: a fresh battery can kill it
The absolute maximum VDD − VSS is 7.0 V and the recommended operating range tops out at 6.0 V. That leaves no headroom above four alkaline cells (6.4 V fresh) or a 5 V rail with even modest overshoot. A 5 V LDO with poor transient response, a USB VBUS rail that briefly spikes above 6 V during hot-plug, or a 2-cell Li-ion stack (7.4 V nominal) will exceed the absolute maximum and can latch up or destroy the part. If the supply can ever drift above 6 V, add a regulator or pick a higher-voltage amplifier.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gain Bandwidth Product (GBWP) | 1.0 MHz typ | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 AC Electrical Specifications, GBWP row |
| Slew Rate | 0.6 V/µs typ | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 AC Electrical Specifications, SR row |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 6.0 V | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 DC Electrical Specifications, VDD row, Note 2 (date codes Nov 2007+ screened to 6.0V) |
| Quiescent Current per Amplifier | 50 µA typ / 100 µA typ / 170 µA max (VDD = 5.5 V, VCM = 5 V, IO = 0) | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 DC Electrical Specifications, IQ row |
| Input Offset Voltage | ±4.5 mV max (VCM = VSS) | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 DC Electrical Specifications, VOS row; tightened from ±7 mV starting date code 0449 (Dec 2004) |
| CMRR | 60 dB min / 76 dB typ (VCM = -0.3 V to 5.3 V, VDD = 5 V) | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 DC Electrical Specifications, CMRR row |
| Output Voltage Swing | Within 25 mV of rails (VSS + 25 mV to VDD - 25 mV) at VDD = 5.5 V, 0.5 V input overdrive, RL = 10 kΩ | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 DC Electrical Specifications, VOL/VOH row |
| Phase Margin | 90° typ (G = +1 V/V); maintains 45° typ with 500 pF capacitive load | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 AC Electrical Specifications, PM row + Description section |
| Input Bias Current | ±1 pA typ at TA = +25°C; ±19 pA typ at TA = +85°C; ±1100 pA typ at TA = +125°C | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 DC Electrical Specifications, IB rows (industrial and extended temperature) |
| Common-Mode Input Range | VSS - 0.3 V to VDD + 0.3 V (rail-to-rail, exceeds rails by 300 mV) | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 DC Electrical Specifications, VCMR row |
| Input Noise Voltage Density | 28 nV/√Hz at f = 1 kHz; 6.1 µVp-p 0.1 Hz–10 Hz | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 AC Electrical Specifications, eni and Eni rows |
| ESD Protection | ≥4 kV HBM, 200 V MM (all pins) | DS20001733L Rev L, §1.0 Absolute Maximum Ratings, ESD row |
Verified against the manufacturer datasheet on 2026-07-10. Confirm the current revision before production use.
Alternatives
- TLV9002: TI's modern rail-to-rail CMOS dual op-amp: 1 MHz GBWP, lower offset (±1.6 mV max), 60 µA/ch typ, same 1.8–5.5 V range. The direct competitor.
- LM358: the classic dual op-amp for higher-voltage rails: 0.7 MHz GBWP, 3–30 V supply, but NOT rail-to-rail output. Use it above 6 V; use the MCP6002 below.
- MCP602: Microchip's higher-performance dual op-amp: 2.8 MHz GBWP, 7 V/µs slew, 230 µA/ch. Upgrade path when 1 MHz isn't enough.
- MCP6001: single-amplifier version in 5-lead SC-70/SOT-23. Same specs, one less channel — use when you need only one amplifier in a tiny footprint.
Common questions
- Is the MCP6002 rail-to-rail?
- Yes, both input and output. The input common-mode range extends 300 mV beyond each rail (VSS − 0.3 V to VDD + 0.3 V), and the output swings to within 25 mV of either rail at 5.5 V with light loading. This is the key advantage over the LM358, whose output stops ~1.5 V below V+.
- What is the maximum supply voltage?
- 6.0 V recommended, 7.0 V absolute maximum (VDD − VSS). The MCP6002 is a low-voltage part — it cannot run from 9 V, 12 V, or 24 V rails. Four fresh alkaline cells (6.4 V) are already above the recommended maximum. If you need a higher-voltage rail-to-rail amplifier, look at the TLV9102 (16 V) or OPA2990 (40 V).
- Why does my MCP6002 oscillate when driving an ADC input?
- ADC inputs present a switched-capacitance load. At unity gain, the MCP6002 is stable only up to about 100 pF of capacitive load. Add a 100 Ω to 1 kΩ isolation resistor (RISO) between the MCP6002 output and the ADC input pin, with a capacitor to ground at the ADC side to absorb the sampling charge. See Figure 4-4 in the datasheet for the full RISO selection chart.
- Can I use the MCP6002 as a comparator?
- You can, but it is not designed for it. Op amps used as comparators saturate their output stage and recover slowly — the MCP6002's 0.6 V/µs slew rate means a 5 V overdrive takes ~8 µs to recover. If you need a comparator, use a real comparator like the MCP6542 or LM393. If you must use the MCP6002, add a small amount of hysteresis to prevent chatter.
- What is the difference between MCP6002-I and MCP6002-E?
- Temperature range. The -I (industrial) suffix covers −40 to +85 °C; the -E (extended) suffix covers −40 to +125 °C. The silicon is the same; extended-grade parts are tested and guaranteed over the wider range. Note that input bias current rises sharply above +85 °C — see the gotcha about temperature-dependent IB.
Learn the fundamentals
Broader books and manuals that explain why this part behaves the way it does.
- The Art of Electronics
Paul Horowitz · Winfield Hill
A serious builder who already knows basic voltage, current, and components and wants a durable bench-side design reference.
- Troubleshooting Analog Circuits
Robert A. Pease
An analog designer whose prototypes almost work and who needs a disciplined way to isolate noise, drift, loading, and bad assumptions.