MCP2551 replacement: the MCP2561, SN65HVD230 and SN65HVD251 crosses compared
The Microchip MCP2551 is obsolete in SOIC-8. Three active crosses, none a drop-in, worked out pin by pin.
The Microchip MCP2551 high-speed CAN transceiver is obsolete in its SOIC-8 package. The cross-reference identified three active parts: the Microchip MCP2561/2562, the TI SN65HVD251, and the TI SN65HVD230. None is a drop-in; each differs from the MCP2551 in supply voltage or pin function. The sections below work through those differences, part by part.
Status // The part in question
Lifecycle status
Distributor lifecycle flags list the MCP2551 as obsolete in the SOIC-8 package (the -I/SN orderable). The PDIP-8 has historically shown as Active or NRND, so confirm the exact package you use. Microchip publishes a first-party migration note, TB3101 "MCP2551 to MCP2561 Migration."
Buying remaining SOIC-8 stock only defers requalification, it does not remove it. Plan a last-time-buy alongside the design-in of one named cross, and budget the requalification either way.
Current stock at brokers and any last-time-buy window are dated data for the email, not this page.
Candidates // Why these
The candidate set
The three active crosses, each with the fit-catch to validate in your own design, and one popular cross that is itself obsolete:
Catch: pin 5 and pin 8. Same footprint, but pin 5 goes VREF to SPLIT (2561) or a VIO logic supply (2562), and pin 8 RS becomes a digital STBY. See Microchip TB3101 before assuming a straight swap.
Catch: electrical, not pinout. The clean active 5V cross, pin-aligned and in production. Validate bus common-mode (−7 to +12V) and fault tolerance (±36V) against your network.
Catch: the rail change. A 3.3V part, not 5V, so supply and logic levels change. Active at TI (production-data datasheet).
Catch: itself obsolete. A functional 5V transceiver, but end-of-life at NXP (successors TJA1057/TJA1051). Reference only; crossing to it designs in another obsolescence.
Pinout // Pin 5 and pin 8 are the tell
Same outline, not the same pin
All six share the 8-pin CAN transceiver outline, so a cross-reference on package alone reads them as interchangeable. The non-obvious result: the SN65HVD251 lands pin-for-pin on the MCP2551, while the Microchip successors keep the footprint but move pin 5 (VREF → SPLIT or VIO) and pin 8 (RS → STBY), and the SN65HVD230 keeps every pin but changes the rail to 3.3V.
8-pin CAN transceiver outline · pins 1 to 4, 6, 7 shared · pin 5 and pin 8 differ
Pin color,green same function · amber label/behavior differs · red function changed
Pinout is necessary, not sufficient. Suggested candidates to validate in your own design, not drop-in equivalents.
Parametrics // Side by side
Comparison table
| MCP2551 (obs.) | MCP2561 | MCP2562 | SN65HVD230 | SN65HVD251 | TJA1050 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifecycle | Obsolete | Active | Active | Active | Active | End of life |
| Supply (VCC) | 4.5 to 5.5V | 4.5 to 5.5V | 4.5 to 5.5V +VIO | 3.3V | 5V | 4.75 to 5.25V |
| Pin 5 | VREF | SPLIT | VIO | Vref | VREF | Vref |
| Footprint | PDIP / SOIC-8 | SOIC-8 | SOIC-8 | SOIC-8 | SOIC-8 | SOIC-8 |
| Data rate | 1 Mb/s | 1 Mb/s | 1 Mb/s | 1 Mb/s | 1 Mb/s | 1 Mbaud |
The load-bearing rows are the supply rail (the SN65HVD230 is 3.3V where the MCP2551 is 5V) and pin 5, whose function splits across the Microchip successors (VREF to SPLIT or VIO). The TJA1050 is itself end-of-life. Lifecycle and electrical figures are vendor/distributor-reported, not independently audited.
FAQ // Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions
MCP2551 or SN65HVD230?
The SN65HVD230 is a common cross, but it is 3.3V (the MCP2551 is 5V), so it changes the supply rail. It is active; TI also lists the TCAN332 as a pin-for-pin alternate to compare. Treat the SN65HVD230 as a candidate to validate on a 3.3V rail.
Is the SN65HVD230 still active?
Yes. TI's SN65HVD230 datasheet is production data, so the part is active. TI also offers the TCAN332, a pin-for-pin part with improved ESD, but that is an alternate to compare, not a sign the SN65HVD230 is being retired.
Which cross is a clean active 5V part?
The SN65HVD251 is pin-aligned with the MCP2551 and in production; validate its bus common-mode (−7 to +12V) and fault (±36V) ratings against your network. A candidate to validate, not a guaranteed drop-in.
MCP2561 vs MCP2551, what changed?
Same footprint, but pin 5 goes from VREF to SPLIT and pin 8 RS becomes a digital STBY; see Microchip TB3101 for the full difference list. The MCP2551 is obsolete in SOIC-8; the MCP2561 is current.
Is the TJA1050 a good replacement for the MCP2551?
No, not as a durable path. The TJA1050 is a functional 5V transceiver on the same outline, but it is itself end-of-life at NXP; crossing the MCP2551 to it designs in a second obsolescence. Use NXP's TJA1057/TJA1051 successors or a TI cross instead.
Sources // Public, primary
Sources
- Microchip MCP2551 datasheet (PDF)
- Microchip MCP2562 · product page · MCP2561/2 datasheet (PDF)
- DigiKey MCP2551-I/SN lifecycle and stock page
- TI SN65HVD230 · product page · datasheet (PDF)
- TI SN65HVD251 · product page · datasheet (PDF)
- NXP TJA1050 datasheet (PDF, EOL)
Editorially independent and from public sources only; lifecycle, pin and rating data is vendor-reported, not independently audited. Alternates are candidates to validate in your own design. Confirm every detail with the manufacturer before committing.