MCP2515
Stand-alone CAN 2.0B controller with SPI interface, message filtering, and maskable interrupts for automotive and industrial CAN networks.
Product Overview
Description
The MCP2515 is a stand-alone Controller Area Network (CAN) controller implementing the CAN 2.0B specification. It enables CAN connectivity for microcontrollers without built-in CAN peripherals via SPI interface.
The device features three transmit buffers, two receive buffers with acceptance filtering, and maskable interrupts for efficient message handling. Hardware acceptance filters reduce host processor load.
Operating up to 1Mbps CAN bus speed, the MCP2515 is suitable for automotive, industrial automation, and medical equipment applications requiring reliable serial communication.
Product Series
MCP
Primary Application
Automotive networks
Key Features
- CAN 2.0B compliant
- SPI host interface
- Hardware message filtering
- Three transmit buffers
- Two receive buffers
- Maskable interrupts
- One-shot transmission mode
Specifications
| CAN Standard | CAN 2.0B (active) |
|---|---|
| Max Data Rate | 1 Mbps |
| Host Interface | SPI (10MHz max) |
| Message Buffers | 3 TX, 2 RX |
| Acceptance Filters | 2 masks, 6 filters |
| Supply Voltage | 2.7V - 5.5V |
| Package | PDIP-18, SOIC-18 |
| Temperature Range | -40°C to +125°C (Extended) |
| Architecture | CAN Controller |
Applications
Automotive networks
Automotive and EV electronics
Industrial automation
Industrial automation and control
Medical equipment
Medical electronics
Building automation
Industrial automation and control
Agricultural machinery
Electronic system design
FAE Expert Insights
"The MCP2515 is the industry standard for adding CAN to microcontrollers without native CAN support. The SPI interface is easy to implement, and the hardware filtering reduces CPU load significantly. I use it with Arduino, PIC, and ARM microcontrollers for CAN bus applications. Pair it with the MCP2551 transceiver for a complete CAN node."
Industry-standard CAN controller with hardware filtering and SPI interface
— Mark Stevens, BeiLuo
Frequently Asked Questions
What CAN transceiver should I use with MCP2515?
The MCP2515 requires an external CAN transceiver like the MCP2551 (5V) or MCP2561 (3.3V/5V). The transceiver converts the digital CAN TX/RX signals to the differential CANH/CANL bus signals. Choose based on your supply voltage and bus speed requirements. The MCP2562 offers silent mode for power savings.
Use MCP2551 for 5V systems; use MCP2561 for 3.3V or mixed voltage systems.