3×8 mm DIP Through-Hole Crystal Oscillators — Precision Clock Sources for Industrial and Legacy Systems

3x8 mm DIP through-hole crystal oscillators for industrial, telecom and test equipment. ADD stocks Epson, Abracon, NDK, TXC. Buy DIP oscillators online from HK.

3×8 mm DIP Through-Hole Crystal Oscillators — Precision Clock Sources for Industrial and Legacy Systems

The 3×8 mm DIP (Dual In-line Package) crystal oscillator is the definitive through-hole clock source that has anchored electronic timing circuits for decades. Featuring a cylindrical or rectangular metal can with a typical diameter of 3 mm and a standard 7.62 mm (0.3 inch) pin-row spacing, this form factor remains indispensable in industrial equipment, test and measurement instruments, telecom infrastructure, and the repair and replacement aftermarket. ADD Components supplies DIP through-hole oscillators from Epson, Abracon, NDK, and TXC to support both ongoing production of legacy designs and field-service maintenance programmes where a drop-in compatible replacement is essential.

Sub-Types and Variants

Full-Size DIP-14 Metal-Can Oscillators

The full-size DIP-14 oscillator package measures approximately 20.8 mm × 13.2 mm with a standard 0.3-inch (7.62 mm) lead pitch and four active pins. Epson’s SG-51 and SG-531 series are the most widely recognised parts in this category, offering CMOS and TTL output with frequencies typically spanning 1 MHz to 70 MHz. These oscillators contain a complete oscillator circuit — quartz crystal blank, sustaining amplifier, and output buffer — inside a hermetically sealed metal case. The DIP-14 form factor fits standard IC sockets, simplifying board-level replacement and prototyping. They are commonly specified in industrial PLCs, motor-drive controllers, and bench-top test equipment where through-hole mounting provides superior mechanical rigidity under vibration and thermal cycling.

Half-Size DIP-8 Metal-Can Oscillators

The half-size DIP-8 package, roughly 13.2 mm × 13.2 mm, provides the same electrical performance as the full-size DIP-14 in a more compact footprint with an 8-pin configuration. These oscillators maintain the standard 0.3-inch lead spacing, allowing them to share PCB layout patterns with DIP-8 IC sockets. NDK and TXC offer half-size through-hole oscillators with frequency stabilities as tight as ±25 ppm, making them suitable for precision timing in portable test instruments, data acquisition systems, and telecom multiplexers. The reduced footprint is particularly valuable in multi-channel instruments where several independent clock domains must coexist on a single board.

Low-Profile and Temperature-Compensated DIP Oscillators

For applications exposed to wide temperature swings, temperature-compensated crystal oscillators (TCXOs) in DIP packages deliver stability of ±1 ppm to ±5 ppm across the full industrial temperature range of −40 °C to +85 °C. These devices incorporate a thermistor network and varactor tuning to counteract the crystal’s natural frequency-versus-temperature curve. Abracon’s through-hole TCXO range extends this performance into telecom infrastructure such as base-station reference clocks, GPS-disciplined timing modules, and synchronisation equipment where holdover accuracy directly impacts network performance. The through-hole construction ensures long-term solder-joint reliability in equipment expected to operate continuously for 10 to 20 years without rework.

Programmable and Voltage-Controlled DIP Oscillators

Voltage-controlled crystal oscillators (VCXOs) in DIP packages add a frequency-pull capability, typically ±50 ppm to ±200 ppm, via an external control voltage applied to a dedicated pin. These are widely used in phase-locked loops (PLLs), frequency synthesisers, and clock-recovery circuits within telecom transmission systems. The DIP VCXO remains a staple in SONET/SDH line cards, digital cross-connect systems, and legacy cellular base-station equipment where field replacement must match the original socketed component without any PCB modification.

Key Selection Parameters

  • Package Size and Pin Count: DIP-14 (full-size, 20.8 mm × 13.2 mm) or DIP-8 (half-size, 13.2 mm × 13.2 mm); confirm socket compatibility and PCB hole pattern before ordering.

  • Frequency: Commonly 1 MHz to 70 MHz for standard oscillators; TCXOs and VCXOs extend to 125 MHz in some product lines.

  • Frequency Stability: ±25 ppm to ±100 ppm for standard oscillators; ±1 ppm to ±5 ppm for TCXO variants; tighter stabilities command longer lead times.

  • Output Type: CMOS (most common), TTL (5 V compatible for legacy logic families), or clipped sinewave for RF applications.

  • Supply Voltage: 3.3 V or 5.0 V are standard for DIP oscillators; verify the host board’s rail to prevent latch-up or output-level mismatch.

  • Operating Temperature: Commercial (0 °C to +70 °C) suffices for indoor instruments; industrial (−40 °C to +85 °C) is required for outdoor telecom and factory-floor equipment.

  • Rise and Fall Times: Typically 5 ns to 10 ns for CMOS outputs; faster edges may be needed for high-speed counter or FPGA inputs.

  • Start-Up Time: Usually 2 ms to 10 ms; critical for power-sequencing and brown-out recovery in embedded controllers.

  • Ageing and Long-Term Drift: ±3 ppm to ±5 ppm per year; essential for calibration-interval planning in test and measurement instruments.

Representative Oscillators We Source

Part NumberBrandTypeKey Spec
SG-51P 12.0000MCEpsonDIP-14 Oscillator12 MHz, ±100 ppm, 5 V CMOS, full-size
SG-51P 24.0000MCEpsonDIP-14 Oscillator24 MHz, ±100 ppm, 5 V CMOS, full-size
SG-531P 16.0000MCEpsonDIP-8 Oscillator16 MHz, ±100 ppm, 5 V CMOS, half-size
SG-531P 20.0000MCEpsonDIP-8 Oscillator20 MHz, ±100 ppm, 5 V CMOS, half-size
SG-8002CA 25.0000M-PCCL0EpsonDIP Programmable25 MHz, ±100 ppm, 3.3 V CMOS
ACH-25.000MHZ-EKAbraconDIP-8 Oscillator25 MHz, ±30 ppm, 5 V HCMOS/TTL, half-size
ASH-20.000MHZ-EK-TAbraconDIP-8 Oscillator20 MHz, ±30 ppm, 3.3 V HCMOS
ASV-12.000MHZ-EJ-TAbraconDIP-14 VCXO12 MHz, ±50 ppm pull, 3.3 V, full-size
NH25M40TA-25.000MNDKDIP-14 TCXO25 MHz, ±2 ppm, 5 V CMOS, full-size
NT2520S-26.000MNDKDIP-8 Oscillator26 MHz, ±25 ppm, 3.3 V CMOS, half-size
TX-14D 16.000MTXCDIP-14 Oscillator16 MHz, ±50 ppm, 5 V CMOS, full-size

Send Us Your Oscillator Requirements

ADD Components understands that sourcing through-hole DIP oscillators can be challenging in a market dominated by surface-mount devices. We maintain relationships with factories that still produce DIP-14 and DIP-8 crystal oscillators and can secure allocations for both ongoing production and one-off replacement needs. Whether you are maintaining a fleet of legacy telecom equipment, repairing precision test instruments, or building new industrial control systems that require through-hole reliability, send your part numbers, target volumes, and delivery schedule to our procurement desk. We respond to all enquiries within one business day with availability, pricing, and lead-time information.

Info@addcomponents.hk | +852 5334 3091 | WhatsApp: +852 5334 3091

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Last updated on August 03, 2026