29.2 Fuse Bits

The ATmega8A has two fuse bytes. The following tables describe briefly the functionality of all the fuses and how they are mapped into the fuse bytes. Note that the fuses are read as logical zero, “0”, if they are programmed.

Table 29-3. Fuse High Byte
High Fuse ByteBit No.DescriptionDefault Value
RSTDISBL(4)7Select if PC6 is I/O pin or RESET pin1 (unprogrammed, PC6 is RESET-pin)
WDTON6WDT always on1 (unprogrammed, WDT enabled by WDTCR)
SPIEN(1)5Enable Serial Program and Data Downloading0 (programmed, SPI prog. enabled)
CKOPT(2)4Oscillator options1 (unprogrammed)
EESAVE3EEPROM memory is preserved through the Chip Erase1 (unprogrammed), EEPROM not reserved
BOOTSZ12Select Boot Size 
(see ATmega8A Boot Loader Parameters)0 (programmed)(3)
BOOTSZ01Select Boot Size 
(see ATmega8A Boot Loader Parameters)0 (programmed)(3)
BOOTRST0Select Reset Vector1 (unprogrammed)
Note:
  1. The SPIEN Fuse is not accessible in Serial Programming mode.
  2. The CKOPT Fuse functionality depends on the setting of the CKSEL bits, see Clock Sources for details.
  3. The default value of BOOTSZ1:0 results in maximum Boot Size. See Boot Loader Parameters for details.
  4. When programming the RSTDISBL Fuse Parallel Programming has to be used to change fuses or perform further programming.
Table 29-4. Fuse Low Byte
Low Fuse ByteBit No.DescriptionDefault Value
BODLEVEL7Brown out detector trigger level1 (unprogrammed)
BODEN6Brown out detector enable1 (unprogrammed, BOD disabled)
SUT15Select start-up time1 (unprogrammed)(1)
SUT04Select start-up time0 (programmed)(1)
CKSEL33Select Clock source0 (programmed)(2)
CKSEL22Select Clock source0 (programmed)(2)
CKSEL11Select Clock source0 (programmed)(2)
CKSEL00Select Clock source1 (unprogrammed)(2)
Note:
  1. The default value of SUT1:0 results in maximum start-up time. See table Start-up Times for the Internal Calibrated RC Oscillator Clock Selection in Calibrated Internal RC Oscillator of the System Clock and Clock Options chapter for details.
  2. The default setting of CKSEL3:0 results in internal RC Oscillator @ 1MHz. See table Internal Calibrated RC Oscillator Operating Modes in Calibrated Internal RC Oscillator of the System Clock and Clock Options chapter for details.

The status of the Fuse bits is not affected by Chip Erase. Note that the Fuse bits are locked if Lock bit1 (LB1) is programmed. Program the Fuse bits before programming the Lock bits.