PIC12LCE518T-04/SN - 8-Bit 4MHz PIC MCU 768B OTP | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LCE518T-04/SN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.65 | $1.65 |
| 10 | $1.48 | $14.80 |
| 100 | $1.32 | $132.00 |
| 500 | $1.18 | $590.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.05 | $1,050.00 |
PIC12LCE518T-04/SN Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program and data memory, and peripherals such as timers and reset controllers. In the embedded-system hierarchy, the PIC12LCE518 belongs to the 8-bit MCU category (PIC -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded IC -> semiconductor), historically Microchip's lowest-pin-count, OTP-programmed line used in cost-sensitive, low-volume or fixed-function designs where in-circuit reprogrammability is not required.
Key features include 33 single-word instructions (all single-cycle at 1 µs, except branches which take two cycles), six I/O pins (5 GPIO + 1 input-only per the standard 12C508/509 pinout convention), an internal RC oscillator, an 8-bit real-time clock/counter (TMR0) with 8-bit programmable prescaler, Power-On Reset (POR), Device Reset Timer (DRT), and a Watchdog Timer (WDT) with its own on-chip RC oscillator for reliable operation. The wide 2.5V to 5.5V supply-voltage range covers both 3.3V and 5V rails common in legacy and modern mixed-signal designs.
The PIC12LCE518 uses a RISC Harvard-architecture core with a 12-bit instruction word, fabricated in CMOS for low static current draw. With only 33 instructions and a predictable single-cycle execution model (excluding branches), the device simplifies firmware development for timing-deterministic control loops. The OTP program memory is programmed once and cannot be erased, making the part ideal for high-volume, fixed-code products where the per-unit cost of the silicon is lower than a Flash equivalent.
Typical applications include simple appliance timers, sensor signal-conditioning front-ends, low-end consumer remote controls, and battery-powered indicator boards. The 'L' in the part number designates the low-voltage (2.5V minimum Vdd) variant, and the 'E' indicates the EEPROM-data-memory member of the 12C5xx family. Its small 8-SOIC footprint and minimal external component count enable compact PCB layouts.
When designing with the PIC12LCE518T-04/SN, consider that OTP memory cannot be re-programmed, so firmware must be fully validated on equivalent Flash parts (such as the PIC12F509 or PIC12F519) before committing to OTP. Choose the 'I' (industrial) temperature-grade variant for designs operating outside the commercial 0 °C to +70 °C range. Add a decoupling capacitor of at least 0.1 µF directly across VDD/VSS pins.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric alternatives from the same PIC12C5xx OTP and PIC12F5xx Flash families, drop-in cross-references, and practical design notes not consolidated in the original datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LCE518T-04/SN — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PIC12LCE518T-04/SN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture, Program Memory Size, RAM Size.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12CE518T-04/SN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12CE518-04E/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LCE518-04/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.54 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LCE518T-04I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12CE518T-04E/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12CE519-04/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F519-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.54 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LCE518T-04/SN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Instruction Set Width | 12-bit |
| Number of Instructions | 33 single-word |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 1 µs (4 MHz, single-cycle) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 768 B (512 x 12) |
| Data EEPROM | 16 x 8 bytes |
| RAM Size | 25 x 8 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 6 (5 GPIO + 1 input per 12C508/509 pinout) |
| Timers | TMR0 8-bit with 8-bit programmable prescaler |
| Oscillator | Internal RC |
| Reset and Supervision | POR, DRT, WDT (with on-chip RC oscillator) |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature (Commercial) | 0 °C to +70 °C |
| Package | 8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90 mm), gull-wing, SO-8 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| AEC-Q100 | Not qualified |
PIC12LCE518T-04/SN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 2 | OSC1/GP5 — Oscillator input or general-purpose I/O pin GP5 |
| Pin 3 | OSC2/GP4 — Oscillator output or general-purpose I/O pin GP4 |
| Pin 4 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 5 | GP0 — General-purpose bidirectional I/O pin 0 |
| Pin 6 | GP1 — General-purpose bidirectional I/O pin 1 |
| Pin 7 | GP2 — General-purpose bidirectional I/O pin 2 |
| Pin 8 | GP3/MCLR — General-purpose input GP3 / Master Clear reset (active low) |
Typical Applications
PIC12LCE518T-04/SN is suitable for 6 applications: Low-Cost Appliance Timer Controller, Battery-Powered Sensor Front-End, Consumer IR Remote Control Transmitter, LED Indicator and Signage Controller, Industrial Control Replacement Logic (8-SOIC Drop-In), Educational Microcontroller Trainer Board.
Low-Cost Appliance Timer Controller
The PIC12LCE518T-04/SN fits appliance timers because its 33-instruction PIC core, 768 bytes of OTP memory, and 4 MHz internal RC oscillator provide deterministic 1 µs timing without any external crystal or resonator. The internal TMR0 with 8-bit programmable prescaler easily divides the 4 MHz clock to 1 Hz ticks for minute-level timing, while the 16-byte EEPROM retains user-set countdown values across power cycles. The 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range lets the same board operate from either a 3.3 V or 5 V wall adapter, and the 8-SOIC keeps the BOM tiny. Compared to discrete 555-timer circuits, this approach saves 3-4 components and adds software-configurable timing.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Front-End
The PIC12LCE518T-04/SN serves as a low-power sensor front-end where its 2.5 V minimum Vdd allows direct operation from a single-cell Li-ion battery during end-of-discharge (down to 2.7 V typical). With 33 single-cycle instructions and the WDT-driven sleep mode, average current draw can be reduced to microamp levels by waking the core only on a timed interrupt. The 6 I/O pins are sufficient for a digital sensor (I2C-like bit-bang), two status LEDs, and a wake-up button. The internal 4 MHz oscillator eliminates the external crystal that would otherwise dominate the BOM cost in sub-$1 sensor nodes.
Recommended
Consumer IR Remote Control Transmitter
The PIC12LCE518T-04/SN drives simple IR remote transmitters where the TMR0 prescaler combined with bit-banged GPIO can synthesize 38 kHz / 56 kHz carrier modulation for NEC or RC-5 IR protocols. With 768 bytes of OTP memory, the firmware easily fits 32-64 button codes plus protocol framing; the 16 bytes of EEPROM can store pairing IDs. The internal RC oscillator has ±1 % accuracy over commercial temperature — adequate for IR remotes where the receiver uses envelope detection rather than strict frequency locking. The 8-SOIC sits on a single CR2032 coin-cell-powered PCB alongside an IR LED and a few passives.
Recommended
LED Indicator and Signage Controller
The PIC12LCE518T-04/SN can drive multi-LED chasing or blinking patterns in low-cost sign and indicator modules. Five GPIO pins directly sink or source LED current up to 25 mA per pin (per PIC12C5xx DC spec), which is enough for low-current LEDs without driver transistors. Software-driven Charlieplexing of up to 6 LEDs across the same pins reduces BOM to the MCU plus the LEDs. The OTP memory is ideal because LED patterns rarely need firmware updates once qualified, and the 0.65 USD unit cost at 1000 pieces keeps the total BOM competitive in price-sensitive signage.
Recommended
Industrial Control Replacement Logic (8-SOIC Drop-In)
The PIC12LCE518T-04/SN frequently replaces legacy 4000-series CMOS logic in industrial control retrofits because its 8-SOIC footprint matches common DIP-to-SOIC adapter boards, and the 2.5-5.5 V supply range matches 5 V logic rails. Engineers can re-implement discrete logic (flip-flops, one-shots, decade counters) in 768 bytes of firmware and add features like timing adjustment via EEPROM-stored parameters. The on-chip Watchdog Timer with its own RC oscillator provides failsafe behavior that discrete logic cannot, and the 8-bit TMR0 can debounce switch inputs without external RC networks. This makes the part a popular choice for OEM spares and aftermarket replacement boards.
Recommended
Educational Microcontroller Trainer Board
The PIC12LCE518T-04/SN is an excellent teaching MCU because its 33-instruction RISC core introduces students to assembly language fundamentals without overwhelming complexity. The 8-SOIC package is breadboard-friendly with adapter boards, and the 2.5-5.5 V supply range lets students power the trainer from either a 3.3 V or 5 V regulator on the same board. Peripherals — TMR0, WDT, POR, GPIO — cover the core MCU concepts every embedded engineer should understand before moving to PIC16 or PIC32 families. The internal RC oscillator eliminates crystal-placement lab errors and lets students focus on software. The 'L' low-voltage variant is forgiving of miswired supplies.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LCE518T-04/SN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12CE518T-04/SN | PIC12CE518-04E/SN | PIC12LCE518-04/SN | PIC12LCE518T-04I/SN | PIC12CE518T-04E/SN | PIC12CE519-04/SN | PIC12F519-I/SN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-SOIC (3.90 mm) | 8-SOIC (3.90 mm) - same | 8-SOIC (3.90 mm) - same | 8-SOIC (3.90 mm) - same | 8-SOIC (3.90 mm) - same | 8-SOIC (3.90 mm) - same | 8-SOIC (3.90 mm) - same | 8-SOIC (3.90 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (768 B / 512 x 12) | OTP (768 B / 512 x 12) - same | OTP (768 B / 512 x 12) - same | OTP (768 B / 512 x 12) - same | OTP (768 B / 512 x 12) - same | OTP (768 B / 512 x 12) - same | OTP (1024 B / 512 x 12) | Flash (1024 B / 512 x 12) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 6.0 V (standard Vdd) | 4.0 V to 6.0 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V - same | 2.5 V to 5.5 V - same | 4.0 V to 6.0 V | 4.0 V to 6.0 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Maximum Clock | 4 MHz | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 8 MHz |
| RAM Size | 25 bytes | 25 bytes - same | 25 bytes - same | 25 bytes - same | 25 bytes - same | 25 bytes - same | 25 bytes - same | 41 bytes |
| EEPROM | 16 bytes | 16 bytes - same | 16 bytes - same | 16 bytes - same | 16 bytes - same | 16 bytes - same | 16 bytes - same | 64 bytes |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0 to +70 C) | Commercial (0 to +70 C) | Extended (-40 to +125 C) | Commercial (0 to +70 C) | Industrial (-40 to +85 C) | Extended (-40 to +125 C) | Commercial (0 to +70 C) | Industrial (-40 to +85 C) |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-voltage operation in PIC12C5xx family at 2.5 V minimum Vdd (vs PIC12CE518T-04/SN)
- Same 8-SOIC footprint and pinout as the Flash PIC12F519 family (vs PIC12F519-I/SN)
- Lowest-cost 8-pin PIC for fixed-code production (vs PIC12CE519-04/SN)
Design Notes
The OTP program memory cannot be erased or re-programmed. Validate all firmware on a Flash equivalent (PIC12F509 or PIC12F519, same 8-SOIC pinout) before committing to OTP silicon. Once a PIC12LCE518T-04/SN is programmed, any firmware bug requires a new device — making pre-production validation the single most important engineering step. Reserve at least 25 % program-memory margin for future code revisions.
Place a 0.1 µF decoupling capacitor directly across VDD (pin 1) and VSS (pin 4) with traces no longer than 3 mm. For designs with high GPIO switching currents, add a bulk 1 µF to 10 µF tantalum or ceramic capacitor within 10 mm of the supply pins. The PIC12C5xx family is sensitive to VDD droop during AC load switching on adjacent pins; insufficient decoupling causes POR events and code-execution anomalies.
Keep the MCLR/GP3 pin (pin 8) tied to VDD through a 10 kΩ resistor if not used as a reset input — leaving it floating can cause spurious resets in noisy environments. When MCLR is not used in the application, configure it as disabled (the MCLRE configuration bit cleared) to free GP3 for input-only use. Place the pull-up resistor within 5 mm of pin 8 to avoid PCB antenna effects picking up switching noise from adjacent traces.
Estimated: at VDD = 5.5 V, all 5 GPIO pins sourcing 20 mA simultaneously, total power dissipation is approximately P = (5.5 V × 0.1 A) = 0.55 W. The 8-SOIC package has theta_JA ≈ 150 °C/W in still air, yielding a junction rise of approximately 82 °C above ambient. For industrial temperature grade (max 85 °C ambient), keep total GPIO drive current under 60 mA to maintain the 125 °C junction limit with margin.
The internal 4 MHz RC oscillator has ±1 % accuracy across commercial temperature and ±2 % across industrial. This is adequate for timing loops and PWM but NOT for UART baud-rate generation without calibration. If UART communication is needed, use the PIC12F629 or PIC12F675 family (which include a USART) or implement a software UART with periodic calibrations against a known reference. The 4 MHz internal clock is unsuitable for IR carrier generation without software pre-scaler compensation.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not qualified - choose industrial grade PIC12LCE518T-04I/SN for extended temperature, or migrate to PIC16/PIC18 families for automotive AEC-Q100 needs. Halogen-free status not confirmed in provided data.
