PIC16C505-04E/SL - 8-Bit 4MHz OTP MCU, 1.5KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C505-04E/SL β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.21 | $22.10 |
| 100 | $1.89 | $189.00 |
| 500 | $1.62 | $810.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.38 | $1,380.00 |
PIC16C505-04E/SL Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (ROM/Flash/OTP), working RAM, and peripheral I/O into one package. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, an MCU belongs to the logic IC / microcontroller category, which sits below microprocessors and above discrete digital logic in capability. The PIC16C505 specifically belongs to the PIC16C5x baseline OTP family - a cost-optimized lineage used where low pin count, deterministic instruction timing, and OTP-based code storage are acceptable.
Key features include 33 single-word instructions, a hardware RESET input, a watchdog timer, an 8-bit real-time clock/counter with 8-bit prescaler, and four interrupt sources. The OTP program memory enables low-cost prototyping and low-to-mid volume production runs, while the CMOS process delivers low quiescent current typical of battery-powered applications. The 14-pin SOIC footprint keeps board area minimal while leaving 12 lines free for digital I/O after power, ground, and RESET are allocated.
Architecturally, the PIC16C505 uses a Harvard-style RISC core with a separate 12-bit instruction word and 8-bit data path. The 4 MHz oscillator produces a 1 MHz instruction rate (4:1 internal divider) yielding a 1 microsecond instruction cycle, suitable for tight control loops and deterministic timing. The integrated watchdog timer and power-on reset reduce external component count.
Typical applications include low-cost appliance control, sensor signal conditioning front ends, LED lighting controllers, battery chargers, and simple user-interface boards. The extended temperature grade makes it suitable for automotive under-hood subsystems and industrial machine controllers where commercial-grade parts would otherwise be inadequate.
When designing with this part, allocate VDD/VSS decoupling with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the device, and provide an RC delay or proper MCLR pull-up to ensure clean POR behavior. OTP memory cannot be erased, so plan for code-stable volume runs or use the PIC16F505 flash variant for development and field updates.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, application examples, and design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet, enabling engineers to evaluate the PIC16C505-04E/SL for new designs and legacy board replacements.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C505-04E/SL β 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 PIC16C505-04E/SL (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Architecture, In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP), Package, Program Memory Type, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F505-I/SL
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C505-04/SL
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C505-04I/SL
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$0.6 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F505-E/SL
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C505-04E/SL Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC 16C |
| Core Architecture | PIC16C5x (8-bit RISC, Harvard) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time-Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) |
| RAM Size | 72 bytes |
| CPU Speed | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns |
| Instruction Set Size | 33 single-word instructions |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit with 8-bit prescaler |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| Interrupt Sources | 4 |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended, 'E' suffix) |
| Package | 14-SOIC (3.90 mm, 'SL' suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
PIC16C505-04E/SL Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD β Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 2 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator input / external clock |
| Pin 3 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Oscillator output |
| Pin 4 | GP5/RTCC β GPIO / RTCC timer pin |
| Pin 5 | GP4/MCLR β GPIO / Master Clear (reset) input |
| Pin 6 | GP3 β GPIO (input only) |
| Pin 7 | GP2 β GPIO / T0CKI |
| Pin 8 | GP1 β GPIO |
| Pin 9 | GP0 β GPIO |
| Pin 10 | GP7 β GPIO |
| Pin 11 | GP6 β GPIO |
| Pin 12 | RB5 β Port B I/O bit 5 |
| Pin 13 | RB4 β Port B I/O bit 4 |
| Pin 14 | VSS β Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC16C505-04E/SL is suitable for 6 applications: Appliance Control Board, Battery Charger Controller, LED Lighting Controller, Sensor Signal Conditioning Front End, Automotive Body Electronics, User Interface / Keypad Scanner.
Appliance Control Board
The PIC16C505-04E/SL fits white-goods and small appliance control boards because it delivers 12 GPIO, 4 MHz deterministic timing, and -40C to +125C operation in a compact 14-SOIC. With 1.5 KB OTP program memory, the MCU can manage user-input buttons, relay drivers, and indicator LEDs for a washing-machine timer, microwave keypad, or coffee-maker pump controller. The 200 ns instruction cycle allows tight debounce and PWM control of small solenoids without an extra timer IC.
Recommended
Battery Charger Controller
The PIC16C505-04E/SL is well suited to lead-acid and NiMH charger controllers where its 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range, low quiescent current, and 8-bit timer with prescaler enable accurate charge-cycle sequencing. With 1.5 KB OTP, the firmware can implement CC/CV profiles, temperature-compensated endpoint detection, and LED status indication using 12 GPIO lines. The extended -40C to +125C temperature grade supports under-hood automotive and outdoor solar installations.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16C505-04E/SL drives multichannel LED controllers and decorative lighting effects through GPIO plus the on-chip 8-bit timer with prescaler. With 200 ns instruction execution, the MCU can generate PWM dimming up to several kHz across 12 channels using software bit-banging or hardware timer capture. The 1.5 KB OTP stores fixed lighting sequences for cost-sensitive signage or architectural fixtures.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning Front End
The PIC16C505-04E/SL serves as a low-cost sensor-conditioning MCU in industrial and HVAC systems, reading thermistor, RTD, or 4-20 mA loop signals and presenting a processed digital output on its GPIO or PWM timer. With 4 MHz operation and 12 GPIO, it can handle up to four analog channels multiplexed through an external ADC. The extended temperature grade is appropriate for outdoor and under-hood sensor pods.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
The PIC16C505-04E/SL operates door-module, mirror-control, and interior-lighting nodes in automotive body-electronics applications where its -40C to +125C extended temperature grade and 12 GPIO match the requirements. With 1.5 KB OTP, the firmware can handle LIN-like soft-protocol stacks or simple switch-scan inputs. Designers migrating new designs should use the flash-based PIC16F505 for ISP and field update capability.
Recommended
User Interface / Keypad Scanner
The PIC16C505-04E/SL scans 4x4 or smaller matrix keypads and drives character LCDs or seven-segment displays using its 12 GPIO and 200 ns instruction cycle for rapid row/column strobing. With 1.5 KB OTP, the firmware can debounce up to 16 keys, implement hold-repeat logic, and refresh a multiplexed display. The 4 MHz rate ensures flicker-free display updates at typical 100 Hz refresh.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C505-04E/SL β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F505-I/SL | PIC16C505-04/SL | PIC16F505-E/SL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 14-SOIC | 14-SOIC - same | 14-SOIC - same | 14-SOIC - same |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (1.5 KB) | Flash (1.5 KB) | OTP (1.5 KB) | Flash (1.5 KB) |
| CPU Speed | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| RAM Size | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | 0C to +70C (Commercial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
| ISP / Field Update | No (OTP) | Yes (Flash, ISP) | No (OTP) | Yes (Flash, ISP) |
Key Differentiators
- Extended industrial temperature grade in same 14-SOIC (vs PIC16C505-04/SL)
- Flash-based upgrade path with identical pinout (vs PIC16F505-I/SL)
- Lowest-cost 14-pin PIC16C5x baseline MCU (vs PIC16F505-E/SL)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin and a bulk capacitor (>= 1 uF) on the same rail. The PIC16C505-04E/SL draws sharp current pulses during instruction execution; inadequate decoupling causes VDD droop and intermittent reset. A ferrite bead in series with VDD may help in noisy automotive environments. The MCLR pin should be tied to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor with a 100 nF cap to ground for clean power-on reset behavior.
OTP memory cannot be erased - if the firmware has any uncertainty, program a fresh PIC16C505-04E/SL or switch to the flash-based PIC16F505-I/SL before committing to production. Another common pitfall is leaving the MCLR pin floating; it must be tied high through a resistor or driven by the supervisor circuit, otherwise spurious resets occur. Finally, the GP3 pin is input-only on this PIC16C5x generation - do not configure it as output.
Estimated: at 4 MHz clock, full GPIO toggle, 5.0 V VDD, the PIC16C505-04E/SL draws about 2.0 mA active, dissipating roughly 10 mW - well within the SOIC-14 thermal envelope (theta_JA around 100 C/W on a 1 oz copper 2-layer board, junction rise < 1 C). No heatsink is required even at +125C ambient because CMOS quiescent current is negligible. Designers should still verify thermal behavior under worst-case operating conditions for safety-margin compliance.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH status requires lot/date code verification at purchase. Part is NRND - not recommended for new designs per Microchip product lifecycle.
