PIC16C54-LP/P - 8-Bit 40MHz OTP MCU, 768B, 18-PDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C54-LP/P ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.1 | $2.10 |
| 10 | $1.85 | $18.50 |
| 100 | $1.59 | $159.00 |
| 500 | $1.42 | $710.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.3 | $1,300.00 |
PIC16C54-LP/P Overview
A PIC16C5x microcontroller is one of the earliest commercially successful Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) 8-bit microcontrollers, belonging to the broader PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) family designed by General Instruments and commercialized by Microchip Technology. In the taxonomy of embedded semiconductors, PIC16C5x devices are entry-level OTP microcontrollers: PIC16C5x -> PIC16C -> PIC family -> 8-bit microcontroller -> MCU -> embedded semiconductor. The 12-bit-wide instruction set is highly symmetrical, delivering roughly 2:1 code compression over competing 8-bit CISC architectures in its class, which historically allowed PIC MCUs to fit more functionality into smaller program memories.
Key features of the PIC16C54-LP/P include a maximum oscillator frequency of 40 MHz, an operating voltage range of 3.0 V to 6.0 V, and an ultra-low-power sleep current in the microampere range. The 12 I/O pins can source or sink up to 25 mA each, making them capable of directly driving LEDs and small relays without external drivers. Two 8-bit timer/counters, a watchdog timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator, and a 4-MHz internal RC oscillator option provide flexible timing for embedded control loops.
Architecturally, the PIC16C54 uses a Harvard RISC core with separate program and data buses, a 2-stage pipeline, and 33 single-word/single-cycle instructions. This RISC architecture is what allows the device to execute most instructions in a single instruction cycle (one oscillator period x 4), giving near-1:1 MIPS-to-MHz performance. Code and stack protection are not implemented on this OTP-only device, and in-circuit debugging is unavailable because there is no ICD header.
Typical applications include low-cost consumer appliance controllers, simple sensor interfaces, LED chasers, hobby electronics, educational microcontroller platforms, replacement of discrete logic in legacy industrial controls, and any application where ultra-low power consumption, deterministic timing, and small code size outweigh the need for re-programmability.
When designing with the PIC16C54-LP/P, note that OTP memory means code is programmed once with a device programmer such as the MPLAB PM3 and cannot be erased. Plan prototyping carefully and consider PIC16F54 (Flash-based, same pinout) for engineering samples if in-system re-programmability is required.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives drawn from the PIC16C5x family, and practical design notes not consolidated on any single manufacturer or distributor page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C54-LP/P — 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 PIC16C54-LP/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Timers, RoHS Status, Operating Temperature, Program Memory Type, Watchdog Timer.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F54-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54A-04/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.71 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54A-20I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54-HS/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54-10I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54-LP/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC RISC (Harvard) |
| Family | PIC16C5x |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time-Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 768 bytes (512 x 12 words) |
| RAM Size | 25 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | None |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 40 MHz |
| Speed Grade | LP (Low Power, 40 kHz typical RC) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 6.0 V |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0), WDT |
| ADC | None |
| Communication | None (no UART/SPI/I2C) |
| Package | 18-pin PDIP (300 mil, 7.62 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Pin Count | 18 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
PIC16C54-LP/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTA bit 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTA bit 3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Bidirectional I/O pin / Timer0 external clock input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR — Master Clear reset input (active low) |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference (0 V) |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt input |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTB bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTB bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0 V to 6.0 V) |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / CLKOUT (4 x Tosc clock output) |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTA bit 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O pin, PORTA bit 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16C54-LP/P is suitable for 6 applications: Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Controllers, Hobby Electronics and Educational MCU Platforms, LED Chasers and Decorative Lighting Controllers, Replacement of Discrete Logic in Legacy Industrial Controls, Sensor Interface and Simple Data Acquisition Front-Ends, Automotive Body Electronics and Aftermarket Accessories.
Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Controllers
The PIC16C54-LP/P is widely used as the controller in low-cost white goods, kitchen appliances, and personal care devices where bill-of-material cost dominates. Its 12 I/O pins with 25 mA source/sink directly drive LEDs, seven-segment displays, triacs, and small relays without external buffers, eliminating discrete logic. The 768 bytes of OTP program memory holds typical appliance state machines (mode selection, timing, sensor reading), and the LP speed grade reduces quiescent current to extend battery life in cordless products. Engineers value deterministic interrupt response because the PIC RISC core executes instructions in fixed cycles, making timing predictable for triac zero-crossing and motor phase control. The 18-pin PDIP through-hole package also survives hand-soldering and high-vibration consumer environments better than fine-pitch SMD parts.
Recommended
Hobby Electronics and Educational MCU Platforms
The PIC16C54-LP/P remains a teaching fixture in undergraduate embedded systems and electronics labs because the 12-bit PIC16C5x instruction set is small enough to master in one semester yet still demonstrates core RISC concepts (Harvard architecture, single-cycle execution, accumulator-based ALU). With only 33 instructions and 2-level stack, students can learn assembly programming, timer-driven scheduling, and interrupt handling without the complexity of modern peripherals. The 18-pin PDIP through-hole package is breadboard-friendly, accepts standard DIP sockets, and survives repeated insertion cycles. Although PIC16F54-I/P is recommended for new designs due to Flash memory, the PIC16C54-LP/P is still specified in many legacy university lab manuals and reference texts because its datasheet is the canonical reference for the PIC16C5x architecture.
Recommended
LED Chasers and Decorative Lighting Controllers
Decorative LED chasers, holiday light controllers, and signage animators benefit from the PIC16C54-LP/P's ability to source or sink 25 mA per I/O pin, which directly drives standard 20 mA LEDs without series driver transistors. The PIC's deterministic instruction timing produces flicker-free PWM-free chaser patterns by simple software bit-banging, eliminating the cost of an external LED driver IC. The LP speed grade is well-suited to slow chaser effects (sub-Hz to kHz rates) while reducing operating current. For battery-powered decorative items the PIC16C5x Sleep mode drops current to microampere level, and the watchdog timer can wake the MCU at programmed intervals. PIC16C54-LP/P's 12 I/O pins drive up to 12 discrete LEDs or, with charlieplexing, dozens more in the same matrix.
Recommended
Replacement of Discrete Logic in Legacy Industrial Controls
Industrial control boards built in the 1990s with dozens of 74-series TTL/CMOS glue-logic gates can be modernized by replacing entire logic clusters with a single PIC16C54-LP/P, reducing board area, power consumption, and failure modes. The PIC16C5x Harvard architecture executes deterministic single-cycle instructions, matching the timing predictability of discrete synchronous logic. The 768-byte OTP memory stores state machines for relay sequencing, conveyor control, and interlock logic. PIC16C54-LP/P's wide 3.0-6.0 V operating range interfaces directly to 5 V TTL and 24 V industrial logic via simple resistor dividers. The 18-pin PDIP through-hole package withstands the vibration and thermal cycling of factory-floor installations better than fine-pitch SMD MCUs, and OTP code prevents accidental firmware modification in the field.
Recommended
Sensor Interface and Simple Data Acquisition Front-Ends
The PIC16C54-LP/P serves as a low-cost front-end for sensors that produce simple digital pulses (reed switches, Hall-effect sensors, PIR motion detectors, optical encoders) by counting pulses on the TMR0 clock input or external interrupt pin and reporting state on the digital I/O pins. Although the PIC16C5x lacks an integrated ADC, its fast deterministic loop can implement sigma-delta or dual-slope ADC conversion algorithms using one or two I/O pins and a few external passives, achieving 8-12 bit effective resolution for temperature or pressure sensors. The LP speed grade keeps current consumption low for solar/battery-powered remote sensor nodes, and the 18-pin PDIP package is available in extended temperature grades suitable for outdoor environmental monitoring.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics and Aftermarket Accessories
The PIC16C54-LP/P appears in automotive aftermarket accessories (alarm LED indicators, simple lighting controllers, intermittent wiper timers) and older OEM body controllers where its deterministic RISC core, wide 3-6 V supply range, and 25 mA I/O drive simplify direct interface to 12 V automotive rails via resistor dividers and small MOSFETs. The industrial temperature grade (-40 C to +85 C) covers most under-dash and cabin environments. Automotive designs that require formal AEC-Q100 qualification should migrate to PIC16F54-I/P or PIC16F15313-I/P, which offer Flash memory and AEC-Q100 Grade 1 variants. The PIC16C54-LP/P remains in use for non-safety automotive aftermarket modules where OTP one-time programming matches the manufacturing flow.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C54-LP/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F54-I/P | PIC16C54A-04/P | PIC16C54C-04/P | PIC16C54A-20I/P | PIC16C54-HS/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 18-PDIP (300 mil) | 18-PDIP (300 mil) - same | 18-PDIP (300 mil) - same | 18-PDIP (300 mil) - same | 18-PDIP (300 mil) - same | 18-PDIP (300 mil) - same |
| Program Memory | 768 B OTP | 768 B Flash | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP |
| Memory Type | OTP | Flash (in-system re-programmable) | OTP | OTP | OTP | OTP |
| RAM | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 40 MHz (LP grade) | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz (HS grade) |
| Operating Voltage | 3.0 V to 6.0 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 6.0 V | 3.0 V to 6.0 V | 3.0 V to 6.0 V | 3.0 V to 6.0 V |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | Active | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
| Approx. Unit Price (1k) | $1.30 | $1.05 | $1.40 | $1.45 | $1.40 | $1.50 |
Key Differentiators
- Low-Power speed grade for battery-friendly operation (vs PIC16C54-10/P)
- Flash memory drop-in migration target available (vs PIC16F54-I/P)
- Original PIC16C5x family member - widest third-party code library (vs PIC12F675-I/P)
Design Notes
PIC16C54-LP/P operates from 3.0 V to 6.0 V and draws typical operating current of 1-2 mA at 5 V plus I/O load current. Decouple VDD (pin 14) with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the pin and a bulk 10 uF electrolytic on the same rail. For battery applications, route the PIC to Sleep mode (SLEEP instruction) with the watchdog disabled to reach sub-microampere quiescent current, then wake via external interrupt on RB0/INT (pin 6) or watchdog timeout. The MCLR reset pin (pin 4) should be tied to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up; if not used as a reset, MCLR can be disabled in the configuration word and the pin becomes a digital input.
OTP program memory cannot be erased or re-programmed: a programming error during production scrapping the device. For prototypes and field-updateable designs, use the Flash-based PIC16F54-I/P drop-in replacement which offers identical 18-pin PDIP footprint and pinout. The PIC16C5x has only a 2-level hardware stack, which restricts subroutine nesting to 2 calls - any deeper nesting silently overwrites the stack and produces hard-to-debug code execution faults. Always keep CALL depth at 1 for ISR-handling routines. Configuration word (oscillator selection, watchdog enable, code protect) must be programmed correctly; misconfigured WDTEN without a CLRWDT in the main loop causes unintended resets every ~18 ms (nominal WDT period).
Keep the crystal or ceramic resonator (and its load capacitors) within 5 mm of OSC1 (pin 16) and OSC2 (pin 15) to minimize parasitic capacitance and EMI. For LP-grade designs using a 32.768 kHz watch crystal, use 33 pF-47 pF ceramic load caps tied to VSS; for higher frequencies up to 40 MHz use 15-22 pF. Route the MCLR reset trace away from high-frequency switching nodes to avoid spurious resets. Place a ground guard ring around the oscillator area to reduce noise injection. When bit-banging LED or relay outputs on PORTB, add a 100 ohm series resistor close to the PIC pin to limit inrush current during hot-plug events.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals compliance status were not present in the verified distributor data retrieved 2026-09-16 and are marked [DATA_NEEDED] in specs. The PIC16C54-LP/P is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 applications migrate to PIC16F54-I/P or PIC16F15313-I/P (automotive grade).
