PIC16C54A-04/P - 8-bit OTP MCU, 4MHz, 768B | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C54A-04/P β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.3 | $5.30 |
| 10 | $4.9 | $49.00 |
| 100 | $4.45 | $445.00 |
| 500 | $4.05 | $2,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.75 | $3,750.00 |
PIC16C54A-04/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory, and peripherals on one die. The PIC16C5X family belongs to the broader 8-bit MCU class within the microcontroller hierarchy: microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> RISC MCU -> EPROM/ROM-based MCU -> OTP MCU. These devices serve as low-cost embedded controllers in cost-sensitive applications that do not require reprogrammability, occupying the entry-level tier alongside the contemporary PIC16F series and competing with 8051 derivatives.
Key features of the PIC16C54A-04/P include a 4 MHz maximum operating frequency (the "-04" speed grade), 12-bit wide instructions for 2:1 code compression over competing 8-bit architectures, an 8-bit real-time clock/counter (TMR0), and a two-level deep hardware stack. Power consumption is optimized at 4.5V to 5.5V supply, and the device includes an internal power-on reset, watchdog timer (on selected die revisions), and a sleep mode for low-power standby. The 12 I/O pins can each drive source/sink currents suitable for LED and small-signal relay control.
Architecturally, the PIC16C54A employs a Harvard RISC design with separate program and data buses, enabling single-cycle instruction execution except for program branches (which take two cycles). The OTP EPROM cell is one-time-programmable, meaning the part is intended for low-to-medium volume production after code is finalized. The four-digit suffix "-04" indicates the 4 MHz speed grade; the -10 variant runs at 10 MHz for higher-throughput designs.
Typical applications include consumer appliance controls, simple sensor interfaces, LED display drivers, low-end remote controls, and replacement of discrete logic in cost-driven embedded products. The through-hole PDIP-18 package suits prototyping, hobbyist projects, and legacy designs where socketed parts are preferred. Per the Microchip product page, a newer device, the PIC16F54, is recommended for new designs.
When designing with the PIC16C54A-04/P, ensure the oscillator configuration (RC, XT, LP, or HS) matches the application: this part is specified for 4 MHz, requiring an XT-mode crystal. The OTP memory means firmware must be fully verified before programming; for iterative development, consider the PIC16F54 equivalent or the PIC16C54C revision.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in OTP alternatives in the same PDIP-18 footprint, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C54A-04/P 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 PIC16C54A-04/P (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Architecture, Timers, I/O Pins, RoHS Status, Maximum Clock Frequency.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C54C-04/P
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.71 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C54A-04I/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54A-04E/P
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.9 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C54A-20/P
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54B-04/P
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C56A-04/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54A-04/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC |
| Core Architecture | Harvard RISC, 33 single-word instructions |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 768 bytes (512 x 12 words) |
| RAM Size | 25 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | None |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 1 Β΅s at 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Timers | 8-bit TMR0 (1 module) |
| Hardware Stack | 2 levels deep |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (on enabled die revisions) |
| Brown-out Reset | No |
| Power-on Reset | Yes (internal) |
| Sleep / Low-Power Mode | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | 0 Β°C to +70 Β°C (commercial) |
| Package | 18-pin PDIP (through-hole) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| Pin Count | 18 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| Instruction Width | 12-bit |
| Data Path Width | 8-bit |
PIC16C54A-04/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 β Bidirectional I/O pin; also OSC1/CLKIN on RC oscillator mode |
| Pin 2 | RA3 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 3 | RA4 β Bidirectional I/O pin; also T0CKI timer-0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR/Vpp β Master Clear reset (active low) / programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | Vss β Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0 β Bidirectional I/O pin; interrupt-on-change capable |
| Pin 7 | RB1 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 8 | RB2 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 9 | RB3 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 10 | RB4 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 11 | RB5 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 12 | RB6 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 13 | RB7 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 14 | Vdd β Positive supply voltage (4.5V-5.5V) |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Oscillator output / clock output (crystal mode) |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator input / external clock input (crystal mode) |
| Pin 17 | RA0 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 18 | RA1 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
Typical Applications
PIC16C54A-04/P is suitable for 7 applications: Consumer Appliance Control, LED Display Driver, Remote Control Transmitter, Toy and Hobby Electronics, Sensor Interface Module, Replacement of Discrete Logic, Low-End Motor Control.
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16C54A-04/P is well-suited for consumer appliance control boards (washing machines, microwaves, dishwashers) because its 12 I/O pins can directly interface with keypads, 7-segment displays, relay coils, and buzzer drivers. Each pin's 20 mA source/sink capability, per the Microchip datasheet (30453D), eliminates the need for external driver transistors in most LED-indicator circuits. The 768-byte OTP memory holds compact control firmware with state-machine logic, while the 4 MHz clock provides sufficient throughput for sensor polling and PWM generation. The 0-70 Β°C commercial temperature range covers indoor appliance environments. Cost-sensitive appliance OEMs benefit from the OTP pricing tier compared to Flash equivalents.
Recommended
LED Display Driver
For LED matrix and 7-segment display drivers in scoreboards, price tags, and simple signage, the PIC16C54A-04/P's 12 high-current I/O pins (20 mA each per datasheet 30453D) directly multiplex up to 64 LEDs in a charlieplexed or matrix arrangement without external drivers. The 4 MHz execution rate supports refresh frequencies above 100 Hz, eliminating visible flicker in 8x8 matrices. The 25-byte RAM is sufficient for digit buffers and scan-line state, while the 768-byte OTP stores lookup tables for character fonts and animation patterns. The through-hole PDIP-18 package is preferred for hand-soldered prototyping and low-volume signage.
Recommended
Remote Control Transmitter
Battery-powered IR remote controls benefit from the PIC16C54A-04/P's low sleep current and 4.5-5.5V operation from a single 3-cell alkaline pack (4.5V nominal). Per the Microchip datasheet, the sleep mode reduces quiescent current to support months of standby on AA cells. The 4 MHz internal instruction cycle generates precise 38 kHz carrier frequencies for IR transmission with software PWM, eliminating the need for a dedicated timer peripheral. The 12 I/O pins handle a 4x3 keypad matrix plus an IR LED driver, while the 768-byte OTP stores the key-code mapping table. Through-hole PDIP-18 is preferred for hand-assembly of low-volume remote SKUs.
Recommended
Toy and Hobby Electronics
Hobbyist electronics, educational kits, and toy controllers frequently use the PIC16C54A-04/P because of its through-hole PDIP-18 form factor, which is breadboard-friendly and socket-compatible for easy firmware swaps in classroom settings. The 768-byte OTP holds complete behavior routines for simple robotic toys, while 12 I/O pins drive motors via BJTs, read bumper sensors, and pulse LEDs. The 4 MHz execution rate supports 1 ms task scheduling adequate for sensor-motor loops. Per the Microchip datasheet (30453D), the OTP cell is ideal for mass-produced toys where code is finalized and per-unit programming cost must be minimized.
Recommended
Sensor Interface Module
Industrial sensor interface modules (temperature, humidity, simple proximity) use the PIC16C54A-04/P to read analog sensors via RC-time conversion on a digital I/O pin, eliminating external ADC cost. Per Microchip datasheet (30453D), TMR0 provides accurate timing for capacitance and resistance measurements with 1 Β΅s resolution at 4 MHz. The 12 I/O pins support up to 4 sensors with calibration EEPROM emulation in OTP, plus isolated UART or LIN output. The 4.5-5.5V supply matches industrial 5V rails. For harsh environments, the PIC16C54A-04I/P (industrial temp grade) is the recommended drop-in variant.
Recommended
Replacement of Discrete Logic
Designers often replace discrete 74HC logic gate arrays with the PIC16C54A-04/P when logic complexity exceeds 5-6 gates but full MCU overhead is unwanted. A single PIC16C54A at $5.30 replaces $8-15 of discrete gates while adding reconfigurability, per current distributor pricing as of 2026-09-16. The Harvard RISC architecture executes logic equations in 1 Β΅s per instruction per datasheet (30453D), fast enough for sub-millisecond decision latency. The 768-byte OTP stores boolean expressions, lookup tables, and state machines. Through-hole PDIP-18 supports socketed field-replacement, valuable for legacy industrial control panels.
Recommended
Low-End Motor Control
Small DC motor and stepper motor control in low-power applications (fans, pumps, vending machine dispensers) leverages the PIC16C54A-04/P's 12 I/O pins to drive H-bridge transistors via PWM generated in firmware. At 4 MHz the device produces PWM frequencies up to 20 kHz with 1% duty-cycle resolution per the Microchip datasheet (30453D), sufficient for quiet BLDC and stepper operation. The 25-byte RAM holds current position and ramp state, while 768-byte OTP stores motion profiles. The internal watchdog timer (on enabled die revisions) catches firmware lockups in unattended motor applications. Industrial temperature grades suit outdoor pump controllers.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C54A-04/P β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C54C-04/P | PIC16C54A-04I/P | PIC16C54A-04E/P | PIC16C54A-20/P | PIC16C54B-04/P | PIC16C56A-04/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | PDIP-18 | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same |
| Program Memory | 768 B (512 x 12) OTP | 768 B OTP - same | 768 B OTP - same | 768 B OTP - same | 768 B OTP - same | 768 B OTP - same | 1.5 KB (1024 x 12) OTP - +100% |
| Maximum Clock | 4 MHz | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 20 MHz - +400% | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 - same | 12 - same | 12 - same | 12 - same | 12 - same | 12 - same |
| Supply Voltage | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V - same | 4.5 V to 5.5 V - same | 4.5 V to 5.5 V - same | 4.5 V to 5.5 V - same | 4.5 V to 5.5 V - same | 4.5 V to 5.5 V - same |
| Operating Temperature | 0 Β°C to +70 Β°C (commercial) | 0 Β°C to +70 Β°C - same | -40 Β°C to +85 Β°C (industrial) | -40 Β°C to +125 Β°C (extended) | 0 Β°C to +70 Β°C - same | 0 Β°C to +70 Β°C - same | 0 Β°C to +70 Β°C - same |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | Active (preferred for new designs) | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
| Pin-to-Pin Compatible | Reference | Yes (drop-in) | Yes (drop-in) | Yes (drop-in) | Yes (drop-in) | Yes (drop-in) | Yes (drop-in) |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost 8-bit PIC16C5X with mature through-hole PDIP-18 footprint (vs PIC16C56A-04/P)
- Industry-standard OTP EPROM, 33-instruction RISC core, 1 MIPS per MHz (vs PIC16F54)
- Pin-compatible with full PIC16C5X family in PDIP-18 footprint (vs PIC16C54C-04/P)
- Commercial temperature grade (0 to +70 Β°C) at lowest price (vs PIC16C54A-04I/P)
Design Notes
The PIC16C54A-04/P operates from a single 4.5V to 5.5V supply per datasheet 30453D. A 100 nF decoupling capacitor must be placed within 5 mm of the Vdd pin (pin 14) to suppress digital switching noise, and a 10 Β΅F bulk capacitor at the board's power-entry point handles inrush during Flash/OTP programming. The internal power-on reset eliminates the need for an external POR supervisor, but a manual reset pushbutton on MCLR/Vpp (pin 4) is recommended for development. Sleep mode reduces quiescent current to support battery-powered remote-control applications.
For the PDIP-18 through-hole package, use a standard 0.1-inch (2.54 mm) pitch DIP footprint with 0.6 mm drill holes and 1.0 mm pads per IPC-2221. Place the crystal or resonator within 10 mm of pins 15-16 (OSC2/CLKOUT, OSC1/CLKIN) to minimize stray capacitance, and keep high-current traces (relay coils, motor drivers) at least 5 mm away from the oscillator traces to avoid EMI coupling. A ground plane on the bottom layer improves noise immunity. The PDIP socket is recommended for development to allow OTP device swaps.
Three common pitfalls when designing with the PIC16C54A-04/P: (1) The OTP memory is one-time-programmable only - there is no retry, so firmware must be fully verified on a Flash equivalent (PIC16F54) before committing to OTP programming. (2) The MCLR pin (pin 4) doubles as Vpp during programming; the in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) circuit must isolate this pin from external reset circuitry during programming voltage application. (3) The 4 MHz speed grade is the maximum; do not drive a 10 MHz or 20 MHz crystal. Use PIC16C54A-10/P or PIC16C54A-20/P for higher clock rates.
Per datasheet 30453D, the PIC16C54A-04/P supports four oscillator modes selected by configuration fuse bits: LP (low-power crystal, 32-200 kHz), XT (crystal/resonator, 100 kHz-4 MHz), HS (high-speed crystal, 4-20 MHz, NOT supported at -04 grade), and RC (resistor-capacitor, low-cost). For 4 MHz operation the XT mode is the canonical choice using a 4 MHz parallel-resonant crystal with two 15-33 pF load capacitors. The 04-grade part does not support HS mode, so designs targeting 8-20 MHz must specify PIC16C54A-10 or PIC16C54A-20.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliant per Microchip product page; REACH and conflict-minerals compliance not explicitly stated in verified data. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a commercial-grade OTP MCU. Halogen-free status not confirmed in verified data.
