PIC16C54C-04E/SO - 4MHz 8-bit OTP MCU, 18-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C54C-04E/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.69 | $1.69 |
| 10 | $1.55 | $15.50 |
| 100 | $1.32 | $132.00 |
| 500 | $1.1 | $550.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.92 | $920.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.73 | $2,190.00 |
PIC16C54C-04E/SO Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, working RAM, and peripheral I/O on one die. The PIC16C5x family is built on a 12-bit instruction-word RISC architecture and belongs to the broader category of 8-bit microcontrollers, which occupy the lowest tier of the embedded computing hierarchy: 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC. The PIC16C5x delivers 12-bit wide instructions that are highly symmetrical, yielding 2:1 code compression over other 8-bit microcontrollers in its class, and provides 12 digital I/O pins split across Ports A (5 pins) and B (8 pins).
Key specifications include a 2-stack hardware subroutine stack, 33 single-word instructions, a 2.0 us instruction cycle at 4MHz oscillator, and four interrupt sources. The OTP EPROM permits one-time field programming - the die is windowless, so code is permanent after programming. Watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator, power-on reset, and code-protection bit are integrated, and the device supports In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) via RB6/RB7. Power-saving SLEEP mode drops quiescent current below 1 uA typical.
The PIC16C5x architecture uses a Harvard design with separate program and data buses, allowing instruction fetch and operand access in a single cycle. The device has 12 I/O pins with 25 mA sink/source capability per pin, suitable for directly driving LEDs and small relays. Compared with PIC16C54A revision parts, the PIC16C54C adds a higher-density 768-byte EPROM and improved ESD performance, while preserving the legacy 12-bit instruction set and 18-pin pinout for source compatibility.
Typical applications include appliance control, HVAC fan control, simple sensor interfaces, remote-control transmitters, automotive body electronics, and battery-powered consumer devices where code space is small and the BOM must be low cost. The extended temperature grade makes the -E suffix suitable for under-hood automotive subsystems and outdoor industrial sensor nodes.
When designing with the PIC16C54C-04E/SO, budget the 4MHz oscillator budget carefully: instruction cycle is 1/4 of Fosc, leaving 1 us per instruction at 4MHz. Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD, and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum capacitor on the supply rail. Configure unused I/O pins as outputs to minimize SLEEP current draw.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, comparison parameters, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, giving engineers a faster path to a validated BOM.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C54C-04E/SO — 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 PIC16C54C-04E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Program Memory Type, Program Memory Size, Package, Operating Temperature Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C54C-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54A-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.71 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F54-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54AT-20E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC RISC (PIC16C5x family) |
| Instruction Word Width | 12 bits |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 768 bytes (512 x 12) |
| RAM Size | 25 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle at Fmax | 1.0 us |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 12 (PORTA 5 + PORTB 8 with 1 input-only) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (Extended grade, -E) |
| Hardware Stack Depth | 2 levels |
| Number of Instructions | 33 single-word instructions |
| Interrupt Sources | 4 |
| Package | 18-SOIC (SOIC-18, 300 mil) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life) |
| Pin Count | 18 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16C54C-04E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4/RTCC — Bidirectional I/O / Timer0 clock input (Schmitt trigger) |
| Pin 4 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear reset (active low) / Programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 3 |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 4 |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage 3.0V to 5.5V |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal/Resonator connection 2 / Clock output (Fosc/4) |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal/Resonator connection 1 / External clock input |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16C54C-04E/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Appliance Control (Washing Machines, Dishwashers), HVAC Fan and Blower Control, Remote-Control Transmitters (Garage Doors, Toys), Battery-Powered Sensor Interfaces, Automotive Body Electronics (Mirror, Seat, Lighting), Low-Cost Consumer Toy Controllers, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning.
Appliance Control (Washing Machines, Dishwashers)
The PIC16C54C-04E/SO is well suited for white-goods control boards because its 768-byte OTP EPROM stores fixed motor-state and sensor-lookup logic, the 12 I/O pins drive relays and triacs, and the 4MHz instruction rate supports real-time pump and valve sequencing. Its -40C to +125C extended temperature range survives steam-room and under-cabinet heat. Drop it onto a washing-machine PCB with a 10uF supply bulk cap and 0.1uF decoupling, and a single chip replaces an entire discrete timer circuit at minimal BOM cost.
Recommended
HVAC Fan and Blower Control
The PIC16C54C-04E/SO fits HVAC blower-speed controllers because its 12-bit RISC core executes a fan-curve lookup table in microseconds, its 25-byte RAM holds the most recent setpoint, and its 12 I/O pins drive triac gates and read thermistor dividers. The 3.0V to 5.5V supply range lets it share a 5V rail with triac-coupler optos. Compared to a 555-timer circuit, the PIC16C54C implements soft-start ramps and overcurrent lockout in software without analog RC tuning.
Recommended
Remote-Control Transmitters (Garage Doors, Toys)
Battery-powered RF remote transmitters benefit from the PIC16C54C-04E/SO's sub-1uA SLEEP current and 33-instruction RISC core, which encodes button presses into encrypted rolling-code packets with minimal firmware overhead. The 768-byte OTP holds several rolling-code algorithms, and the 12 I/O pins multiplex matrix keypads up to 4x4. The extended -40C to +125C grade handles outdoor garage-door keypad installations exposed to direct sunlight and sub-freezing winters.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Interfaces
Wireless sensor nodes running on CR2032 coin cells require microcontrollers with deep SLEEP currents under 1uA and the ability to wake on interrupt. The PIC16C54C-04E/SO meets this requirement with its SLEEP mode and the four interrupt sources on PORTB change-interrupt edges, enabling wake-on-motion designs. The 4MHz operation executes a full sensor-read-and-transmit cycle in under 2ms, keeping average current draw below 5uA at one transmission per minute.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Mirror, Seat, Lighting)
The PIC16C54C-04E/SO handles body-electronics modules such as power-mirror controllers, seat-position memories, and interior LED dimmers because of its -40C to +125C operating range, 25 mA per-pin drive, and small SOIC-18 footprint that fits behind a dashboard switch cluster. Automotive designers benefit from the OTP EPROM's one-time-programmable security - the code cannot be read back through the ICSP interface, protecting proprietary seat-position algorithms from reverse engineering.
Recommended
Low-Cost Consumer Toy Controllers
Toy manufacturers select the PIC16C54C-04E/SO for sub-$5 talking dolls and educational toys because the 768-byte OTP holds voice-pattern lookup tables, the 12 I/O pins drive speaker H-bridges and trigger buttons, and the 1.69 USD unit price meets aggressive toy BOM targets. The 33-instruction RISC core runs a simple state machine for interactive sequences, and the OTP EPROM prevents end-user firmware copying - a critical IP-protection requirement in the toy market.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
Industrial pressure and temperature transmitters use the PIC16C54C-04E/SO as a low-cost digital-front-end that linearizes thermocouple tables, drives 4-20mA current loops, and supervises watchdog timing. The -40C to +125C extended temperature grade handles factory-floor ambient swings, while the 4MHz instruction rate executes a 16-point linearization table in under 50us per measurement cycle. Compared with a dedicated signal-conditioner ASIC, the PIC16C54C delivers the same accuracy with field-reprogrammable scaling coefficients.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C54C-04E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C54C-04/SO | PIC16C54A-04I/SO | PIC16F54-I/SO | PIC16C54C-04E/P | PIC16C54AT-20E/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SOIC-18 | SOIC-18 - same | SOIC-18 - same | SOIC-18 - same | PDIP-18 - different footprint | SOIC-18 - same |
| Program Memory | 768 bytes OTP EPROM | 768 bytes OTP EPROM | 512 bytes OTP EPROM (-33%) | 768 bytes Flash (reprogrammable) | 768 bytes OTP EPROM | 512 bytes OTP EPROM (-33%) |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C | 0C to +70C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | Flash | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM |
| I/O Pin Count | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Instruction Set | 12-bit (33 instructions) | 12-bit (33 instructions) | 12-bit (33 instructions) | 12-bit (33 instructions) | 12-bit (33 instructions) | 12-bit (33 instructions) |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -40C to +125C operating temperature in 18-SOIC (vs PIC16C54C-04/SO)
- Largest program memory in PIC16C54 family (vs PIC16C54A-04I/SO)
- Surface-mount SOIC-18 footprint versus through-hole PDIP-18 (vs PIC16C54C-04E/P)
- Lowest unit price in the PIC16C5x SOIC family (vs PIC16F54-I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16C54C-04E/SO operates from a single 3.0V to 5.5V supply and draws approximately 2 mA active at 4MHz and below 1 uA in SLEEP mode per the manufacturer datasheet. Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin, and add a 10 uF bulk tantalum or aluminum capacitor on the supply rail if the source impedance exceeds 1 ohm. Configure all unused I/O pins as outputs tied low to minimize SLEEP current and to prevent floating-input shoot-through currents.
The OTP EPROM cannot be erased after programming - any firmware bug becomes a permanent hardware revision. Plan for an early-stage PIC16F54-I/SO Flash prototype, validate the code, then move to PIC16C54C-04E/SO OTP EPROM for volume production. Also note that the MCLR pin is active low and must be pulled high through a 10k resistor; leaving MCLR floating causes intermittent resets in noisy environments. The ICSP clock and data pins RB6 and RB7 must be isolated from high-impedance external circuitry during in-circuit programming.
Route the 4MHz crystal traces (OSC1/OSC2) as short as possible, keep them away from switching power lines, and surround them with a ground guard ring. Use a crystal or ceramic resonator with a load capacitance of 15 to 22 pF matching the manufacturer datasheet, and place the load capacitors within 3 mm of the OSC pins. For SOIC-18 board layout, allow 0.5 mm clearance between the SOIC body and adjacent traces to simplify hand-rework and inspection.
PORTB has TTL-level inputs while PORTA has CMOS-level Schmitt-trigger inputs, so external logic levels must match. PORTB pins RB0 through RB5 can be software-configured as interrupt-on-change sources for wake-up from SLEEP. The MCLR input is a Schmitt trigger with a 0.15VCC typical threshold, so a slow-rising power supply (rise time greater than 1 ms) may trigger a power-on reset glitch - add a 1 kohm pull-up and 0.1 uF cap to MCLR if the rise time exceeds 5 ms.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not qualified at the part level; for AEC-Q100 automotive applications, refer to Microchip's automotive-grade PIC16F family. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in verified data.
