PIC16C54C-40/SO - 40MHz 8-Bit OTP MCU, SOIC-18 | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C54C-40/SO ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.85 | $1.85 |
| 10 | $1.62 | $16.20 |
| 100 | $1.34 | $134.00 |
| 500 | $1.1 | $550.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.94 | $940.00 |
PIC16C54C-40/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory, and peripherals onto one die. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16C54C sits at the microcontrollers -> integrated circuits -> semiconductors hierarchy. EPROM/ROM-based parts like this one are One-Time-Programmable (OTP), meaning the program memory can be written once by the user using an external programmer and is then permanent - suitable for production volumes where firmware is fixed.
Key features include a 40 MHz maximum clock frequency, 0.75 KB (768 words) of OTP program memory, 25 bytes of RAM data memory, 12 digital I/O pins, a 4 MHz internal oscillator option, and a wide 3.0V to 5.5V supply range. The device uses a Harvard RISC architecture with 33 single-word/cycle instructions and a 12-bit instruction word. Its commercial temperature grade (0°C to +70°C) targets cost-sensitive embedded designs.
The PIC16C54C uses Microchip's classic PIC16C5X core with two-stage pipeline, watchdog timer, and on-chip RC oscillator. Its OTP EPROM cell is field-erasable via windowed packages for prototyping. The 12-bit instruction word is symmetrical and easy to learn, with most instructions executing in a single instruction cycle except for program branches (two cycles). Current consumption is around 1.8 mA at 5V/4 MHz and lower than 10 µA in sleep mode.
Typical applications include low-cost consumer appliances, simple sensor controllers, replacement of discrete logic, automotive body electronics (using the PIC16C54C-40I industrial-grade variant), industrial timers and counters, and remote control transmitters. The wide 12 I/O count supports direct drive of LEDs, relays, and keypads without external glue logic.
When designing with this device, consider migrating to PIC16F54-I/SO for new designs, since the PIC16C54C is rated 'Not Recommended for new designs' by Microchip. The Flash-based PIC16F54 is pin-compatible, electrically identical, and in active production. For supply-chain resilience, also evaluate the SOIC-18 / SSOP-20 footprint options.
This page synthesizes current distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet. Information verified 2026-09-16.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C54C-40/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-40/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Watchdog Timer, Core, Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C54C-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-20I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54A-20/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C56A-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F54-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54C-40/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC16C5X |
| Core | 8-bit RISC (PIC16C5X Harvard) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 0.75 KB (512 x 12-bit words) |
| RAM Size | 25 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Instruction Set | 33 instructions, 12-bit wide |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 C to +70 C (Commercial) |
| Package | SOIC-18 (300 mil) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (on-chip) |
PIC16C54C-40/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port A bit 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port A bit 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port A bit 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port A bit 3 / Master Clear (Reset) input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 0 |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (+3.0V to +5.5V) |
| Pin 15 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 16 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / clock output (4 MHz RC example) |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 (alternate location per SOIC-18 layout; see datasheet) |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 (alternate location per SOIC-18 layout; see datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C54C-40/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Controller, Sensor Interface and Signal Conditioning Module, Automotive Body Electronics (with -40C variant), Remote Control Transmitter (RF/IR), Industrial Timer and Counter Module, Discrete Logic Replacement / Glue Logic, Educational and Hobby Electronics Projects.
Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Controller
The PIC16C54C-40/SO fits appliance controllers because its 0.75 KB OTP EPROM holds fixed firmware for tasks like timer-based motor control, LED indicators, and button debouncing. With 12 I/O pins it directly drives relays, triacs, keypads, and 7-segment displays without external glue logic. The 40 MHz clock provides 100 ns instruction cycle time, sufficient for PWM dimming of small lighting loads. At 5V supply and 1.8 mA active current, total system power stays under 10 mA. Wide availability at distributors like LCSC (C642526) keeps BOM cost around $0.73 unit price at small quantities.
Recommended
Sensor Interface and Signal Conditioning Module
In sensor-interface modules, the PIC16C54C-40/SO reads analog signals through an external ADC (the die has no internal ADC) and drives digital outputs based on threshold logic. Its 25 bytes of RAM handle small state machines and counters, while 0.75 KB of OTP holds calibration constants. The 40 MHz clock supports 1 MHz SPI or bit-banged UART communication with external sensors. Operating from 3.0V to 5.5V matches common 3.3V and 5V sensor rails. Watchdog timer prevents field lock-ups in unattended installations.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (with -40C variant)
Automotive body controllers using the industrial-grade variant (PIC16C54C-40I/SO with -40C to +85C range) handle seat controllers, mirror adjusters, and interior lighting. The 40 MHz clock drives PWM channels for motor speed control at 8-bit resolution or better. 12 I/O pins connect to switches, LEDs, and H-bridge drivers directly. Note: PIC16C54C lacks CAN/LIN peripherals; it pairs with external transceivers like MCP2515 for CAN bus applications. The commercial-grade PIC16C54C-40/SO (0C to +70C) is for non-automotive, non-extreme-temperature designs.
Recommended
Remote Control Transmitter (RF/IR)
The PIC16C54C-40/SO is well-suited for handheld RF or IR remote transmitters because its low active current (~1.8 mA at 5V/4 MHz) and <10 µA sleep current extend battery life. 12 I/O pins scan a 4x4 matrix keypad (using 8 pins) while the remaining pins drive an IR LED or 433 MHz SAW-based transmitter. 0.75 KB OTP stores rolling-code or fixed-code transmission algorithms. The 40 MHz clock supports Manchester or PWM encoding at carrier frequencies up to 10 kHz without CPU bottlenecking. SOIC-18 package fits standard keyfob PCBs.
Recommended
Industrial Timer and Counter Module
In industrial timer modules, the PIC16C54C-40/SO counts pulses, generates timing sequences, and drives relay outputs. The watchdog timer and brown-out reset (on PIC16C54C revision) provide field reliability in factory environments. With 40 MHz clock, 16-bit timer/counter resolution is achievable via software prescalers. 12 I/O pins handle start/stop inputs, mode selectors, and 4-8 relay outputs. The /MCLR pin enables manual reset. Operating temperature 0C to +70C suits indoor control panels and machine timers.
Recommended
Discrete Logic Replacement / Glue Logic
The PIC16C54C-40/SO replaces discrete 74HC logic gates and small state machines at lower BOM cost when producing 1,000+ units. With 12 I/O pins and 0.75 KB of programmable logic, a single PIC16C54C can replace 3-5 logic ICs in applications like custom encoder/decoder, LED chaser patterns, or multiplexed displays. 25 bytes RAM holds working variables; 0.75 KB OTP holds the state machine code. Compared to a 74HC00 + 74HC138 + 74HC595 chain, the PIC16C54C reduces board area, lowers power, and enables firmware-based feature changes during product development.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Electronics Projects
The PIC16C54C-40/SO is a classic teaching microcontroller for university embedded-systems courses and hobby projects, because its 33-instruction PIC16C5X RISC architecture is easy to learn yet capable of serious work. Students can program it with PIC assembly language using free MPLAB X IDE and a PIC programmer like PICkit 3 (with high-voltage VPP adapter for OTP). 0.75 KB of program memory holds small projects like traffic light controllers, dice simulators, and stepper-motor sequencers. SOIC-18 is breadboard-friendly with SOIC-to-DIP adapters.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C54C-40/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C54C-04/SO | PIC16C54C-20I/SO | PIC16C54C-04I/SO | PIC16C54A-20/SO | PIC16F54-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SOIC-18 (300 mil) | SOIC-18 (300 mil) - same | SOIC-18 (300 mil) - same | SOIC-18 (300 mil) - same | SOIC-18 (300 mil) - same | SOIC-18 (300 mil) - same |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz | 4 MHz (-90%) | 20 MHz (-50%) | 4 MHz (-90%) | 20 MHz (-50%) | 20 MHz (-50%) |
| Program Memory | 0.75 KB OTP | 0.75 KB OTP | 0.75 KB OTP | 0.75 KB OTP | 0.75 KB OTP | 0.75 KB Flash |
| RAM Size | 25 bytes | 25 bytes | 25 bytes | 25 bytes | 25 bytes | 25 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | Flash (reprogrammable) |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial 0C to +70C | Commercial 0C to +70C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Commercial 0C to +70C | Industrial -40C to +85C |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | EOL | Active |
Key Differentiators
- 40 MHz clock speed grade is the maximum of the PIC16C5X family (vs PIC16C54C-04/SO)
- Flash reprogrammability for design iteration and field updates (vs PIC16C54C-04/SO)
- Higher-density program memory upgrade path in same package (vs PIC16C56A-04/SO)
Design Notes
Estimated: SOIC-18 thermal resistance theta_JA is approximately 70 C/W on a standard 2-layer 1-oz copper PCB. Active current at 40 MHz is around 10 mA at 5V, dissipating 50 mW worst-case. Junction temperature rise is therefore negligible (~3.5 C), well within the 0 C to +70 C commercial operating range. No heatsink required for typical SOIC-18 designs. For continuous high-temperature operation above 60 C ambient, derate clock frequency or migrate to industrial-grade PIC16C54C-40I/SO variant. Always provide adequate ground plane under the IC for thermal and EMI performance.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to VDD (pin 14) and VSS (pin 5) to suppress digital switching transients. For oscillator stability, keep crystal traces short and symmetric (typically <5 mm), with the load capacitors (typically 15-33 pF for 4-20 MHz crystals) connected directly to OSC1 (pin 15) and OSC2 (pin 16). Add a 10 kohm pull-up on /MCLR (pin 4) to VDD. The SOIC-18 footprint supports both hand-soldering and reflow; for hand assembly use fine-tip iron and 0.5 mm lead-free solder.
Critical: the PIC16C54C uses OTP EPROM and CANNOT be reprogrammed - verify firmware in a windowed (JW) package prototype before ordering production SOIC-18 parts. Do not exceed 5.5V on VDD or apply voltage to any pin before VDD is stable, as latch-up can permanently damage the die. Watchdog timer must be either disabled in software or serviced regularly, otherwise the MCU resets every ~18 ms. Configuration word (oscillator selection, watchdog enable, code protection) is set during programming and cannot be changed later - double-check before committing OTP.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free status not explicitly stated in Verified Web Data - marked [DATA_NEEDED] in specs. Microchip PIC16C5X family is generally RoHS compliant per Microchip's product environmental compliance program, but verify via the official Microchip PIC16C54C product page declaration before procurement. AEC-Q100 not applicable for commercial-grade MCU; only the automotive-grade -40I variants may carry different qualification.
