PIC16C54C/JW - 8-bit EPROM MCU, 12 I/O, 20MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C54C/JW ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.85 | $7.85 |
| 10 | $7.1 | $71.00 |
| 100 | $6.25 | $625.00 |
| 500 | $5.55 | $2,775.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.95 | $4,950.00 |
PIC16C54C/JW Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that combines a CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and configurable I/O peripherals on one die; the PIC16C5X line is one of the earliest RISC-architecture 8-bit MCUs from Microchip. In the system hierarchy, an MCU sits beneath SoCs and microprocessors and above bare gate-array logic, and the PIC16C54C/JW belongs to the EPROM-based subclass that allows in-circuit erasure via a quartz window under UV light - useful for development and low-volume engineering builds where firmware iteration is required.
Key features of the PIC16C54C/JW include a 12-bit instruction word with 33 single-word/single-cycle instructions, a two-level deep hardware stack, seven or eight special function hardware registers, and one 8-bit real-time counter/timer (TMR0). The RISC core delivers close to 1 MIPS per MHz, giving the 20MHz part about 5 MIPS sustained throughput. Direct, indirect, and relative addressing modes are supported for both data and instructions, and an internal power-on reset plus watchdog timer simplify external reset hardware.
Typical applications for the PIC16C54C/JW include automotive body controllers, industrial appliance controls, security system peripherals, simple sensor signal conditioning, and legacy embedded products that were originally designed around the PIC16C5X family. The windowed CERDIP package makes it especially attractive for prototype and field-reprogrammable deployments where OTP variants like the PIC16C54C-04/P cannot be reused after programming.
When designing with this device, keep brown-out detection and external oscillator requirements in mind; the JW windowed package is intended for development, while the production plastic DIP (P), SOIC (SO), and SSOP (SS) variants of the same die are recommended for volume runs. Verify the latest errata before committing to new designs because the PIC16C54C is part of Microchip's mature product line with periodic device revisions.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C54C/JW — 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/JW (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Maximum Clock Frequency, Program Memory Type, Mounting Type, Package, Program Memory Size.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C54C-04/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.71 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-20/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54A-20/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54A-04/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54-10/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54-10/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C/JW Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit RISC (PIC16C5X) |
| Program Memory Type | EPROM (UV-erasable, windowed) |
| Program Memory Size | 768 B (512 x 12 bits) |
| RAM | 25 B |
| Instruction Word Width | 12 bits |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0) |
| Hardware Stack Depth | 2 levels |
| Special Function Registers | 7 to 8 |
| Addressing Modes | Direct, Indirect, Relative |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| Package | 18-pin CERDIP Window (WDIP, 0.300 inch / 7.62 mm) |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16C54C/JW Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 3 |
| Pin 3 | RTCC — Real-time clock/counter (TMR0) external input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR — Master Clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 0 |
| 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 |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 15 | OSC2 — Oscillator output (crystal/RC) |
| Pin 16 | OSC1 — Oscillator input (crystal/RC/external clock) |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16C54C/JW is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Embedded Control Systems, Development and Prototyping Platform, Automotive Body and Accessory Controllers, Industrial Appliance and Sensor Interface, Security and Access Control Peripherals, Educational and Hobbyist Microcontroller Trainer.
Legacy Embedded Control Systems
The PIC16C54C/JW is well suited to maintaining and upgrading legacy embedded systems originally designed around the PIC16C5X family, where the same 12-bit RISC instruction set, 12 I/O lines, and 18-pin footprint are required. With 768 bytes of EPROM and 25 bytes of RAM, the part handles simple state-machine control tasks such as relay sequencing, LED multiplexing, keypad scanning, and basic sensor signal gating. Its 2.5V-5.5V operating range allows direct drop-in on existing 5V rails, and the UV window permits firmware revision during the long service life of industrial equipment. Compared to modern Flash MCUs, the JW package uniquely enables field re-programming without a separate ISP header.
Recommended
Development and Prototyping Platform
The windowed CERDIP PIC16C54C/JW is the canonical development platform for PIC16C5X firmware, because the UV-transparent quartz window permits erasing the EPROM under a UV lamp so the same chip can be reprogrammed many times. Engineers use this part during firmware bring-up, instruction-set exploration, and timing analysis, then transition to the lower-cost PIC16C54C-04/P OTP plastic DIP for pilot runs and the PIC16C54C-20/P for production. The 20 MHz clock provides up to 5 MIPS throughput, enough to develop interrupt-driven control loops and timing-critical peripherals (TMR0, watchdog) that emulate the final production silicon exactly.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Accessory Controllers
Within automotive body electronics, the PIC16C54C/JW and its OTP siblings power simple accessory controllers such as interior light dimmers, mirror position memory, washer-pump sequencers, and seat-heater timers where 12 pins of GPIO are enough and cost dominates. The PIC RISC core's deterministic 1 MIPS/MHz throughput lets designers write predictable timing loops without RTOS overhead, and the 25-byte RAM accommodates small state machines. Although AEC-Q100 is not formally listed for this mature part, the family has decades of automotive service history. For new automotive designs, the PIC16F family with AEC-Q100 qualification is now preferred.
Recommended
Industrial Appliance and Sensor Interface
The PIC16C54C/JW is widely used in industrial appliances - washing machines, dishwashers, HVAC damper actuators, vending machines - where its 12 GPIO, single 8-bit timer (TMR0), and watchdog timer implement closed-loop control without the cost of a full microcontroller with ADC. Operating from 2.5 V to 5.5 V at industrial ambient temperatures, the part tolerates noisy 24V-derived rails after external regulation. Its RISC architecture executes relay de-bounce, key-scan, and LED-multiplex routines in well under 1 ms per cycle, leaving headroom for the TMR0-driven scheduling interrupts. Designers pair it with external op-amps and discretes when analog sensing is required.
Recommended
Security and Access Control Peripherals
In security and access-control peripherals such as keypad entry panels, PIR motion sensor interfaces, magnetic-reed door controllers, and small alarm annunciators, the PIC16C54C/JW provides the right balance of 12 GPIO for keypad rows/columns, indicator LEDs, and relay drivers, while consuming minimal board space. The hardware watchdog timer protects against firmware lock-up in unattended security deployments, and the 2-level deep interrupt stack handles routine vs alarm-priority events. The UV-erasable window allows field firmware updates when security protocols change. Designers appreciate the deterministic 1 instruction cycle per clock for tight keypad debounce timing.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Microcontroller Trainer
The PIC16C54C/JW remains a popular educational and hobbyist microcontroller trainer because the PIC16C5X instruction set is simple enough to teach RISC fundamentals in a single semester. The 33-instruction set, 12-bit instruction word, and 2-level hardware stack are easy to explain on a whiteboard, and the windowed CERDIP package can be erased and re-programmed hundreds of times in a teaching lab with a UV eraser and low-cost EPROM programmer. Students build traffic-light controllers, dice simulators, stopwatches, and motor-PWM drivers using the 12 GPIO and TMR0. Migration to PIC12F or PIC16F Flash parts comes later for take-home assignments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C54C/JW — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C54C-04/P | PIC16C54C-20/P | PIC16C54A-20/P | PIC16C54-10/P | PIC16C54-10/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 18-CERDIP Window | 18-PDIP (plastic, no window) | 18-PDIP (plastic, no window) | 18-PDIP (plastic, no window) | 18-PDIP (plastic, no window) | 18-SOIC (plastic, no window) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 768 B EPROM (512 x 12) | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP |
| Max Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz |
| Memory Erasability | UV-erasable (windowed) | OTP (one-time programmable) | OTP | OTP | OTP | OTP |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| RAM | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Approx Unit Price (qty 1) | $7.85 | $4.20 | $4.50 | $4.80 | $5.10 | $4.95 |
Key Differentiators
- UV-erasable windowed package enables unlimited firmware revision cycles (vs PIC16C54C-04/P (OTP plastic DIP))
- Same 18-pin DIP pinout across CERDIP and plastic variants (vs PIC16F54-I/P (Flash, 20-pin))
- Mature PIC16C5X architecture with 33-instruction RISC core (vs ATtiny or other modern 8-bit MCUs)
Design Notes
The PIC16C54C/JW is a windowed CERDIP package intended for development - once sealed in production, the UV window must be covered with opaque label to prevent accidental erasure from sunlight or fluorescent light. Production builds should migrate to the OTP PIC16C54C-04/P or PIC16C54C-20/P plastic DIP variants to avoid field erasure. Always verify the latest PIC16C54C errata (DS80434) before committing to a new design because the part has multiple silicon revisions across the A/C suffix history.
Layout the oscillator traces (OSC1/OSC2) as short as possible and keep them away from high-current switching traces to minimize EMI coupling. Place the 0.1 uF VDD bypass capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin with a direct ground return to VSS. For crystal oscillator operation, add the two ceramic load capacitors recommended by the crystal manufacturer (typically 15-33 pF) directly between OSC1/OSC2 and ground. Do not route signal traces under the quartz window of the CERDIP package as it can capacitively couple noise.
The PIC16C54C/JW operating range of 2.5 V to 5.5 V allows direct connection to a regulated 3.3 V or 5 V rail, but brown-out conditions between 2.0 V and 2.5 V can corrupt the program counter if no external brown-out detector is used. Add a supply voltage supervisor or use the internal power-on reset (POR) plus external decoupling of 10 uF + 0.1 uF on VDD. Watchdog timer (WDT) should be enabled in firmware to recover from unexpected code lock-up; the WDT postscaler should be tuned to balance responsiveness vs false triggers during long interrupt disable windows.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Trustcompo distributor listing; lead-free per Microchip product family documentation. AEC-Q100 not formally qualified - the PIC16C54C/JW is a mature commercial-grade part; for AEC-Q100 applications choose PIC16F family variants instead. Halogen-free status not stated in provided data.
