PIC16C54CT-04E/SO - 8-bit OTP MCU 4MHz 768B | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C54CT-04E/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.85 | $3.85 |
| 10 | $3.46 | $34.60 |
| 100 | $3.08 | $308.00 |
| 500 | $2.77 | $1,385.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.46 | $2,460.00 |
PIC16C54CT-04E/SO Overview
A PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) microcontroller is a compact, single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, RAM, and peripheral I/O on one die. The PIC16C5X sub-family is the original baseline PIC architecture, optimized for simple control tasks such as appliance logic, sensor interfacing, and low-cost embedded control. Within the broader taxonomy, it sits as: 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The 'C' ROM variant uses one-time-programmable EPROM, distinguishing it from later 'F' Flash and 'CR' ROM versions.
Key features include the 4 MHz oscillator input (the '04' speed suffix), 33 single-word instructions, a two-level hardware stack, 8-bit timer/counter, and a watchdog timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator. The device supports in-circuit serial programming via the ICSP interface (RB6/RB7) and offers power-on reset, power-up timer, and oscillator start-up timer for clean brown-out behavior without external reset circuitry.
The PIC16C54C uses a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, executing most instructions in a single 1 µs instruction cycle at 4 MHz. Its 12-bit wide, highly symmetrical instruction set delivers the 2:1 code density advantage that made the 16C5X series the workhorse of cost-sensitive embedded designs in the 1990s and remains in production for long-life-cycle industrial and appliance platforms.
Typical applications include appliance control (washing machines, microwave ovens, HVAC actuators), simple sensor signal conditioning, automotive interior accessories, industrial timing and sequencing, remote controls, and battery chargers. The wide 4.5–5.5V supply range and integrated peripherals make it well-suited for replacing discrete logic in space- and cost-constrained designs.
When designing with the PIC16C54CT-04E/SO, note that the 'E' suffix indicates the extended industrial temperature grade (-40°C to +125°C) and 'T' denotes tape-and-reel packaging. The 4 MHz internal instruction throughput allows 1 million instructions per second, sufficient for slow control loops but not for real-time DSP or high-bandwidth communication.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives from the PIC16C54C family, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers select the correct OTP/EPROM variant and package for legacy and new designs.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C54CT-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 PIC16C54CT-04E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Watchdog Timer, Operating Temperature, Program Memory Type, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C54CT-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.41 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.73 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54A-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54CT-04/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54CT-04E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | PIC® 16C |
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Clock Speed (max) | 4 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable EPROM) |
| Program Memory Size | 768 B (512 × 12 words) |
| RAM Size | 25 × 8 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +125 °C (extended industrial, 'E' suffix) |
| Package | 18-SOIC (0.295 in / 7.50 mm width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Instruction Set Width | 12-bit |
| Number of Instructions | 33 single-word instructions |
| Hardware Stack | 2-level |
| Timer/Counters | 1 × 8-bit |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with on-chip RC oscillator |
| In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) | Yes (via RB6/RB7) |
PIC16C54CT-04E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O pin; bit 2 of PORTA |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O pin; bit 3 of PORTA |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Bidirectional I/O pin; also TMR0 clock input (open-drain output) |
| Pin 4 | /MCLR — Master Clear (active-low reset); also programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O pin; bit 0 of PORTB |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O pin; bit 1 of PORTB |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O pin; bit 2 of PORTB |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O pin; bit 3 of PORTB |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O pin; bit 4 of PORTB |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O pin; bit 5 of PORTB |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O pin; also ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O pin; also ICSP data |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (4.5V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 15 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input or external clock input |
| Pin 16 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output; in RC mode, 1/4 fOSC clock output |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O pin; bit 0 of PORTA |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O pin; bit 1 of PORTA |
Typical Applications
PIC16C54CT-04E/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Appliance Control (Washing Machines, Microwaves), HVAC Actuator and Thermostat Logic, Simple Sensor Signal Conditioning, Remote Control and IR Transmitter Encoding, Automotive Interior Accessories, Industrial Timing and Sequencing Modules.
Appliance Control (Washing Machines, Microwaves)
The PIC16C54CT-04E/SO fits appliance-control mainboards where its 12 I/O pins can directly drive relay coils, triac gates, and 7-segment LED displays without external logic. The 4 MHz instruction rate and 1 MIPS throughput handle timing-critical tasks such as door-lock interlocks, motor RPM feedback via the 8-bit timer, and PWM-free triac phase-angle control for heater elements. The wide 4.5V–5.5V supply tolerates rectified-and-unregulated transformer rails common in white goods. Designers benefit from 25 B of RAM for state-machine flag storage and 768 B of OTP for the entire control loop. The extended industrial -40°C to +125°C grade survives under-hood and motor-housing thermal stress, while the 18-SOIC surface-mount package supports automated pick-and-place assembly in high-volume appliance lines.
Recommended
HVAC Actuator and Thermostat Logic
The PIC16C54CT-04E/SO is well matched to HVAC damper actuators and electromechanical thermostats that need a tiny, low-cost brain with 12 I/O and a 4 MHz clock. The integrated watchdog timer with its own RC oscillator protects against firmware lockup in long-life installations, while the 33-instruction RISC core keeps the firmware footprint within the 768 B OTP budget. The on-chip 8-bit timer/counter serves as the basis for thermistor-resistance-to-temperature conversion via RC-discharge timing, eliminating an external A/D converter. The extended industrial temperature grade and 5V supply make the part tolerant of the wide thermal and electrical environment inside air-handler cabinets. Compared with PIC16F54, this OTP variant offers lower unit cost in volume production where firmware is stable.
Recommended
Simple Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16C54CT-04E/SO can replace discrete 555-timer / op-amp signal chains in low-frequency sensor front-ends, such as thermistor-to-PWM converters, photodiode pulse counters, or Hall-effect RPM-to-frequency translators. The 8-bit timer/counter counts pulse events up to 4 MHz, while the 12 general-purpose I/O pins handle digital sensor outputs and indicator LEDs. With 25 B of RAM and 768 B of OTP, the firmware can implement lookup tables and simple averaging filters without external memory. The 5V supply directly drives TTL-level sensor outputs, and the extended industrial temperature grade supports outdoor and under-hood sensor modules. Engineers can prototype on the through-hole PIC16C54CT-04E/P and migrate to the SOIC variant for SMT assembly without code changes.
Recommended
Remote Control and IR Transmitter Encoding
The PIC16C54CT-04E/SO is a low-cost solution for fixed-function IR remote controls and RF transmitter key-fobs where the entire firmware fits in 768 B of OTP. The 4 MHz instruction rate generates accurate 38 kHz / 40 kHz / 56 kHz carrier frequencies for NEC, RC5, and Sony IR protocols via software PWM on any output pin. Its 12 I/O pins support 4×3 or 5×2 keyboard matrices with no external key-scan logic. The 5V supply is compatible with IR-LED drive transistors, and the small 18-SOIC package fits inside slim remote enclosures. Because the OTP variant cannot be reflashed, it is most cost-effective for mature, stable remote-control designs shipping in high unit volumes.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Accessories
The PIC16C54CT-04E/SO powers low-bandwidth automotive interior accessories such as ambient lighting controllers, seat-position memory switches, and HVAC blend-door actuators, where its automotive-style supply tolerance and extended industrial -40°C to +125°C grade survive cabin temperature extremes. The 33-instruction RISC core handles CAN-LIN-free sub-networks of button matrices, PWM dimming, and stepper-motor indexing with cycle-accurate timing from the 4 MHz clock. Its 12 I/O drive indicator LEDs, button debounce networks, and small brushed-DC motor H-bridges without external logic. For AEC-Q100-qualified applications, designers should pair this baseline PIC with a discrete watchdog supervisor; the PIC16C54C lacks the AEC-Q100 qualification of automotive-specific derivatives such as the PIC16F15313-I/SN.
Recommended
Industrial Timing and Sequencing Modules
The PIC16C54CT-04E/SO is a fit for industrial timing-relay replacement modules, conveyor sequencers, and packaging-machine index controllers where deterministic cycle timing matters more than computational throughput. The 4 MHz instruction rate yields 1 µs instruction time, allowing precise timing of multi-step sequencing within the 768 B OTP firmware budget. Its 8-bit timer/counter generates programmable time bases from microseconds to seconds via prescalers, and the watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator protects against firmware stalls on the factory floor. The 18-SOIC SMT package and 5V supply match legacy industrial backplane designs, while the extended temperature grade handles unconditioned cabinet environments. Drop-in migration to the PIC16F54-I/SO preserves the footprint while adding Flash reprogrammability for field firmware updates.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C54CT-04E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C54CT-04/SO | PIC16C54C-04E/SO | PIC16C54C-04I/SO | PIC16C54C-04/SO | PIC16C54CT-04/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 18-SOIC | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SSOP - same pinout, smaller footprint |
| Clock Speed (max) | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 768 B (512 × 12) OTP | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP |
| RAM Size | 25 × 8 bytes | 25 × 8 bytes | 25 × 8 bytes | 25 × 8 bytes | 25 × 8 bytes | 25 × 8 bytes |
| Supply Voltage Range | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +125 °C (extended) | 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial) | -40 °C to +125 °C (extended) | -40 °C to +85 °C (industrial) | 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial) | 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial) |
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM |
| Packaging Code | Tape & Reel (T) | Tape & Reel (T) | Tube / Tray (no T suffix) | Tube / Tray (no T suffix) | Tube / Tray (no T suffix) | Tape & Reel (T) - SSOP package |
| Quantity-1 Price (USD, approx.) | $3.85 | ~$3.50 | ~$3.60 | ~$3.70 | ~$3.40 | ~$3.80 |
Key Differentiators
- Extended industrial -40°C to +125°C temperature grade (vs PIC16C54CT-04/SO)
- Tape-and-reel packaging for high-volume SMT assembly (vs PIC16C54C-04E/SO)
- True baseline PIC16C54C silicon — the modernized C-revision die (vs PIC16C54A-04/SO)
- Stable long-life-cycle product for industrial platforms (vs PIC16F54-I/SO (Flash equivalent))
Design Notes
Decouple VDD (pin 14) with a 0.1 µF X7R ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the package pin, plus a bulk 10 µF electrolytic or tantalum on the 5V rail. The PIC16C54CT-04E/SO does not have an internal voltage regulator and shares VDD directly with output-pin drive transistors; an unclean supply can corrupt OTP read cycles during execution. The on-chip power-on reset and power-up timer require VDD rise time below a datasheet-specified threshold; if the supply is too slow (e.g., RC-charge from a high-impedance source), add an external /MCLR pull-up with RC delay so the device exits reset cleanly.
Do not assume any PIC16C5X part is pin-compatible with PIC16C6X/7X/8X families — the 16C5X baseline lacks the interrupt controller, PCLATH, and banking features of mid-range PICs, so assembly code is NOT source-compatible across families. Because OTP memory cannot be erased, a single firmware bug requires scrapping all programmed parts; always validate firmware on a PIC16F54-I/SO Flash equivalent before committing to PIC16C54CT-04E/SO OTP production orders. Watchdog timer must be cleared by software (CLRWDT instruction) at least every 18 ms (typical WDT period with postscaler) or the part will reset unexpectedly.
Place the 4 MHz crystal or ceramic resonator within 5 mm of pins 15 (OSC1) and 16 (OSC2) and route the OSC traces over a continuous ground pour to minimize EMI coupling. For RC oscillator mode (lower cost, lower accuracy), use the datasheet-recommended Rs and C values for the 4 MHz target frequency and account for ±20% frequency drift over temperature. Keep ICSP pins RB6/RB7 free of any pull-ups stronger than 10 kΩ so that in-circuit serial programming does not require component removal during production programming.
At 4 MHz clock and 5V supply, the PIC16C54CT-04E/SO typically draws 2–5 mA active and 1–5 µA standby; total package dissipation is well below 100 mW, so the 18-SOIC θJA of approximately 100 °C/W requires no heatsink or thermal copper pour for normal operation. However, at the extended upper temperature limit of +125 °C, derate output-pin DC current to the datasheet's per-pin and per-port totals (typically 25 mA per pin, 100 mA per port) to avoid triggering silicon-level metallization failure.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance status not present in the verified web data for this exact MPN — set to 'unknown' per Data Authenticity Rule 2. The PIC16C54C family is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive applications, use automotive-qualified derivatives such as the PIC16F15313-I/SN or PIC16F18855-I/SP. Lead-free (Pb-free) reflow compatibility is standard for SOIC-packaged Microchip baseline PICs since approximately 2005.
