PIC16C54T-LP/SS - 8-Bit 40MHz OTP MCU 768B | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C54T-LP/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.85 | $1.85 |
| 10 | $1.62 | $16.20 |
| 100 | $1.38 | $138.00 |
| 500 | $1.15 | $575.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.98 | $980.00 |
PIC16C54T-LP/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory, and programmable I/O on a single die. The PIC16C5X family belongs to Microchip's original PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) architecture, which uses a Harvard RISC design with separate program and data buses. Within the broader taxonomy, PIC16C5X sits as: 8-bit MCU -> RISC microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor IC. OTP memory means each device can be programmed once and retains code without power, making this family well-suited to cost-sensitive volume production where firmware is finalized at manufacturing.
Key features of the PIC16C54T-LP/SS include: 12 I/O pins with individual direction control, Power-On Reset (POR) for reliable cold-start behavior, Watchdog Timer (WDT) for fault recovery, an internal RC oscillator option, and a wide operating voltage range of 2.5 V to 6.25 V (3.3 V/5 V typical). The device uses a 12-bit instruction word and a two-stage pipeline, achieving near single-cycle execution for most instructions. Commercial temperature grade (0 °C to +70 °C) makes it appropriate for consumer and industrial-grade products with controlled thermal environments.
From an architectural standpoint, the PIC16C54 uses a modified Harvard architecture with 33 single-word instructions. The core runs synchronously and is fully static, allowing the clock to be halted for power saving. With 25 bytes of RAM and only two hardware registers (W register and file select register), the device targets simple control loops, sensor interfacing, and discrete logic replacement. The /SS package variant offers a narrower 5.30 mm body width compared to standard SOIC, enabling higher PCB density.
Typical applications include low-cost remote controls, appliance control boards, LED drivers, battery chargers, security keypads, simple sensor interfaces, and hobbyist/Maker projects where a small pin-count MCU with deterministic interrupt response is sufficient. Designers migrating from older discrete logic often adopt this part to consolidate timing, sequencing, and I/O functions onto a single chip.
When laying out a PCB for the PIC16C54T-LP/SS, place a 0.1 µF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin and provide a short ground return to VSS. For crystal operation, keep the crystal and load capacitors within a few millimeters of the OSC1/OSC2 pins to minimize startup issues. Designers should also budget for the OTP programming window in the production test plan.
This page synthesizes distributor stock, verified pin-compatible alternatives, and engineering design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet to help buyers and embedded engineers qualify the part faster.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C54T-LP/SS — 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 PIC16C54T-LP/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Package, Program Memory Size, Operating Temperature, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C54C-04/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54A-04/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54CT-04/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F54-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54CT-20I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54T-LP/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Family | PIC16C5X |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 768 B (512 x 12-bit words) |
| RAM Size | 25 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Instruction Word Width | 12 bits |
| Number of Instructions | 33 |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 6.25 V (3.3 V/5 V typical) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +70 °C (Commercial) |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP (0.209", 5.30 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Peripherals | Power-On Reset (POR), Watchdog Timer (WDT) |
| Oscillator | External crystal/RC or internal RC option |
PIC16C54T-LP/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O pin, port A bit 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O pin, port A bit 3 |
| Pin 3 | RTCC — Real-Time Clock/Counter input or I/O |
| Pin 4 | MCLR — Master Clear (Reset, active low) |
| 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 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 15 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input or external clock input |
| Pin 16 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output or clock output |
| Pin 17 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O pin, port C bit 0 |
| Pin 18 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O pin, port C bit 1 |
| Pin 19 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O pin, port C bit 2 |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC16C54T-LP/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Consumer Remote Control, Appliance Control Board (Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Microwave), LED Lighting Controller / Driver Sequencer, Security Keypad / Access Control, Battery Charger Controller (Simple Ni-Cu/Ni-MH/NiCd Charging), Hobbyist / Maker Replacement for Discrete Logic, Simple Sensor Interface / Signal Conditioning.
Consumer Remote Control
The PIC16C54T-LP/SS is well suited to handheld IR remote controls where its 12 I/O pins drive a keypad matrix and IR LED, and the OTP EPROM locks the IR protocol at production. With 768 bytes of program memory (512 x 12 bits) it stores Sony RC-5, NEC, or custom protocols with a single transmission routine. The 40 MHz CPU clock easily handles 38 kHz carrier generation via timer toggling, and the 2.5-6.25 V operating range matches directly to a 3 V coin-cell or two AAA cells. The SSOP-20 footprint fits inside slim wand-style housings where PCB area is constrained, and the Watchdog Timer recovers from low-voltage brownouts during battery end-of-life. Estimated power: 2 mA active at 5 V / 4 MHz, <1 µA sleep - excellent for coin-cell designs.
Recommended
Appliance Control Board (Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Microwave)
The PIC16C54T-LP/SS replaces discrete 555/CMOS logic on appliance front panels, consolidating timer sequencing, button debouncing, LED multiplexing, relay drivers, and buzzer control into one chip. Its 12 I/O pins handle a 3x4 keypad, 7-segment LED display, and triac interface for mains-load switching. The Power-On Reset ensures deterministic cold-start behavior when line voltage is applied, while the Watchdog Timer recovers from EMI-induced lockups common near motor drive stages. The 768-byte OTP EPROM holds state-machine firmware for cycle selection without needing external EEPROM. Designers appreciate that the SSOP-20 footprint fits the same pads as older through-hole DIP designs when migrating to SMT.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller / Driver Sequencer
The PIC16C54T-LP/SS drives multi-channel LED chaser modules, decorative lighting strips, and architectural fixtures where a low-cost MCU produces timed PWM patterns. With the PIC16C5X instruction set supporting software PWM at 1 kHz refresh rates, the device can independently control up to 8 LEDs via its 12 I/O pins without external driver ICs. The wide 2.5 V to 6.25 V operating range lets it run directly from a 3.3 V LDO or 5 V USB rail. OTP programming locks the lighting pattern at production, preventing field tampering - useful for signage, holiday lighting, and consumer mood lights. The SSOP-20 package supports compact PCB designs alongside the LED driver MOSFETs.
Recommended
Security Keypad / Access Control
The PIC16C54T-LP/SS implements the brain of a PIN-entry keypad, scanning a 3x4 matrix, debouncing contacts, comparing against a stored code in its 25 bytes of RAM (or a small external EEPROM), and driving a relay or buzzer output. Its 12 I/O pins are sufficient for the matrix and control outputs without an I/O expander. The OTP EPROM holds the firmware that compares codes and triggers the strike plate, while the Watchdog Timer recovers from voltage glitches caused by long cable runs to the door sensor. The SSOP-20 footprint allows the controller to fit inside the keypad housing itself, not just the lock-side enclosure.
Recommended
Battery Charger Controller (Simple Ni-Cu/Ni-MH/NiCd Charging)
The PIC16C54T-LP/SS can manage a simple primary-cell charger: monitoring voltage with an ADC-free comparator, timing charge intervals via the Watchdog Timer in sleep, and toggling a charge MOSFET. With 12 I/O pins, it handles the charger enable, status LEDs, temperature sensor input, and charge current sense path. OTP programming locks the charge profile at manufacturing for compliance with cell safety specifications. The 2.5 V to 6.25 V operating range accommodates 2-cell and 3-cell battery packs directly. For designs needing more sophistication (CC-CV lithium profiles, fuel gauging), a flash-based PIC16F1xxx is preferred.
Recommended
Hobbyist / Maker Replacement for Discrete Logic
The PIC16C54T-LP/SS is a favorite among hobbyists and educators for replacing 555 timers, 74HC logic, and discrete transistor sequencers. Its 12-bit instruction set is approachable (33 instructions, two-stage pipeline, RISC architecture), the SSOP-20 breakout boards are widely available on breakout PCBs, and the MPLAB IDE + PICkit programmer toolchain is free. With 768 bytes of program memory and 25 bytes of RAM, the device supports dozens of beginner-to-intermediate projects: stoplights, reaction timers, dice rollers, servo sequencers, and bit-banged peripherals. The OTP caveat is mitigated by hobbyists programming multiple devices per code revision, since unit cost is well below $2.
Recommended
Simple Sensor Interface / Signal Conditioning
The PIC16C54T-LP/SS conditions and digitizes signals from low-bandwidth analog sensors (thermistors, photoresistors, simple switches) where a full ADC-equipped MCU is overkill. It uses its digital I/O to bit-bang an interface, sequence sensor excitation, and drive indicator LEDs based on threshold crossings implemented in firmware. With 12 I/O pins it can multiplex several sensors and provide tri-state outputs for downstream logic. The 40 MHz CPU clock handles sub-millisecond timing resolution. The OTP EPROM is advantageous for tamper-resistant sensor calibrations. The commercial 0 C to +70 C temperature range covers most indoor industrial sensor installations.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C54T-LP/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C54C-04/SS | PIC16C54C-04I/SS | PIC16C54A-04/SS | PIC16C54CT-04/SS | PIC16F54-I/SS | PIC16C54CT-20I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-SSOP (5.30 mm) | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same |
| Program Memory | 768 B OTP EPROM (512 x 12) | 768 B OTP EPROM | 768 B OTP EPROM | 768 B OTP EPROM | 768 B OTP EPROM | 768 B Flash | 768 B OTP EPROM |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 40 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz |
| RAM | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B |
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM (one-time programmable) | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | Flash (re-programmable) | OTP EPROM |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0 C to +70 C) | Commercial | Industrial (-40 C to +85 C) | Commercial | Commercial | Industrial (-40 C to +85 C) | Industrial (-40 C to +85 C) |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Key Differentiators
- Modern silicon revision ('C') in identical SSOP-20 footprint with same 768 B OTP EPROM (vs PIC16C54C-04/SS)
- Industrial temperature range (-40 C to +85 C) for harsh environments (vs PIC16C54C-04I/SS)
- Flash-based reprogrammability for development and field updates (vs PIC16F54-I/SS)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 20) and provide a short, wide ground trace back to VSS (pin 5 or 14). For designs with high switching noise on the supply rail, add a 10 uF bulk tantalum or aluminum electrolytic capacitor near the IC. The PIC16C54T-LP/SS draws 2 mA typical active at 5 V / 4 MHz, but peaks during EPROM programming can reach 30 mA; size the regulator accordingly. Estimated active current at 40 MHz: ~15 mA, so budget 1.5x headroom for transient peaks.
For crystal oscillator configurations, keep the crystal and load capacitors within 5 mm of the OSC1 (pin 15) and OSC2 (pin 16) pins, surrounded by a ground guard ring to isolate the oscillator from noisy signal traces. The MCLR pin (pin 4) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for normal operation; adding a 100 nF capacitor in series with the reset switch or programmer pin provides ESD protection and in-circuit debug isolation. Route the VDD and VSS pins on opposite sides of the SSOP-20 package to simplify PCB power distribution.
Do not assume flash-like in-circuit reprogramming - the PIC16C54T-LP/SS uses OTP EPROM and can only be programmed once. Prototype and debug on a flash-based PIC16F54-I/SS in the same SSOP-20 footprint, then commit the locked firmware to the OTP part for production. Verify the Watchdog Timer is either disabled in firmware or properly serviced, otherwise an unhandled loop will trigger a reset every ~18 ms (typical WDT period). Also confirm that the device configuration word (oscillator selection, WDT enable, code protection) is set correctly before OTP programming, as it cannot be changed afterward.
The PIC16C54T-LP/SS in SSOP-20 has a theta_JA of approximately 100 C/W, giving roughly 1.25 W max dissipation at 25 C ambient (Tj_max = 150 C). For typical 5 V / 4 MHz operation the dissipation is well under 50 mW, so no heatsink is needed. Industrial-temperature variants (PIC16C54CT-20I/SS) should be specified for outdoor or enclosed-housing applications where ambient can exceed 70 C.
Compliance Information
PIC16C5X family is commercial-grade, not AEC-Q100 qualified. Specific lead-free and RoHS status for PIC16C54T-LP/SS not found in verified data; refer to Microchip product page for current environmental compliance information.
