PIC16C56T-10I/SO - 8-Bit 10MHz OTP MCU 1.5KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C56T-10I/SO β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.78 | $37.80 |
| 100 | $3.35 | $335.00 |
| 500 | $2.95 | $1,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.6 | $2,600.00 |
PIC16C56T-10I/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small, self-contained computer-on-a-chip that combines a CPU, program memory, RAM, and peripherals onto a single integrated circuit. The PIC16C5X family belongs to Microchip's foundational PIC architecture β a Harvard-type RISC design in which program and data memory are accessed on separate buses β that achieves roughly 2:1 code compression over competitive 8-bit CISC MCUs of its era thanks to its 12-bit wide, highly symmetrical instruction set. This positions the PIC16C56 as a low-cost, high-performance member of the linear regulator -> power management hierarchy of legacy embedded control.
Key specifications include a 10 MHz external oscillator input, an 8-bit ALU, two 8-bit I/O ports, a 12-bit instruction word, single-word instructions with single-cycle execution (except branches), a watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator, and an internal power-on reset circuit. The device supports industrial temperature operation (-40C to +85C) as indicated by the 'I' suffix and is supplied in tape and reel packaging as indicated by the 'T' suffix.
The PIC16C5X architecture uses a simple two-stage pipeline with a 12-bit program memory bus and an 8-bit data bus, allowing most instructions to execute in a single 200 ns instruction cycle at 20 MHz (400 ns at 10 MHz). The OTP program memory is programmed once via standard Microchip device programmers and cannot be erased β a deliberate cost trade-off that suits mature, fixed-function designs rather than prototyping.
Typical applications include simple logic replacement, low-end consumer appliances, automotive subsystems (climate control, lighting, instrument clusters), industrial timers and counters, battery chargers, and remote controls. Designers migrating from 8051-family MCUs value the PIC16C5X instruction set for its orthogonal, easy-to-learn assembly language and the broad ecosystem of MPLAB development tools.
A key design consideration is OTP program memory: once a device is programmed, the firmware is permanent and cannot be field-updated. For designs that require firmware revisions, the PIC16F5X flash-based family is a drop-in architectural alternative. Engineers should also budget for an external oscillator or resonator in XT mode, as the device does not include an internal high-frequency oscillator.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C56T-10I/SO β 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 PIC16C56T-10I/SO (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Package, Program Memory Type, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C56T-10/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C56T-10E/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C55T-10I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C56T-10I/SS
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.89 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C56-RCI/SO
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.99 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C56T-10I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | 8-bit PIC16C5X RISC |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) |
| RAM Size | 25 x 8 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 10 MHz |
| Instruction Word Width | 12 bits |
| I/O Pins | 12 (Ports A and B) |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit with prescaler (TMR0) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with on-chip RC oscillator |
| Oscillator Modes | RC, XT, HS, LP (external) |
| Package | 18-SOIC (SO, 7.50 mm body) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (Gull-Wing) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per Besenchips listing) |
| Programming Method | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
PIC16C56T-10I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR β Master Clear (reset) input, active low |
| Pin 2 | RA0 β PORTA bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 β PORTA bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 β PORTA bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 5 | RA3 β PORTA bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI β PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | GND β Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | OSC1 β Oscillator input (XT/HS/LP/RC mode) |
| Pin 9 | OSC2 β Oscillator output / CLKOUT |
| Pin 10 | RB0/INT β PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 11 | RB1 β PORTB bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 12 | RB2 β PORTB bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 13 | RB3 β PORTB bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 14 | RB4 β PORTB bit 4 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 15 | RB5 β PORTB bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 16 | RB6 β PORTB bit 6 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 17 | RB7 β PORTB bit 7 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 18 | VDD β Positive supply voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC16C56T-10I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Low-End Consumer Appliance Control, Automotive Interior Lighting and Switch Module, Industrial Timer and Counter Front-End, Remote Control Transmitter Encoder, Simple Logic-Replacement MCU Board, Battery Charger State-Machine Controller.
Low-End Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16C56T-10I/SO fits low-end consumer appliance control because its 8-bit PIC16C5X core with 1.5 KB OTP and 25 bytes RAM is sized for fixed-function tasks like washing-machine cycle timing, microwave relay sequencing, and toaster-oven user-interface scanning. Its 10 MHz CPU executes single-cycle instructions in 400 ns, sufficient for keypad debouncing, LED multiplexing, and triac zero-crossing control in mains appliances. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade supports kitchen and laundry environments. Using PIC OTP rather than flash eliminates firmware tampering risk and reduces per-unit cost in high-volume SKUs.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Lighting and Switch Module
The PIC16C56T-10I/SO is well matched to automotive interior lighting and switch modules where the controller reads push-button and rotary inputs and drives LED strings through low-side MOSFETs. Its 12 I/O pins cover a 5-button plus 4-LED matrix with one pin to spare for a CAN-ready wake signal, and the 10 MHz CPU supports 10 ms debounce and 100 Hz PWM dimming in software. The industrial -40C to +85C range covers cabin environments; for under-hood or exterior applications the PIC16C56T-10E/SO extended-temp variant should be substituted. OTP memory locks the firmware against warranty-fraud reflashing while the 1.5 KB code space comfortably fits the typical 600-800 instruction module.
Recommended
Industrial Timer and Counter Front-End
The PIC16C56T-10I/SO serves as a programmable industrial timer and counter front-end, capturing pulses from a Hall-effect sensor or opto-isolated input and presenting the count on a multiplexed 7-segment display. The TMR0 8-bit timer with prescaler handles pulse widths down to 400 ns at 10 MHz CPU clock, while the watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator ensures the system recovers from EMI-induced lockups common in motor cabinets. Its 25 bytes RAM holds the current count, setpoint, and state machine flags for typical batch-counting firmware. Industrial -40C to +85C operation tolerates factory-floor temperatures.
Recommended
Remote Control Transmitter Encoder
The PIC16C56T-10I/SO encodes infrared or sub-GHz remote-control commands in consumer A/V and IoT bridge applications, generating precise carrier bursts and Manchester-encoded data frames from its 10 MHz instruction cycle. The 12-bit instruction word produces compact state-machine code that fits the 1.5 KB OTP budget with room for multiple protocol profiles. PIC16C5X low-power LP oscillator mode with a 32.768 kHz watch crystal enables multi-year battery life when the transmitter is idle, while the 12 I/O pins handle matrix-scanned keypads up to 4x4. OTP prevents reverse-engineering of proprietary IR protocols.
Recommended
Simple Logic-Replacement MCU Board
The PIC16C56T-10I/SO replaces legacy 7400-series glue logic in retrofit boards where conditional sequencing, timing delays, or input-to-output mapping exceeds what discrete gates can do economically. The 12 I/O pins plus 1.5 KB OTP let one PIC16C56 replace 4-6 logic ICs (counters, decoders, monostables) on a board, reducing BOM and assembly cost. Its 10 MHz CPU supports 100 ns-edge timing critical for legacy bus interfaces, and the industrial temperature grade suits factory-floor retrofit installations. The PIC16C5X instruction set is simple enough that the original 7400-logic schematic can be transcribed into 200-300 PIC instructions for direct behavioral equivalence.
Recommended
Battery Charger State-Machine Controller
The PIC16C56T-10I/SO implements a NiCd/NiMH or small Li-ion charger state machine by sampling battery voltage and temperature via the 8-bit ADC-less comparator inputs and controlling a constant-current source through PWM on RB4-RB7. The TMR0 with watchdog provides safety timing for charge-cycle termination, and the 1.5 KB OTP holds the charge-profile curve for several cell chemistries selected via a jumper. With LP oscillator mode drawing under 1 mA active, the MCU itself contributes negligibly to the charger quiescent drain. Industrial temperature grade supports garage and workshop charging environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C56T-10I/SO β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C56T-10/SO | PIC16C56T-10E/SO | PIC16C55T-10I/SO | PIC16C56-RCI/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | 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) |
| Core Architecture | PIC16C5X 12-bit | PIC16C5X 12-bit | PIC16C5X 12-bit | PIC16C5X 12-bit | PIC16C5X 12-bit |
| Program Memory | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) OTP | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) OTP | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) OTP | 0.75 KB (512 x 12) OTP | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) OTP |
| RAM Size | 25 x 8 bytes | 25 x 8 bytes | 25 x 8 bytes | 25 x 8 bytes | 25 x 8 bytes |
| Max CPU Speed | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | ~4 MHz RC |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | 0C to +70C (Commercial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade with same 18-SOIC footprint as commercial-temp PIC16C56T-10/SO (vs PIC16C56T-10/SO)
- Same 18-SOIC footprint as PIC16C55T-10I/SO with double the program memory (vs PIC16C55T-10I/SO)
- Higher 10 MHz maximum CPU clock versus RC-mode ~4 MHz on PIC16C56-RCI/SO (vs PIC16C56-RCI/SO)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 10 MHz CPU clock and VDD=5V the PIC16C56T-10I/SO draws approximately 5-10 mA active. Add a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as practical to the VDD pin (pin 18) and a 10 uF bulk capacitor at the board's power-entry point. For battery applications, drop to LP oscillator mode with a 32.768 kHz crystal to reduce active current below 1 mA; ensure the MCLR pull-up resistor (typically 10 kohm) does not exceed the leakage budget.
Route the oscillator traces (OSC1/OSC2, pins 8-9) as short as possible and keep them away from high-current switching traces to reduce EMI injection. For XT or HS modes, place the load capacitors within 3-5 mm of the oscillator pins and ground both capacitor grounds to a single via to minimize stray inductance. The MCLR pin (pin 1) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; if in-circuit programming is needed, add the standard ICSP header (VDD, GND, RB6, RB7, MCLR) per Microchip development guidelines.
Three pitfalls recur in PIC16C56 designs: (1) confusing PIC16C5X (12-bit core, this part) with PIC16F5X or PIC16C6X/7X (14-bit core) - they share package footprints but NOT instruction sets; attempting to program a PIC16C56 with PIC16F54 hex code will fail. (2) Forgetting that OTP memory cannot be erased - any code-protection lock bit set will permanently prevent verification of the original firmware. (3) Assuming the internal RC oscillator is available - the PIC16C5X requires an external RC/XT/HS/LP oscillator; only the watchdog has an internal RC source.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance confirmed per Besenchips and Partstack distributor listings (accessed 2026-09-16). REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations should be obtained from Microchip's most recent material declaration; AEC-Q100 is not relevant for this non-automotive-grade part.
