PIC16C57-RC/SP - 8-bit EPROM MCU, 4MHz, 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C57-RC/SP ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.02 | $3.02 |
| 10 | $2.85 | $28.50 |
| 100 | $2.6 | $260.00 |
| 500 | $2.4 | $1,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.33 | $2,330.00 |
PIC16C57-RC/SP Overview
An EPROM/ROM-based 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory (here, EPROM), working RAM, and I/O peripherals. It belongs to the broader hierarchy: microcontroller -> embedded MCU -> semiconductor IC. The PIC16C5X architecture uses a RISC-style PIC16 CPU core with 12-bit-wide instructions and an 8-bit data path, achieving roughly 2:1 code compression over typical 8-bit CISC competitors and roughly 100 ns instruction execution at 4 MHz. A two-level deep hardware stack supports subroutine nesting, and direct, indirect, and relative addressing modes cover both data and instruction fetches.
Key features of the PIC16C57-RC/SP include an 8-bit real-time clock/counter (TMR0) with programmable prescaler, integrated Watchdog Timer (WDT) for safe recovery from code lockup, Power-On Reset (POR) and Brown-Out Reset (BOR) for reliable startup across noisy supplies, and a low-power SLEEP state that minimizes quiescent draw. Peripherals include two timers (TMR0 + WDT prescaler block), 20 GPIO lines, and an EPROM program memory that allows code development before committing to a ROM mask. The device is windowed/OTP-programmable via Microchip's PRO MATE II or MPLAB PM3 programmers.
Technically, the PIC16C5X core uses a single accumulator (W register) and a small register file of seven or eight special-function hardware registers. The Harvard-style separate program and data buses mean program fetches and data accesses do not contend, and the 12-bit instruction word keeps code density high. With only 33 single-word instructions, the assembly language is intentionally simple, easing porting across the PIC16C5X sub-family. The architecture is well documented in Microchip's PICmicro Mid-Range Reference Manual.
Typical applications for the PIC16C57-RC/SP include low-cost consumer appliances, simple sensor signal conditioning, hobby and education projects, replacement of discrete logic in glue-controller roles, and legacy industrial controls where a proven, mature MCU is preferred over newer flash parts. The wide 3.0-6.25 V supply range also supports battery-powered and 5 V industrial backplanes.
When designing with the PIC16C57-RC/SP, allocate I/O carefully because only 20 of the 28 package pins are usable as general-purpose I/O; the remaining pins are VDD, VSS, OSC1/OSC2, and MCLR. Use RC oscillator mode (denoted by "-RC") to minimize BOM cost versus a crystal, and place decoupling capacitors (100 nF ceramic) within a few millimeters of VDD/VSS. Confirm programmer socket compatibility with PRO MATE II or MPLAB PM3 and source OTP-windowed units only when field re-programmability is required.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C57-RC/SP — 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 PIC16C57-RC/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Watchdog Timer, Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C57-RC/SO
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View Datasheet →PIC16C57-LPI/SP
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View Datasheet →PIC16C57-HSI/SP
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View Datasheet →PIC16C57-HS/P
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View Datasheet →PIC16C57-LP/P
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$1.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57C-20/SO
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$2.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F57-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C57-RC/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| Series | PIC16C5X (PIC16 family) |
| CPU Core | PIC16 RISC, 12-bit instruction word, 8-bit data path |
| Program Memory Type | EPROM (OTP / windowed variants) |
| Program Memory Size | 2 KB (2048 x 12 words) |
| Data RAM | 72 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Execution | ~100 ns at 4 MHz (one instruction per 4 clocks) |
| Instruction Set | 33 single-word instructions |
| Stack Depth | 2 levels (hardware) |
| I/O Pins | 20 (PORTA 4-bit, PORTB 8-bit, PORTC 8-bit) |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit TMR0 with programmable prescaler + WDT |
| Reset / Brown-out | Power-On Reset (POR), Brown-Out Reset (BOR) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (independent WDT with on-chip RC oscillator) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 3.0 V to 6.25 V (3.3 V / 5 V typical) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial, RC suffix) |
| Oscillator Mode (-RC) | External RC oscillator on OSC1/OSC2 |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (Skinny Plastic DIP) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
PIC16C57-RC/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master Clear (Reset) input, active low |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 6 | OSC1 — Oscillator input / RC timing input |
| Pin 7 | OSC2 — Oscillator output / RC timing node |
| Pin 8 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 9 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 10 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 11 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 12 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 13 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 14 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 15 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 16 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 17 | RB0 — PORTB bit 0 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 18 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 19 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 20 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 21 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 22 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 23 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 24 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 25 | VDD — Positive supply (3.0-6.25 V) |
| Pin 26 | VDD — Positive supply (3.0-6.25 V, second VDD pin) |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground reference (second VSS pin) |
| Pin 28 | VSS — Ground reference (third VSS pin) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C57-RC/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Consumer Appliance Controllers, Legacy Industrial Control Replacement, Hobby and Education Projects, Sensor Signal Conditioning Front-End, Battery-Powered Remote Controls, Automotive Aftermarket Accessories (Pre-2010 Platforms).
Consumer Appliance Controllers
The PIC16C57-RC/SP's 2 KB EPROM, 20 GPIO, and 4 MHz PIC16 RISC core make it well suited to low-cost consumer appliances such as coffee makers, rice cookers, simple washing-machine timers, and small kitchen devices. The EPROM programmability allows locked firmware once the appliance design is finalized, while the integrated Watchdog Timer and Brown-Out Reset protect against brown-outs and code lockup in noisy mains-powered environments. The RC oscillator mode minimizes BOM cost versus a crystal, which is critical in cost-per-market consumer designs where even $0.10 of BOM matters. With 33 single-word instructions and 2:1 code compression, the 2 KB program space is sufficient for state-machine control of relays, triacs, and 7-segment displays in mid-volume appliances.
Recommended
Legacy Industrial Control Replacement
Many installed industrial systems rely on the PIC16C57-RC/SP for glue logic: relay sequencing, indicator LED driving, simple sensor scanning, and stepper-motor pulse generation. Its 3.0-6.25 V supply tolerates the 5 V backplanes common in industrial cabinets, while the integrated POR and BOR blocks ensure clean startup on noisy 24 V-derived rails. The 20 GPIO pins comfortably drive small H-bridges, optocouplers, and panel indicators, and the TMR0 + WDT prescaler block provides both timing and safe-recovery functions for unattended machinery. Because the part is now NRND, factories that need to maintain aging equipment use it as a direct cross-reference spare, sometimes migrating to the flash PIC16F57-I/SP for in-circuit firmware updates.
Recommended
Hobby and Education Projects
Universities, technical schools, and hobbyists use the PIC16C57-RC/SP to teach microcontroller fundamentals because the PIC16C5X instruction set has only 33 single-word instructions that can be hand-assembled in a classroom setting. The 28-SPDIP package is breadboard-friendly and the EPROM-based part forces students to plan code carefully before programming, reinforcing good design discipline. The integrated Watchdog Timer, POR, and BOR teach reset-topology concepts that scale to modern Cortex-M parts. With a 4 MHz CPU clock and ~100 ns instruction cycle, students can still achieve meaningful I/O toggling rates for LED chasers, simple PWM, and serial bit-banging exercises.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning Front-End
In low-speed sensor front-ends, the PIC16C57-RC/SP reads thermistor, photoresistor, or simple 4-20 mA loops through its 20 GPIO, applies digital filtering, and drives indicator LEDs or relay outputs. The 4 MHz CPU clock is more than adequate for 10 Hz sensor sampling with software averaging, and the 72 bytes of RAM suffice for moving-average buffers of 4-8 samples. The internal POR and BOR blocks protect against supply transients common in industrial sensor cabling. The RC oscillator reduces cost in multi-channel distributed sensor modules where a crystal would be a significant fraction of the per-channel BOM. The 2 KB EPROM stores calibration coefficients and threshold tables.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Controls
For simple IR or RF remote controls where the device is mostly idle, the PIC16C57-RC/SP paired with the low-power (LP) oscillator variant gives multi-year battery life on 2-3 AA cells. The PIC16C5X core supports a SLEEP mode that drops current to a few microamps, waking on TMR0 overflow or pin change to scan a button matrix and emit a coded IR pulse. The 20 GPIO easily handle a 4x4 keypad matrix plus status LEDs, and the 2 KB EPROM stores manufacturer codes, button maps, and partner-device pairing tables. The 3.0 V minimum supply allows direct operation from two fresh alkaline cells without a boost converter.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Accessories (Pre-2010 Platforms)
Although NRND, the PIC16C57-RC/SP still appears in pre-2010 automotive aftermarket accessories such as alarm modules, remote-keyless entry controllers, and simple lighting controllers, where the mature design history and wide temperature operation (when sourced as -I or -E variants) provide proven reliability. The 4 MHz CPU clock is sufficient for 100 Hz task scheduling of indicator lamps, relays, and piezo buzzer drivers, and the EPROM-based memory is considered a security feature against casual firmware extraction. Designers maintaining these platforms typically migrate to the flash-based PIC16F57-I/SP or PIC16F1847 for new SKUs while keeping the PIC16C57-RC/SP as the service-spare reference.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C57-RC/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C57-RC/SO | PIC16C57-LPI/SP | PIC16C57-HSI/SP | PIC16C57-HS/P | PIC16F57-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SPDIP-28 | SOIC-28 (same pinout) | SPDIP-28 (same) | SPDIP-28 (same) | PDIP-28 (same) | SPDIP-28 (same) |
| Program Memory | 2 KB EPROM (2048 x 12) | 2 KB EPROM | 2 KB EPROM | 2 KB EPROM | 2 KB EPROM | 2 KB Flash (re-programmable) |
| Max CPU Clock | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz (HS variant) | 20 MHz (HS variant) | 20 MHz |
| Oscillator Mode | External RC | External RC | Low-power (LP) | High-speed crystal (HS) | High-speed crystal (HS) | Configurable (LP/XT/HS/RC) |
| Data RAM | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Programming Interface | EPROM OTP / PRO MATE II | EPROM OTP | EPROM OTP | EPROM OTP | EPROM OTP | Flash + ICSP (in-circuit serial programming) |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | Active |
Key Differentiators
- RC oscillator mode eliminates BOM cost versus crystal parts (vs PIC16C57-HSI/SP)
- Skinny SPDIP package fits narrower through-hole layouts (vs PIC16C57-HS/P (standard PDIP))
- Mature EPROM-based design proven in long-running field deployments (vs PIC16F57-I/SP (flash successor))
Design Notes
The PIC16C57-RC/SP operates from 3.0 V to 6.25 V; place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD/VSS pair (the 28-SPDIP has two VDD and three VSS pins - tie them all). For battery applications, the internal POR keeps the device in reset until VDD crosses the brown-out threshold (~3.0 V), preventing code execution at unsafe voltages. The RC oscillator mode draws slightly more current than the LP crystal mode at the same CPU clock, so for battery designs prefer the PIC16C57-LPI/SP variant.
The "-RC" suffix indicates an external RC network on OSC1/OSC2, with frequency approximately f = 1/(3 RC) for 5 V operation. Add a series resistor (typically 100 ohm) between OSC2 and the RC tank if the layout is near noise sources. Frequency tolerance is typically +/- 5% over commercial temperature and +/- 10% across supply voltage, so do not use RC mode for UART baud-rate-critical designs without calibration.
Common mistakes when using the PIC16C57-RC/SP include: (1) forgetting to enable the Watchdog Timer in CONFIG, leaving the MCU unprotected; (2) tying MCLR directly to VDD instead of through a 10 kohm pull-up with a manual reset switch; (3) attempting to use ports as analog inputs - the PIC16C57 has no ADC, so analog signals must be conditioned externally; (4) over-driving RA3/T0CKI as an output while using TMR0 in counter mode; (5) confusing the 28-SPDIP ("/SP") with the wider 28-PDIP ("/P") footprint, which has different row spacing.
The 28-SPDIP footprint has a pin pitch of 1.778 mm (0.07 in) and row spacing of 7.62 mm (0.30 in) versus 15.24 mm (0.60 in) for the wider 28-PDIP. Confirm footprint dimensions before laying out the PCB. Keep OSC1/OSC2 traces short and shield them with a ground pour to minimize radiated EMI from the RC oscillator. Provide test points on MCLR, VDD, and one PORTB pin for in-circuit debugging.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free and halogen-free status not explicitly provided in the Verified Web Data; flagged as 'unknown' pending datasheet or manufacturer letter of compliance. AEC-Q100 not qualified - the PIC16C57-RC/SP is not recommended for new automotive designs; the commercial 0-70C temperature range is suitable for industrial/consumer use only.
