PIC16C57-XTE/P - 8-Bit 4MHz 3KB OTP MCU 28-PDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C57-XTE/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.7839 | $7.78 |
| 10 | $7.1 | $71.00 |
| 100 | $6.45 | $645.00 |
| 500 | $5.85 | $2,925.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.2 | $5,200.00 |
PIC16C57-XTE/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU core, program memory, working RAM, and programmable I/O peripherals. The PIC16C5X family belongs to the baseline 8-bit MCU category within Microchip's broader PIC® microcontroller hierarchy (baseline PIC10/12/16 -> mid-range PIC16 -> enhanced mid-range PIC16/18 -> 16-bit PIC24 -> 32-bit PIC32). It sits below the popular PIC16F and PIC18 families in capability but above simple 6-pin PIC10F devices in pin count and feature set. OTP EPROM-based MCUs are typically chosen for cost-sensitive, mature, or high-volume production designs where the program is finalized at build time and does not require field re-programmability.
Key features include 33 single-word instructions, two 8-bit timer/counters (TMR0 and TMR1-equivalent watchdog), a watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator, 4 MHz internal/external clock input, power-on reset, power-saving SLEEP mode, and 20 high-current source/sink I/O pins capable of directly driving LEDs. The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) via RB6/RB7 pins when used in compatible configurations, although the OTP die does not permit field erasure. Code protection bits and oscillator selection fuses are configured at program time.
Architecturally, the PIC16C5X uses a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, a 12-bit program counter addressing up to 2K words of OTP EPROM, and a 7-bit RAM address space mapping 72 bytes of general-purpose registers plus peripheral control registers. The ALU is 8-bit wide; arithmetic, logical, and bit-manipulation instructions all execute in a single cycle except branches (2 cycles). This compact, deterministic instruction set is why PIC MCUs remain popular for hard-real-time control loops in appliance, automotive, and industrial applications.
Typical applications for the PIC16C57-XTE/P include appliance control boards (washing machines, microwave ovens, dishwashers), HVAC thermostat and damper controllers, simple sensor-interface boards, LED driver controllers, low-cost toys and consumer gadgets, industrial timer/counter modules, and automotive body electronics (interior lighting, seat controllers) where the extended temperature grade is required. The 20 I/O count and 4MHz throughput make it well suited to bit-banging protocols (UART, I2C slave, SPI slave) and direct keypad/display multiplexing.
When designing with this device, ensure the OTP window is covered with opaque label tape if the part is ever exposed to UV light during board rework, because EPROM cells can be erased by direct sunlight or UV-C. Allocate the oscillator start-up timer delay (typically 1024 Tosc) before code releases the SLEEP wakeup path, and respect the 6V absolute-maximum VDD to avoid latch-up. The 28-PDIP footprint has remained pin-compatible across the PIC16C5X baseline family for over two decades, simplifying long-life industrial designs.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C57-XTE/P — 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-XTE/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Timers, Package, Watchdog Timer, Program Memory Size, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C57-XT/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57C-20/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57-LPE/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.7 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C56-XTE/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C55-XTE/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F57-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C57-HSI/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57-XTE/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit RISC (PIC16C5X baseline) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 3 KB (2K x 12) |
| RAM | 72 bytes |
| EEPROM | 0 bytes (none) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz (XT oscillator grade) |
| Instruction Width | 12-bit |
| Number of Instructions | 33 |
| I/O Pins | 20 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (on-chip RC oscillator) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 3.25 V to 6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended, 'E' suffix) |
| Package | 28-PDIP (0.600 in / 15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| MSL Level | 1 (not moisture sensitive) |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (contains lead, PDIP) |
PIC16C57-XTE/P 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 — TMR0 real-time clock/counter input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR — Master clear reset input (active low) |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 0 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 1 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 2 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 3 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 5 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.25 V to 6 V) |
| Pin 15 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 0 |
| Pin 16 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 1 |
| Pin 17 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 2 |
| Pin 18 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 3 |
| Pin 19 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 4 |
| Pin 20 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 5 |
| Pin 21 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 6 |
| Pin 22 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 7 |
| Pin 23 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 0 |
| Pin 24 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 1 |
| Pin 25 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 26 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal oscillator output / 1/4 clock output |
| Pin 27 | T0CKI — Alternate TMR0 clock input (shared with RA4) |
| Pin 28 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 4 (open-drain, shared with T0CKI) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C57-XTE/P is suitable for 7 applications: Appliance Control Boards, HVAC Thermostat and Damper Controllers, LED Lighting Controllers, Automotive Body Electronics, Industrial Timer and Counter Modules, Low-Cost Toys and Consumer Gadgets, Sensor Interface Boards.
Appliance Control Boards
The PIC16C57-XTE/P is well-suited for appliance control boards in washing machines, microwave ovens, and dishwashers where its 3 KB OTP program memory holds the main state machine, 20 I/O pins drive relays/LEDs/keypad scanning, and the extended -40C to +125C temperature grade handles the hot under-cabinet thermal environment. The 4 MHz throughput and single-cycle RISC instructions handle multiplexed 7-segment display refresh, keypad debouncing, and triac zero-cross timing for heater and motor control loops. At ~$7.78 unit price in low volume, the part's BOM cost is competitive with discrete logic and 555-timer designs while delivering programmable flexibility for model variants.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat and Damper Controllers
The PIC16C57-XTE/P's 20 I/O count and 3 KB OTP memory fit residential and light-commercial HVAC thermostat designs that read NTC thermistor inputs, drive LCD or 7-segment displays, and switch zone dampers and fan relays. The extended temperature grade ensures reliable operation near heating elements, and the low-power SLEEP mode reduces idle consumption between sensor sampling cycles to extend battery life in wireless thermostat variants. The deterministic single-cycle instruction timing makes 1-second control loops trivial to implement without a real-time OS.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC16C57-XTE/P drives DMX-512 slave receivers, RGB color-mixing controllers, and architectural LED dimmer modules where its 20 I/O pins interface to high-current MOSFET drivers (or constant-current LED driver ICs) and its PWM-friendly 4 MHz cycle rate handles ~8-bit software PWM at refresh rates above 100 Hz. The OTP memory locks firmware for production LED fixtures to prevent unauthorized color-table modifications, and the 6V VDD tolerance simplifies 5V or 6V supply rails common in lighting applications. Cost-sensitive residential bulb designs benefit from the sub-$8 unit price.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
For non-safety-critical body electronics (interior lighting, seat-position controllers, mirror adjusters, simple sensor interfaces), the PIC16C57-XTE/P's extended -40C to +125C temperature grade and 20 I/O count support body-control modules that drive small DC motors, read potentiometers, and interface LIN or simple switch inputs. Note: this part is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified, so it must not be used in safety-critical domains (ABS, airbag, ADAS); for AEC-Q100 designs, choose PIC16F57-I/P automotive variants or PIC18F MCU families. BOM cost and long-term Microchip supply make it a common choice for late-production automotive aftermarket parts.
Recommended
Industrial Timer and Counter Modules
The PIC16C57-XTE/P serves in industrial timer/counter modules, machine-hour meters, and process-event counters where its TMR0 8-bit timer plus watchdog provide reliable long-duration timing and its 3 KB OTP memory stores calibration constants and accumulated counts. The extended temperature grade handles factory-floor thermal extremes, and the through-hole 28-PDIP package survives vibration better than surface-mount equivalents in heavy-machinery enclosures. Bit-banged UART at 9600 baud handles simple RS-232/RS-485 status reporting to PLCs.
Recommended
Low-Cost Toys and Consumer Gadgets
The PIC16C57-XTE/P is a workhorse for cost-sensitive consumer products like electronic toys, remote controls, simple kitchen gadgets, and novelty items where sub-$8 BOM cost is paramount and 3 KB of OTP memory is more than sufficient for fixed-function firmware. Its 20 I/O pins drive multiple LEDs, read button matrices, and interface to piezo buzzers, while the XT oscillator supports low-cost ceramic resonators instead of crystals to save further cost. The OTP memory locks the firmware so competitors cannot read the program code.
Recommended
Sensor Interface Boards
The PIC16C57-XTE/P reads analog sensors via external ADC (its baseline core has no internal ADC) and outputs processed values over bit-banged UART, SPI, or I2C slave protocols to a host controller. The 20 I/O count supports multi-sensor boards (temperature, humidity, pressure, flow) used in HVAC, weather stations, and IoT edge nodes. Its OTP memory locks calibration coefficients to prevent field tampering, and the 6V VDD tolerance accepts industrial 5V or 6V sensor rails without level translation.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C57-XTE/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C57-XT/P | PIC16C57C-20/P | PIC16C56-XTE/P | PIC16F57-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-PDIP | 28-PDIP - same | 28-PDIP - same | 28-PDIP - same | 28-PDIP - same |
| Program Memory | 3 KB (2K x 12) OTP EPROM | 3 KB OTP EPROM - same | 3 KB OTP EPROM - same | 1 KB OTP EPROM (-67%) | 3 KB Flash (field-erasable) |
| Max Clock Frequency | 4 MHz (XT oscillator) | 4 MHz - same | 20 MHz (+400%) | 4 MHz - same | 20 MHz (+400%) |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +125C (Extended) | 0C to +70C (Commercial) | 0C to +70C (Commercial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) - same | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM (one-time-programmable) | OTP EPROM - same | OTP EPROM - same | OTP EPROM - same | Flash (10K erase cycles) |
| RAM | 72 bytes | 72 bytes - same | 72 bytes - same | 72 bytes - same | 72 bytes - same |
| I/O Pins | 20 | 20 - same | 20 - same | 20 - same | 20 - same |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Extended industrial temperature grade vs commercial-grade siblings (vs PIC16C57-XT/P)
- 4 MHz XT oscillator (lower EMI) vs 20 MHz HS variant (vs PIC16C57C-20/P)
- 3 KB OTP EPROM vs 1 KB of PIC16C56 (vs PIC16C56-XTE/P)
- OTP EPROM security vs flash-based PIC16F57 (vs PIC16F57-I/P)
Design Notes
Estimated: When laying out the PCB, keep the 28-PDIP footprint on a 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) pitch grid with pin 1 marked clearly; the MCLR pin (4) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD to ensure proper reset, and a 100 nF decoupling capacitor must be placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin (14). The PIC16C5X baseline core is missing several mid-range features (no hardware UART, no I2C/SPI peripherals, no ADC), so any serial protocol or analog input requires bit-banged firmware and an external ADC IC. OTP memory cannot be field-erased, so development should use a PIC16F57-I/P flash equivalent for firmware iteration before committing to the OTP part for production.
The PIC16C57-XTE/P's typical operating current at 4 MHz and 5 V VDD is approximately 2-5 mA active and < 1 uA in SLEEP mode (watchdog disabled). Per the Microchip PIC16C5X datasheet, supply voltage must stay within 3.25 V to 6.0 V; operation above 6 V may degrade OTP retention over time. SLEEP mode is entered via the SLEEP instruction and exits via MCLR reset, watchdog timeout (if enabled), or external interrupt on RB0-RB3 (interrupt-on-change). Add a bulk 10 uF + 100 nF decoupling pair at the VDD pin to suppress motor-relay back-EMF noise in appliance designs.
Place the 4 MHz crystal or ceramic resonator within 10 mm of pins 25-26 (OSC1/OSC2) and guard the traces with a ground pour to reduce EMI. Avoid routing high-frequency switching signals (relay coils, triac outputs) directly under the crystal or across the OSC traces. The 28-PDIP package's large lead inductance can couple noise into VDD; add a ferrite bead in series with VDD for designs exposed to ESD or fast transients. For automotive or industrial environments, conformal coating is recommended to protect the through-hole leads from humidity and contamination.
Compliance Information
PDIP-28 package contains lead (SnPb finish on leads) and is non-RoHS-compliant per Microchip packaging specifications. REACH SVHC declarations are current. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - not for safety-critical automotive. Halogen-free molding compound per Microchip PIC16C5X baseline family datasheet. Conflict-minerals declarations available on Microchip.com.
