PIC16C72-04E/SS - 8-bit MCU 3.5KB EPROM 22 I/O | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C72-04E/SS β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.5 | $7.50 |
| 10 | $6.75 | $67.50 |
| 100 | $5.95 | $595.00 |
| 500 | $5.2 | $2,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.55 | $4,550.00 |
PIC16C72-04E/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a processor core, program memory, working RAM, and peripheral interfaces. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16C72 belongs to the 8-bit microcontroller category, then to the RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) microcontrollers family, then to the mid-range PIC16Cxx series, and finally to power management and embedded control semiconductors. Microcontrollers are the workhorses of embedded electronics, providing deterministic real-time response at low cost and low power.
Key differentiating features of the PIC16C72-04E/SS include its OTP (One-Time Programmable) EPROM program memory, which allows rapid prototyping and small-to-medium production runs; an integrated 8-bit A/D converter with multiple input channels that eliminates the need for an external ADC IC; an asynchronous serial port (USART/SCI) for communication with PCs, sensors, or other MCUs; and a 22 I/O count with programmable weak pull-ups that reduce BOM cost by eliminating external resistors.
Architecturally, the PIC16C72 uses a Harvard RISC core with a 14-bit instruction word, allowing most instructions to execute in a single cycle. The CMOS process technology yields very low power consumption, making the device suitable for battery-powered or energy-harvesting applications. The integrated peripherals (A/D, USART, timers, capture/compare/PWM) eliminate the need for many external components.
Typical applications include industrial control and sensor interfacing, automotive body electronics, appliance control, low-cost data acquisition, embedded instrumentation, and consumer electronics. The wide operating voltage (2.5 V to 5.5 V) and broad temperature range (-40C to +125C) make it well-suited for harsh-environment and battery-powered systems.
A key design consideration is the EPROM-based program memory: once programmed, the PIC16C72 cannot be electrically erased, so it is best used for production units rather than iterative development. For development cycles, designers should consider the flash-based PIC16F72 (same pinout, same peripherals, in-circuit reprogrammable) as a directly compatible alternative.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers select, source, and design with the PIC16C72-04E/SS more efficiently.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C72-04E/SS 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 PIC16C72-04E/SS (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C72-04I/SS
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$4.42 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F72-I/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F73-I/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C72-04E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC RISC (Harvard) |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB OTP EPROM |
| Data RAM | 128 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | Not present |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 8-bit, multi-channel |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) |
| CCP Modules | Capture / Compare / PWM |
| Serial Interface | USART/SCI (Asynchronous) |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Industrial, "E" suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
PIC16C72-04E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP β Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 β PORTA bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 β PORTA bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 β PORTA bit 2 / analog input 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF β PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI β PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS β PORTA bit 5 / analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI β PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 β PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 β PORTC bit 2 / Capture Compare PWM 1 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL β PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA β PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO β PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK β PORTC bit 6 / USART async transmit / USART sync clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT β PORTC bit 7 / USART async receive / USART sync data |
| Pin 19 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD β Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT β PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 22 | RB1 β PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 β PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3 β PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RB4 β PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 β PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC β PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD β PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC16C72-04E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface Module, Automotive Body Electronics, Low-Cost Data Acquisition System, Appliance Control Board, Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Embedded Instrumentation Front-End.
Industrial Sensor Interface Module
The PIC16C72-04E/SS fits industrial sensor-interface modules because its integrated 8-bit ADC with multiple input channels directly digitizes analog sensor signals (temperature, pressure, flow) without external ADC hardware, while the USART enables reliable RS-232/RS-485 communication with PLCs or supervisory controllers. At 4 MHz the MCU delivers 4 MIPS, sufficient for digital filtering, calibration, and HART-style protocol framing. With 22 I/O pins, designers can connect multiple sensors plus discrete outputs for relay or solenoid drivers within a single chip. The 2.5 V to 5.5 V range allows direct operation from 24 V industrial bus rails via simple linear regulation, and the extended -40 C to +125 C temperature grade handles factory-floor, outdoor cabinet, and process-plant deployments. Estimated system BOM savings versus discrete ADC + MCU approaches typically reach 30-40 percent.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
The PIC16C72-04E/SS is well-suited to automotive body-electronics modules (window lifters, mirror adjusters, lighting controllers, HVAC blend-door actuators) thanks to its extended -40 C to +125 C temperature grade, integrated 8-bit ADC for sensing motor current and position feedback, and PWM-capable CCP modules for variable-speed motor drive. The 22 I/O count easily accommodates H-bridge enable lines, limit switches, and LIN-bus-style serial interfaces. Operating from 2.5 V to 5.5 V, the part tolerates automotive crank-cold and load-dump events when paired with a TVS-protected 5 V regulator. The OTP EPROM program memory is appropriate for high-volume production where firmware is locked. Estimated quiescent current in sleep is below 1 microampere typical, supporting key-off parasitic-drain budgets on body modules.
Recommended
Low-Cost Data Acquisition System
The PIC16C72-04E/SS serves low-cost multi-channel data-acquisition front-ends because its integrated multi-channel 8-bit ADC, 128-byte RAM, and USART combine into a single-chip digitizer that streams samples to a host PC or display. At 4 MHz the ADC conversion rate supports sub-kHz sampling on multiple channels sequentially, adequate for temperature, voltage, and current logging. The 22 I/O lines allow external multiplexer expansion to 64+ channels for higher-density logging. The wide 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range supports battery-powered portable loggers (e.g., two AA cells) as well as USB-powered bench instruments. With 3.5 KB EPROM the firmware can include sensor linearization, statistical averaging, and SD-card command framing when paired with an external serial-memory IC.
Recommended
Appliance Control Board
The PIC16C72-04E/SS targets appliance controls (washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, refrigerators) where the integrated ADC reads temperature and water-level sensors, the CCP/PWM outputs drive triac-gate optocouplers or solid-state relays, and the USART interfaces with inverter boards and display modules. The 22 I/O count comfortably handles 7-segment display drive, keypad scanning, and buzzer control alongside the load-driver outputs. The extended -40 C to +125 C grade ensures reliability in oven or compressor-adjacent locations. OTP EPROM is well-matched to appliance production runs of 10k+ units where code-locking is desired. Estimated firmware space at 3.5 KB supports full state-machine control with fault diagnostics, EEPROM emulation in flash-shadow RAM, and serial diagnostic protocols.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC16C72-04E/SS fits battery-powered wireless sensor nodes because its CMOS RISC core draws microamp-level sleep currents, the integrated ADC handles battery-voltage monitoring and sensor digitization, and the wide 2.5 V to 5.5 V range supports direct operation from 3.6 V lithium-thionyl-chloride or 3.3 V Li-Ion chemistries without boost regulation. The 22 I/O pins accommodate SPI/serial connection to sub-GHz transceivers (e.g., CC1101), external sensor chips, and a low-battery LED indicator. At 4 MHz the MCU wakes, samples, transmits, and returns to sleep within milliseconds, multiplying battery life. The -40 C to +125 C range is essential for outdoor or industrial-environment deployments. Estimated node lifetime with a 2.4 Ah primary cell exceeds 10 years at 1 sample-per-hour duty cycle.
Recommended
Embedded Instrumentation Front-End
The PIC16C72-04E/SS serves as a front-end controller for embedded instrumentation (handheld multimeters, oscilloscope front-ends, signal generators, laboratory data loggers) where its integrated ADC and PWM are paired with external precision op-amps and references to digitize analog signals. The USART streams processed data to a host display or PC interface. The 22 I/O count accommodates rotary-encoder inputs, button matrices, LCD segment drive, and trigger logic. The extended temperature grade supports outdoor and laboratory-environment operation. With 3.5 KB EPROM the firmware fits auto-ranging algorithms, RMS calculation, peak detection, and USB-CDC command handling when paired with a USB-to-serial bridge IC. Estimated measurement throughput supports update rates above 10 samples per second on multiple channels.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C72-04E/SS β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C72-04I/SS | PIC16F72-I/SS | PIC16F73-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SSOP-28 | SSOP-28 - same | SSOP-28 - same | SSOP-28 - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB EPROM | 3.5 KB EPROM | 3.5 KB Flash | 4 KB Flash |
| Data RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 192 bytes |
| Max Clock Frequency | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| ADC | 8-bit, 5 channels | 8-bit, 5 channels | 8-bit, 5 channels | 8-bit, 5 channels |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature grade for harsh-environment deployment (vs PIC16C72-04I/SS)
- EPROM-based lockable firmware for production cost optimization (vs PIC16F72-I/SS)
- Same SSOP-28 footprint as PIC16F72 for development-to-production migration (vs PIC16C72-04/SO (SOIC-28 variant))
Design Notes
The PIC16C72-04E/SS operates from 2.5 V to 5.5 V; estimate the supply current at 4 MHz active mode as approximately 2 mA typical (per datasheet DC characteristics). In sleep mode the part draws less than 1 microampere typical, which is critical for battery-backed designs. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 20), with a 10 microfarad bulk capacitor on the supply rail. For noisy industrial environments add a ferrite bead in series with VDD and a TVS diode for transient protection.
The PIC16C72-04E/SS uses OTP EPROM (One-Time Programmable) memory that cannot be electrically erased - once programmed, the part is locked. This makes the PIC16C72 family unsuitable for iterative development; prototypes should use the PIC16F72 (flash-based, same pinout) instead. Configuration bits (fuses) such as the watchdog timer, oscillator mode, and code protection must be set correctly at programming time; incorrect configuration bits can brick the device. The MCLR pin (pin 1) requires a proper reset circuit (10 kohm pull-up to VDD plus 100 nF to ground) for reliable operation.
For the 28-pin SSOP package, route the analog signals (RA0-RA5) away from digital switching traces to minimize ADC noise coupling. Place a ground plane on the layer beneath the MCU and connect all VSS pins (8 and 19) directly to the ground plane with short, wide traces. The oscillator traces (OSC1/OSC2) should be as short as possible and surrounded by ground pour. The MCLR trace should be kept short and routed away from high-current switching nodes to prevent false resets.
The SSOP-28 package has a thermal resistance (theta JA) of approximately 90 C/W. Estimated: at 4 MHz active mode and 5 V supply, the MCU draws approximately 2 mA, dissipating roughly 10 mW. At 25 C ambient, junction temperature rise is only 0.9 C - well within safe limits. In sleep mode at 1 microampere typical, dissipation is negligible. Thermal management is rarely a concern for this part at its low operating power; however, in enclosed high-temperature environments (>85 C ambient), verify junction temperature stays below 125 C maximum.
Compliance Information
PIC16C72-04E/SS is a legacy EPROM-based MCU marked obsolete by Microchip. Specific RoHS / REACH compliance status not provided in the verified web data; treat as unknown until confirmed from the manufacturer product page or lot-specific documentation.
