PIC16C72A-04I/SS - 4MHz 8-Bit CMOS MCU, 3.5KB OTP, SSOP-28
MPN: PIC16C72A-04I/SS β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.48 | $3.48 |
| 10 | $3.13 | $31.30 |
| 100 | $2.79 | $279.00 |
| 500 | $2.42 | $1,210.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.1 | $2,100.00 |
PIC16C72A-04I/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a programmable integrated circuit that executes instructions one byte at a time on an internal data bus. It belongs to the broader category of microcontrollers -> microprocessors -> digital ICs -> integrated circuits -> semiconductors. The PIC16C72A sits inside Microchip's PIC16C mid-range family (PIC16C -> PIC16 -> PIC mid-range -> 8-bit PIC architecture -> Harvard RISC), uses separate program and data buses (Harvard architecture) for deterministic single-cycle instruction execution, and is part of the OTP-based 'C' subfamily that is one-shot programmable.
Key differentiating features of this part include its high-performance 200 ns instruction cycle, 13-bit program counter capable of addressing up to 8K x 14 words, 25 mA source/sink current per I/O pin for direct LED and relay drive, an internal RC oscillator option for reduced BOM, and ultra-low standby current (typically 1 uA at 3V/32 kHz). The 22 I/O lines and flexible peripheral set make it well-suited for closed-loop control tasks.
The PIC16C72A is built on a low-power CMOS process with 5V typical operating voltage. Its 8-bit ALU plus 14-bit instruction word gives a code density advantage over byte-wide 8-bit MCU architectures, while the CCP and SSP peripherals offload complex timing and serial-communication tasks from software. The integrated 8-bit ADC samples up to 5 analog channels at a rate sufficient for thermistor, potentiometer, and battery-monitoring feedback loops.
Typical applications include industrial sensor interfaces, motor control (small DC fans, solenoids), appliance control boards, automotive body electronics (non-safety subsystems), security-system keypads, and general-purpose embedded control in cost-sensitive products. The wide operating voltage range (2.5V to 6.0V) and high I/O drive strength allow direct interfacing to 5V actuators without level shifters.
When designing with this part, account for the OTP (one-time-programmable) memory: code must be 100% verified before final programming because the device cannot be erased. Use the JW (windowed) package variant, PIC16C72A-04/JW, for prototype development so that UV erasure is possible, then move to the SSOP or PIC cost-down version for production.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, parameter-by-parameter comparison with pin-compatible PIC16F flash alternatives and same-package speed variants, and design notes not found on a single manufacturer product page - including a 6V absolute-maximum warning that is not always highlighted in datasheet summaries.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C72A-04I/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 PIC16C72A-04I/SS (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Timers, Program Memory Size, ADC, Core Architecture, Lead-Free / RoHS.
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| Device Family | PIC16C72A (PIC16C mid-range) |
| Core Architecture | 8-bit Harvard RISC |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) OTP |
| RAM | 128 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | Not present (OTP subfamily) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns (at 20 MHz, derated to 4 MHz for this -04 suffix) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 6.0 V |
| Supply Voltage (Typical Datasheet Spec) | 4.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 5 channels, 8-bit resolution |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0 8-bit, Timer1 16-bit, Timer2 8-bit) |
| CCP Module | 1 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Serial Communication | 1x SSP - SPI or I2C mode |
| Brown-out Reset (BOR) | Yes |
| I/O Source/Sink Current | 25 mA / 25 mA per pin |
| Standby Current (32 kHz, 3V) | 1 uA typical |
| Operating Current (5V, 4 MHz) | 15 uA typical (per data snippet) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, I suffix) |
| Package Type | 28-SSOP (Shrink Small Outline Package), 5.30 mm body width |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Lead-free finish; RoHS compliance per Microchip product page |
PIC16C72A-04I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 β Bidirectional I/O / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 β Bidirectional I/O / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 β Bidirectional I/O / Analog input channel 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ β Bidirectional I/O / Analog input channel 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4/T0CKI β Bidirectional I/O / Timer0 external clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/SS/AN4 β Bidirectional I/O / SSP slave select / Analog input channel 4 |
| Pin 7 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 8 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Oscillator crystal output / clock output (Fosc/4) |
| Pin 9 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI β Bidirectional I/O / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 10 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 β Bidirectional I/O / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 output |
| Pin 11 | RC2/CCP1 β Bidirectional I/O / CCP1 (PWM) output |
| Pin 12 | RC3/SCK/SCL β Bidirectional I/O / SSP SPI clock or I2C clock |
| Pin 13 | RC4/SDI/SDA β Bidirectional I/O / SSP SPI data in or I2C data |
| Pin 14 | RC5/SDO β Bidirectional I/O / SSP SPI data out |
| Pin 15 | RC6/TX/CK β Bidirectional I/O / USART TX or clock (note: USART not present on PIC16C72A; pin functions as digital I/O) |
| Pin 16 | RC7/RX/DT β Bidirectional I/O / USART RX or data (digital I/O on PIC16C72A) |
| Pin 17 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 18 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (2.5V-6.0V) |
| Pin 19 | RB0/INT β Bidirectional I/O / External interrupt input |
| Pin 20 | RB1 β Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 21 | RB2 β Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 22 | RB3 β Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 23 | RB4 β Bidirectional I/O (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 24 | RB5 β Bidirectional I/O (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 25 | RB6/PGC β Bidirectional I/O / ICSP clock input |
| Pin 26 | RB7/PGD β Bidirectional I/O / ICSP data input/output |
| Pin 27 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT β Bidirectional I/O / alternate oscillator output |
| Pin 28 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN β Bidirectional I/O / alternate oscillator input |
Typical Applications
PIC16C72A-04I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface, Small DC Motor and Solenoid Control, Appliance Control Boards, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), Security System Keypads and Access Control, General Embedded Control and Hobby Projects.
Industrial Sensor Interface
The PIC16C72A-04I/SS fits industrial sensor interface boards because its 5-channel 8-bit ADC samples analog inputs at rates sufficient for thermocouple-amplified, thermistor, pressure-transducer, and 4-20 mA loop signals. With 22 I/O pins the part can directly switch indicator LEDs and drive relay coils at 25 mA source/sink, eliminating driver transistors. The 2.5V-6.0V VDD range accepts 24V industrial buses after a 5V regulator, while the -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade handles factory-floor thermal stress. The PIC16C72A-04I/SS family is widely used in sensor-conditioning front ends for HVAC controllers and process-monitoring instruments where the OTP cost advantage is decisive and field firmware updates are unnecessary.
Recommended
Small DC Motor and Solenoid Control
The PIC16C72A-04I/SS controls small brushed DC motors, solenoids, and valve actuators through its Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module. The 10-bit PWM resolution (derived from Timer2) generates a control signal from 0% to 100% duty cycle, while 25 mA I/O source/sink current directly drives low-side N-channel MOSFETs such as the 2N7002 or drives small relays without an extra buffer stage. The 4 MHz instruction cycle delivers deterministic 200 ns response times to encoder feedback, and the 8-bit ADC measures back-EMF for closed-loop speed regulation. Typical uses include HVAC damper actuators, vending-machine dispensers, and appliance pump control where 3.5 KB OTP code density is sufficient.
Recommended
Appliance Control Boards
The PIC16C72A-04I/SS is widely deployed in white-goods control boards for washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, and refrigerators. Its 22 I/O lines handle keypad scanning, seven-segment LED multiplexing, buzzer control, and triac-fired AC load switching. The SSP peripheral provides SPI master mode to drive LED drivers such as the MCP23S17 or to communicate with EEPROM for parameter storage (despite the PIC16C72A lacking internal data EEPROM, an external 25LCxxx SPI EEPROM can be added). At 5V/4 MHz the part consumes 15 uA typical, dropping to 1 uA standby, which suits Energy Star standby requirements.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
The PIC16C72A-04I/SS is a fit for non-safety automotive body-electronics modules such as seat controllers, mirror-adjust modules, interior lighting, and accessory drivers. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade covers cabin thermal stress though for under-hood applications an AEC-Q100 qualified part such as PIC16F72-I/SS would be preferred. The 5-channel ADC monitors switch positions and potentiometers (such as mirror-adjust or seat-position feedback), while the CCP module generates PWM signals for LED dimming and motor speed control. OTP-based code locks prevent field firmware tampering, an important consideration for OEM cost control.
Recommended
Security System Keypads and Access Control
The PIC16C72A-04I/SS handles keypad scanning, RFID reader interfacing, and alarm-loop supervision in security-system keypads and access-control panels. The 22 I/O matrix drives 4x4 key matrices without an external key encoder, and the SSP peripheral in I2C mode connects to PCF8574-style I/O expanders for additional zone inputs. The 5-channel ADC monitors battery voltage and PIR-sensor analog signals, ensuring low-battery detection and tamper supervision. The 1 uA standby current at 3V/32 kHz extends battery life during AC-power loss, while OTP memory prevents code extraction - a defense-in-depth security feature against reverse engineering.
Recommended
General Embedded Control and Hobby Projects
The PIC16C72A-04I/SS is an accessible entry point for students, hobbyists, and OEM engineers building general embedded control projects, with Microchip's MPLAB X IDE and PICkit 3 programmer supporting development on the JW (windowed) variant, PIC16C72A-04/JW. With 35 single-word instructions, 200 ns instruction execution, and 3.5 KB OTP program memory, the part teaches Harvard architecture fundamentals while delivering real-world peripheral integration (ADC, PWM, I2C, SPI). The 28-SSOP package is breadboard-friendly with SSOP-to-DIP adapter PCBs, and the wide 2.5 V-6.0 V supply range allows the same board to run from 3 AA cells or a 5V USB rail.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C72A-04I/SS β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C72A-04/SS | PIC16C72A-20I/SS | PIC16F72-I/SS | PIC16F73-I/SS | PIC16C72AT-04I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) |
| Program Memory Type | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB Flash | 4 KB Flash | 3.5 KB OTP |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 192 bytes | 128 bytes |
| ADC Channels x Resolution | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Key Differentiators
- OTP cost advantage for mature locked designs (vs PIC16F72-I/SS)
- Highest speed bin at 4 MHz - relaxed timing margins (vs PIC16C72A-20I/SS)
- Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade (vs PIC16C72A-04/SS)
Design Notes
The PIC16C72A-04I/SS operates from 2.5 V to 6.0 V (typical 4.0 V to 5.5 V datasheet spec). For 5V designs place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor directly between VDD (pin 18) and VSS (pin 17) with the shortest possible trace length to suppress switching transients during CCP PWM edges. Add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor on the same rail if the supply is shared with inductive loads. The brown-out reset (BOR) module holds the part in reset until VDD rises above the BOR threshold (~4.0 V typical); do not disable BOR unless your supply is already supervised externally.
Layout the 28-SSOP land pattern per IPC-7351 SSOP-28 with 0.65 mm pitch and a thermal pad is not required for this MCU. Place the decoupling cap on VDD within 2 mm of pin 18 to minimize parasitic inductance; place the crystal or resonator within 5 mm of OSC1 (pin 7) and OSC2 (pin 8), keeping the oscillator traces short and guarded by a ground pour. Route analog inputs (RA0-RA5) away from switching digital lines (RC2-CCP1, RB6-ICSP) to prevent ADC crosstalk. The 5.30 mm body width leaves adequate room for 0.20 mm traces between SSOP pads.
Three pitfalls deserve attention. First, the PIC16C72A-04I/SS uses OTP (one-time-programmable) EPROM: any code bug is permanent - use the JW (windowed) package variant, PIC16C72A-04/JW, for development. Second, the absolute maximum VDD is 6.0 V; applying 6.5 V or higher from a poorly regulated wall adapter will destroy the device. Third, do not assume the CCP1 and CCP2 module naming is the same as the PIC16F877A: PIC16C72A has only one CCP module (CCP1 on RC2) and a separate Enhanced CCP on RC1 (CCP2); verify the register map against DS30361 before porting code from PIC16F877A examples.
Compliance Information
RoHS-compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free finish. Industrial temperature grade only; not AEC-Q100 qualified - select PIC16F72-I/SS for automotive applications.
