PIC16C72T-20/SS - 20MHz 8-Bit PIC MCU, 3.5KB EPROM, 28-SSOP
MPN: PIC16C72T-20/SS β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.85 | $9.85 |
| 10 | $8.95 | $89.50 |
| 100 | $7.95 | $795.00 |
| 500 | $6.85 | $3,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.95 | $5,950.00 |
PIC16C72T-20/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and peripheral blocks (A/D converters, timers, communication controllers). MCUs are the foundational building blocks of embedded systems, found in everything from washing machines to industrial controllers. The PIC16C7X family specifically targets cost-sensitive applications requiring integrated analog: an 8-bit ADC, capture/compare/PWM, and serial connectivity, all in 28- and 40-pin packages. RISC architecture (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) means the CPU executes most instructions in a single clock cycle, achieving high throughput at moderate clock rates.
Key features of the PIC16C72T-20/SS include 20 MHz maximum clock input (200 ns instruction cycle), 35 single-word instructions, an operating voltage of 2.5 V to 5.5 V, and an operating temperature range suitable for commercial (0 C to +70 C) use. The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) for field upgrades and uses OTP (one-time-programmable) EPROM technology for program memory, which is ideal for low- to mid-volume production.
Architecturally, the PIC16C72 uses a Harvard-style memory map with separate program (14-bit wide) and data (8-bit wide) buses, a 2-level hardware stack, and 8 special-function registers mapped into the data memory. The integrated 8-bit ADC delivers a typical conversion time of 19.2 us at 20 MHz, and the USART supports asynchronous and synchronous serial communication at up to several hundred kbps.
Typical applications include industrial control and monitoring (sensor interfacing, valve drivers), appliance control (consumer white goods with ADC inputs), automotive body electronics (when paired with the PIC16C72T-20I/SS industrial-temperature variant), instrumentation and data acquisition, and low-end motor control with PWM-driven H-bridges. The integrated A/D simplifies designs that would otherwise require an external ADC.
When designing with this part, note that OTP memory cannot be erased, so the firmware must be fully validated before programming. For development, use the PIC16C72-20/SP (windowed ceramic DIP) or the PIC16F72 flash-based equivalent; the production programmer should use ICSP for fast factory programming. The 28-SSOP package has a modest thermal footprint suitable for commercial environments, but engineers should still follow standard decoupling guidelines (100 nF plus 10 uF near the supply pins).
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in SSOP-28 alternatives (including the flash-based PIC16F72 and the industrial-temperature PIC16C72T-20I/SS), and practical design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet, so engineers can make a fast, informed selection.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C72T-20/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 PIC16C72T-20/SS (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Program Memory Type, ADC, Program Memory Size, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C72T-20I/SS
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.52 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C72-20I/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C72-20/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C715T-20/SS
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C711T-20I/SS
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F72-I/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C72T-20/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | PIC 16C |
| Core Processor | PIC16 |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Architecture | RISC (Harvard) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| RAM Size | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns (1-cycle for most instructions) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 22 |
| Number of Instructions | 35 single-word |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 C to +70 C (Commercial) |
| ADC | 8-bit, 5 channels |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit |
| Communication Interfaces | SSP (SPI/I2C), USART |
| Package | 28-SSOP (0.209", 5.30 mm width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Programming Method | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| RoHS Status | Non-RoHS (legacy part, not REACH/RoHS compliant) |
PIC16C72T-20/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 β PORTA bit 2 / Analog input channel 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ β PORTA bit 3 / Analog input channel 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI β PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN4/SS β PORTA bit 5 / Analog input channel 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 5 | RA0/AN0 β PORTA bit 0 / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 6 | RA1/AN1 β PORTA bit 1 / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 7 | MCLR/VPP β Master clear reset (active low) / ICSP programming voltage |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI β PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 β PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / Capture Compare PWM 2 |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 β PORTC bit 2 / Capture Compare PWM 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCK/SCL β PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDI/SDA β PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO β PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC6/TX/CK β PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 17 | RC7/RX/DT β PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 18 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 19 | VDD β Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 20 | RB0/INT β PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt input |
| Pin 21 | RB1 β PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 22 | RB2 β PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 23 | RB3/PGM β PORTB bit 3 / ICSP programming clock |
| Pin 24 | RB4 β PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 25 | RB5 β PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 26 | RB6/PGC β PORTB bit 6 / ICSP programming clock |
| Pin 27 | RB7/PGD β PORTB bit 7 / ICSP programming data |
| Pin 28 | VSS β Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC16C72T-20/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Monitoring, Appliance Control Boards, Automotive Body Electronics (Industrial Temp Variant), Data Acquisition Front Ends, Low-End Motor Control (PWM-Driven H-Bridge), Legacy Embedded Replacement / Field Service Stocking.
Industrial Sensor Monitoring
The PIC16C72T-20/SS fits industrial sensor monitoring because its 5-channel 8-bit ADC, 22 I/O pins, and USART/SSP serial interfaces cover the analog front end and the comms backhaul for sensor nodes. At 20 MHz the MCU can sample each analog input with deterministic timing and process the value within 19.2 us conversion cycles, leaving enough bandwidth for averaging and threshold detection. The 3.5 KB OTP EPROM holds the application firmware and calibration tables for fixed-function sensors (pressure, temperature, level). The 28-SSOP package supports high-density board placement in PLC modules and distributed I/O blocks where a 5 V supply is already present.
Recommended
Appliance Control Boards
The PIC16C72T-20/SS is well suited to consumer appliance control (washing machines, dishwashers, small kitchen appliances) thanks to its integrated ADC for temperature and water-level sensing, PWM outputs via the 16-bit timer for motor and valve control, and low unit cost. The 22 I/O pins can drive LED indicators, relay coils, and triac control inputs. Running at 5 V, the MCU operates directly from the appliance's main logic rail without a regulator. The commercial 0 C to +70 C range covers normal indoor environments, and the 3.5 KB OTP EPROM holds the fixed behavior table for the appliance's state machine.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Industrial Temp Variant)
For non-safety automotive body electronics (window lift controllers, HVAC blend doors, interior lighting), the PIC16C72T-20I/SS industrial-temperature variant is the recommended part, sharing the same 28-SSOP footprint and peripherals as the target. The MCU's 5-channel ADC reads NTC thermistors and potentiometer positions, while the PWM outputs drive small DC motors. The 128 bytes of RAM and 3.5 KB EPROM hold the lookup table for soft-start curves. Designers should pick the I-grade variant for under-hood and cabin modules and follow automotive EMI practices for the 5 V supply rail.
Recommended
Data Acquisition Front Ends
The PIC16C72T-20/SS handles multi-channel data acquisition front ends in test & measurement and process instrumentation. The 8-bit ADC samples up to 5 channels with a 19.2 us conversion time at 20 MHz, and the USART/SSP ports stream the data to a host controller or display. The Harvard architecture and 35 single-cycle instructions deliver predictable interrupt latency, which is essential for timed sampling. With 3.5 KB OTP EPROM, the firmware is fixed once tuned to the sensor conditioning circuit. The 28-SSOP package is suited to compact 4-layer data acquisition boards.
Recommended
Low-End Motor Control (PWM-Driven H-Bridge)
The PIC16C72T-20/SS drives low-end DC and small BLDC motor control through the 16-bit timer's PWM module and the 8-bit timer's input capture. The 20 MHz clock supports PWM frequencies up to ~78 kHz at 8-bit resolution, suitable for DC brushed motors and small stepper drives. The 22 I/O pins control direction, brake, current-sense enable, and fault inputs. The integrated ADC monitors the motor current shunt for overcurrent protection. The 3.5 KB EPROM holds the speed profile tables, and the USART connects to a host control panel for variable-speed commands.
Recommended
Legacy Embedded Replacement / Field Service Stocking
The PIC16C72T-20/SS is most commonly purchased today as a long-term stock of the original part for legacy industrial equipment service and field repair. Many production lines, test fixtures, and OEM appliances shipped with this MCU in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and the only true identical replacement is a new-old-stock (NOS) device in the original 28-SSOP package. Distributors carry the part for aftermarket replacement, and the recommended approach for designers is to migrate to the flash-based PIC16F72 family while keeping the PIC16C72T-20/SS for service inventory.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C72T-20/SS β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C72T-20I/SS | PIC16C72-20I/SS | PIC16C72-20/SS | PIC16C715T-20/SS | PIC16F72-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP (0.209", 5.30 mm) | 28-SSOP - same footprint | 28-SSOP - same footprint | 28-SSOP - same footprint | 28-SSOP - same footprint | 28-SSOP - same footprint |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB OTP EPROM (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB OTP EPROM | 3.5 KB OTP EPROM | 3.5 KB OTP EPROM | 2 KB OTP EPROM | 3.5 KB Flash |
| RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Temperature Range | 0 C to +70 C (Commercial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | 0 C to +70 C (Commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (Commercial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| ADC | 8-bit, 5 channels | 8-bit, 5 channels | 8-bit, 5 channels | 8-bit, 5 channels | 8-bit, 4 channels | 8-bit, 5 channels |
| Number of I/O | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 22 |
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM (one-time) | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | Flash (reprogrammable) |
| RoHS Compliance | Non-RoHS (legacy) | Non-RoHS (legacy) | Non-RoHS (legacy) | Non-RoHS (legacy) | Non-RoHS (legacy) | RoHS compliant (modern) |
Key Differentiators
- Same SSOP-28 footprint with industrial temperature grade for harsher environments (vs PIC16C72T-20I/SS)
- Flash-based reprogrammable memory for field firmware updates (vs PIC16F72-I/SS)
- Higher ADC channel count and more program memory than entry-level PIC16C711 (vs PIC16C711T-20I/SS)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 19) and the VSS pin (pin 18) of the 28-SSOP package. Add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor at the board-level supply to suppress transients from the 20 MHz oscillator. The PIC16C72T-20/SS operates from 2.5 V to 5.5 V; for 5 V applications a simple LDO is sufficient. Keep the analog VDD trace short and consider a ferrite bead if the analog ADC performance is critical.
The 28-SSOP package has a 0.65 mm pitch, so PCB layout requires careful pad design. Route the MCLR/VPP line (pin 7) with a short trace to the ICSP header; the MCLR pull-up resistor (typically 10 kohm) should be near the pin. Place the 20 MHz crystal or resonator within a few millimeters of OSC1 (pin 8) and OSC2 (pin 9), with short symmetric traces, to avoid EMI radiation. Keep the analog RA0-RA5 inputs away from digital switching lines to minimize ADC noise coupling.
Do not assume PIC16C72T-20/SS firmware can be re-flashed: the OTP EPROM is one-time-programmable, so all firmware bugs must be fixed before production programming. For development, use the windowed ceramic DIP PIC16C72-20/JW or the flash-based PIC16F72-I/SS. The 'T' suffix means tape-and-reel SMT packaging, not a different die. The commercial temperature grade (0 C to +70 C) is not suitable for outdoor industrial use; choose the I-suffix variant for industrial -40 C to +85 C operation. Finally, the device is non-RoHS; for new lead-free designs, switch to the flash-based PIC16F72 family.
Compliance Information
Legacy OTP EPROM part; non-RoHS (lead-bearing termination finish). Not AEC-Q100 qualified; choose PIC16C72T-20I/SS industrial variant for harsh environments. The C-suffix OTP parts are EOL/NRND per Microchip's product lifecycle system. For new designs, Microchip recommends migrating to the flash-based PIC16F72 family which is RoHS compliant and supports field reprogramming.
