PIC16C774T/L - 8-Bit 20MHz OTP MCU 7KB 44-PLCC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C774T/L ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $12.45 | $12.45 |
| 10 | $11.2 | $112.00 |
| 100 | $9.85 | $985.00 |
| 500 | $8.4 | $4,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $7.15 | $7,150.00 |
PIC16C774T/L Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU core, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and configurable peripherals. PIC16C-series parts sit at the entry of the 8-bit PIC16 family hierarchy, sitting under PIC18 (16-bit opcodes, more peripherals) and above PIC12/PIC14 sub-families. The 16C line uses one-time-programmable EPROM (the 'C' suffix historically denoted CMOS EPROM), giving it permanent, in-circuit-routable code storage with no in-system reprogramming.
Key features include 35 single-word instructions, an external oscillator interface, programmable code protection, a power-on reset (POR), brown-out reset (BOR), watchdog timer (WDT), in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) via two pins, and a wide 4.5V-5.5V supply range typical for legacy industrial embedded systems. The instruction set is upwards-compatible with PIC16C6x/7x/8x devices, allowing code reuse and easy migration to flash-based PIC16F relatives for modern designs.
Technically, the PIC16C774T/L uses a 14-bit-wide instruction word with a RISC-style single-cycle fetch except for branches. Its 12-bit ADC with up to 8 channels suits sensor and instrumentation signal chains, while the three timers (Timer0/1/2) handle event counting, PWM, or real-time interrupts. The 'T' suffix designates Tape & Reel packaging and the 'L' suffix indicates the 44-lead PLCC J-lead package.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, sensor signal conditioning front-ends, legacy instrumentation with RS-232/RS-485 links, building automation controllers, and printed-circuit-board test fixtures. It also fits brown-field replacements in long-life equipment where original OTP firmware must continue to run.
When designing with this part, note that OTP memory cannot be re-flashed; budget a flash-based PIC16F774 or PIC18F equivalent for field updates. Use proper decoupling (100 nF + 10 uF) near VDD/AVDD/VSS pins, and verify ADC reference stability with a 10 uF cap on VREF+.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in Microchip alternatives, and PCB-layout notes not found in the original manufacturer datasheet DS30275A, giving engineers a single reference for sourcing decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C774T/L — 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 PIC16C774T/L (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Size, Core Architecture, Package, Mounting Type, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C774T-I/L
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C774-I/L
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C774T-E/L
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C774-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C774/JW
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C765-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C774T/L Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Core Clock Speed | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| RAM Size | 256 x 8 bytes |
| Number of I/O Pins | 33 |
| Number of ADC Channels | 8 |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns (5 MIPS) |
| Instruction Set Size | 35 single-word instructions |
| Supply Voltage | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
| Oscillator Type | External |
| Connectivity | I2C, SPI, UART/USART |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) |
| Package / Case | 44-PLCC (16.59 x 16.59 mm) J-Lead |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (TR) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16C774T/L Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / ADC channel 2 / ADC negative reference |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / ADC channel 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear reset (active low) / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / ADC channel 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 6 | RE0/RD/AN5 — PORTE bit 0 / parallel port read / ADC channel 5 |
| Pin 7 | RE1/WR/AN6 — PORTE bit 1 / parallel port write / ADC channel 6 |
| Pin 8 | RE2/CS/AN7 — PORTE bit 2 / parallel port chip select / ADC channel 7 |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI — External oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO — External oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (4.5V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 14 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 15 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 16 | RB3/PGM — PORTB bit 3 / low-voltage programming |
| Pin 17 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 18 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 19 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 20 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 21 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock |
| Pin 22 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 |
| Pin 23 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 24 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 25 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 26 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 27 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / UART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 28 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / UART receive / USART data |
| Pin 29 | RD0/PSP0 — PORTD bit 0 / parallel slave port bit 0 |
| Pin 30 | RD1/PSP1 — PORTD bit 1 / parallel slave port bit 1 |
| Pin 31 | RD2/PSP2 — PORTD bit 2 / parallel slave port bit 2 |
| Pin 32 | RD3/PSP3 — PORTD bit 3 / parallel slave port bit 3 |
| Pin 33 | RD4/PSP4 — PORTD bit 4 / parallel slave port bit 4 |
| Pin 34 | RD5/PSP5 — PORTD bit 5 / parallel slave port bit 5 |
| Pin 35 | RD6/PSP6 — PORTD bit 6 / parallel slave port bit 6 |
| Pin 36 | RD7/PSP7 — PORTD bit 7 / parallel slave port bit 7 |
| Pin 37 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 38 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 39 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 40 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (4.5V to 5.5V) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C774T/L is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Legacy Instrumentation with RS-232/RS-485 Links, Building Automation Controllers, Brown-Field Replacement for Legacy OTP Firmware, Printed-Circuit-Board Test Fixtures and ATE, Educational and Hobbyist Microcontroller Learning Platforms.
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16C774T/L fits industrial sensor signal-conditioning front-ends where its 12-bit 8-channel ADC digitizes 4-20 mA loop signals, thermocouple outputs, and bridge-pressure sensors. Its 33 digital I/O drives relay coils, LED indicators, and opto-isolated digital outputs typical of PLC-adjacent I/O modules. With 7 KB of OTP program memory, designers can implement calibration tables, linearization routines, and HART-like protocol stacks. The 20 MHz core executes 5 MIPS, comfortably handling 100 Hz closed-loop PID cycles. Compared to pure analog front-ends, the MCU enables software-configurable gain, filter coefficients, and alarm thresholds stored in OTP for tamper-proof deployment.
Recommended
Legacy Instrumentation with RS-232/RS-485 Links
The PIC16C774T/L powers legacy instrumentation panels that communicate via UART/USART links to RS-232 or RS-485 transceivers. Its hardware USART handles up to 115200 baud with hardware flow control, suitable for Modbus RTU slave implementations common in factory-floor SCADA nodes. The 256-byte RAM supports a 32-byte Modbus register map and UART receive buffers. The 12-bit ADC captures process measurements (temperature, pressure, flow) with 0.024% resolution (1 LSB of 4096), adequate for most process-control telemetry. Because the OTP memory cannot be re-flashed, deployed firmware is tamper-proof, satisfying field-locked regulatory environments.
Recommended
Building Automation Controllers
The PIC16C774T/L fits building-automation controller nodes for HVAC, lighting, and access-control subsystems where deterministic response time and code immutability are valued. Its three timers generate PWM outputs for damper actuators and dimmer phases; its I2C peripheral drives digital temperature/humidity sensors (e.g., SHT series), and SPI drives LED driver chains or EEPROM for logging. The 35-instruction RISC kernel keeps code density high, allowing complex scheduling logic in 7 KB of OTP. The 44-PLCC SMT package suits compact wall-mount enclosures with constrained PCB area.
Recommended
Brown-Field Replacement for Legacy OTP Firmware
The PIC16C774T/L is the canonical drop-in part for brown-field maintenance of legacy equipment already running PIC16C774 OTP firmware binaries. Re-programming the deployed firmware is impossible (OTP), so any maintenance swap must use the same die. The 'T' tape-and-reel suffix supports SMT assembly lines, while the 'L' 44-PLCC matches original PCB land patterns. The 33 I/O and 12-bit ADC preserve firmware-visible peripheral mapping bit-for-bit, allowing identical hex files to run on the replacement part without re-validation. This is the primary use case in 2026 for the still-active PIC16C774T/L stock.
Recommended
Printed-Circuit-Board Test Fixtures and ATE
The PIC16C774T/L's 33 I/O and 20 MHz throughput make it a competent controller for in-circuit test (ICT) fixtures and automated test equipment (ATE) that exercises UUTs via bed-of-nails interfaces. Its parallel-port-mapped I/O ports (PORTA-PORTE) drive 5 V logic directly, suitable for legacy CMOS/TTL UUT interfaces. The 12-bit ADC digitizes UUT analog responses to within 0.024% LSB precision. Code immutability via OTP prevents unauthorized fixture firmware modification in production environments, preserving test calibration integrity.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Microcontroller Learning Platforms
The PIC16C774T/L retains a niche in educational laboratories and hobbyist projects where students learn PIC assembly language on the canonical 14-bit core. Its 35 single-word instructions are easy to teach by hand, and the 12-bit ADC exercises register-level configuration without abstraction layers. With MPLAB-X and PICkit programmers still supporting legacy PIC16C OTP devices, instructors can demo authentic OTP programming workflows. The 44-PLCC socket-mountable variant fits standard breadboard adapters, and same-family PIC16C773/PIC16C775 variants allow multi-project lab kits.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C774T/L — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C774T-I/L | PIC16C774T-E/L | PIC16C774-I/P | PIC16C774/JW | PIC16C765-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-PLCC (16.59x16.59 mm) | 44-PLCC (16.59x16.59 mm) - same | 44-PLCC (16.59x16.59 mm) - same | 40-PDIP - different footprint | 40-Ceramic DIP windowed - different footprint | 40-PDIP - different footprint |
| Program Memory | 7 KB (4K x 14) OTP | 7 KB (4K x 14) OTP | 7 KB (4K x 14) OTP | 7 KB (4K x 14) OTP | 7 KB (4K x 14) OTP (UV-erasable window) | 7 KB (4K x 14) OTP |
| RAM Size | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Core Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial windowed) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial, USB added) |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
Key Differentiators
- 44-PLCC SMT package for high-density assemblies (vs PIC16C774-I/P)
- Industrial temperature grade variant available with identical die (vs PIC16C774T-E/L)
- Broader operating temperature coverage than PIC16C773 family (vs PIC16C773T-I/SO)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD pins (pin 11 and pin 40) with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor in parallel with a 10 uF tantalum or electrolytic capacitor, placed within 5 mm of each VDD pin. AVSS shares pin 39 with VSS but the ADC reference chain is sensitive to digital switching noise - use a separate analog ground island for VREF+/VREF- if precision ADC readings are required.
The PIC16C774T/L is OTP (one-time programmable) - any misprogramming or wrong fuse setting bricks the part permanently. Always verify config-word settings (oscillator selection, watchdog, code-protect, brown-out) with a known-good programmer before mass production. Estimate: programming yield of <1% wrong-config bricks is acceptable, but a batch error is not recoverable.
The 44-PLCC J-lead footprint requires PCB land pads with 0.050 inch (1.27 mm) pitch and exposed pad-to-pad spacing of 16.59 mm. Maintain a continuous ground plane under the IC body for thermal dissipation; the 44-PLCC package dissipates up to 1 W at 20 MHz with all 33 I/O active. Keep the OSC1/OSC2 traces short (<10 mm) and surrounded by ground to minimize EMI coupling into the analog reference chain.
The 12-bit ADC achieves 0.024% resolution (1/4096) but only with a low-impedance reference. The VREF+/VREF- pins (shared with RA3/RA2) must be driven from a low-noise source; a 10 uF + 100 nF capacitor pair at VREF+ is mandatory. Avoid switching high-current signals through RA2-RA5 during ADC conversions - halt ADC and switch ports, or use RBx for digital-only I/O.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. PIC16C OTP family is NRND as of 2026; AEC-Q100 grade is not available for PIC16C774 - choose PIC16F874-Q1 for automotive.
