PIC16F54T-E/SS - 8-Bit PIC MCU, 768B Flash, 20MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F54T-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.78 | $0.78 |
| 10 | $0.7 | $7.00 |
| 100 | $0.6 | $60.00 |
| 500 | $0.54 | $270.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.48 | $480.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.42 | $1,260.00 |
PIC16F54T-E/SS Overview
Background: An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, volatile data memory, and programmable I/O peripherals. The PIC16F5X family sits within Microchip's original PICmicro architecture hierarchy - 8-bit MCU -> mid-range MCU -> PIC16 family - targeting low-pin-count, low-cost embedded control. With only 33 single-word instructions, the PIC16F54 is one of the simplest PICmicro devices, optimized for cost-sensitive, deterministic control loops where code size and BOM cost matter more than peripheral richness.
Key features include: 12 I/O ports with independent direction control, on-chip Power-on Reset (POR), a Watchdog Timer (WDT) with its own on-chip RC oscillator for reliable recovery, a 4-bit prescaler shared between WDT and Timer0, and in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) via two pins. The wide 2.0V-5.5V supply range supports both 3.3V and 5V rails. Code protection prevents unauthorized read-out of on-chip Flash.
Architecturally, the device uses a 12-bit-wide instruction word with a 2:1 code compression advantage versus competitive 8-bit MCUs, allowing 768 bytes of program memory to hold approximately 512 single-word instructions. Harvard architecture separates program and data buses, and most instructions execute in a single 200 ns cycle (5 MHz instruction rate at 20 MHz oscillator), simplifying real-time control math. The Extended temperature grade makes the 'E' variant suitable for automotive and industrial environments.
Typical applications include automotive body controllers, industrial sensor interfaces, low-end appliance control, LED driver sequencers, and battery-powered IoT edge nodes where deterministic timing and small footprint are priorities. The 12 I/O pins comfortably drive multiple switches, relays, or PWM outputs via firmware bit-banging.
Design consideration: Place a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor close to VDD, and follow Microchip's recommended ICSP layout (ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT lines) if in-field firmware updates are required. The Watchdog Timer should be enabled in any unattended embedded application to recover from firmware lock-ups.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F54T-E/SS — 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 PIC16F54T-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory Size, Watchdog Timer, Timers, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F54-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F54T-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F54-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.88 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F57-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F59-E/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54C-04/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F54T-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Program Memory Type | Flash |
| Program Memory Size | 768 bytes |
| RAM Size | 25 bytes |
| CPU Core | PIC16 (8-bit RISC) |
| Instruction Set Size | 33 single-word instructions |
| Instruction Word Width | 12 bits |
| Max Clock Speed | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (Timer0 with 4-bit prescaler) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator) |
| Power-on Reset | Yes (on-chip POR) |
| ICSP | Yes (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| ADC | None |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (Extended grade) |
| Package | SSOP-20 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16F54T-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — I/O port A bit / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | /MCLR — Master Clear (Reset, active low) |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — I/O port B bit / External interrupt |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit / ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit / ICSP data |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / Clock out |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / External clock |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit |
Typical Applications
PIC16F54T-E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive Body Electronics, Industrial Sensor Interface, LED Lighting Sequencers, Low-End Appliance Control, Battery-Powered IoT Edge Nodes, Hobbyist and Educational Projects.
Automotive Body Electronics
The PIC16F54T-E/SS Extended temperature grade (-40C to +125C) suits automotive body controllers including mirror adjusters, seat controllers, and HVAC damper drivers. With 12 I/O pins and 20 MHz clock, the MCU reads switch inputs and drives relays or H-bridges in deterministic 200 ns cycles. Its 768-byte Flash holds ~512 instructions - enough for state-machine-based logic without external EEPROM. Pin-compatible with PIC16F54-I/SS variants for non-extreme-temp zones.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface
In industrial sensor-conditioning nodes the PIC16F54T-E/SS digitizes analog signals via its I/O ports and bit-banged ADC techniques, or interfaces directly to digital sensors over GPIO. Its 2.0V-5.5V supply range supports both 3.3V and 5V transducer rails without level shifters. The 33-instruction RISC core simplifies deterministic sampling loops, while the 20 MHz clock delivers 5 MIPS for real-time filtering. SSOP-20 keeps PCB footprint under 30 mm^2.
Recommended
LED Lighting Sequencers
The PIC16F54T-E/SS drives multichannel LED sequencers in architectural lighting and signage by bit-banging PWM on its 12 I/O pins at up to 20 MHz. Each PWM period is divided into timer-driven intervals, with the 25-byte RAM holding the channel duty-cycle table. The 768-byte Flash easily accommodates chase, fade, and rainbow patterns. Its wide 2.0V-5.5V supply tolerates USB-powered and 5V-regulated LED strips equally well.
Recommended
Low-End Appliance Control
Small kitchen and home appliances (rice cookers, fans, coffee grinders) use the PIC16F54T-E/SS as the main controller because its 12 I/O pins drive relays, triacs, and seven-segment displays directly while 768 bytes of Flash hold the timing state machine. Extended temperature grade (-40C to +125C) tolerates hot enclosures near heating elements. In-circuit serial programming (ICSP) allows last-minute firmware adjustments on the production line.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Edge Nodes
Low-duty-cycle IoT edge devices such as remote controls, wireless sensors, and BLE beacons leverage the PIC16F54T-E/SS's low active current and 2.0V minimum supply for direct Li-ion or 2x AA battery operation. The 12 I/O pins interface to pushbuttons, LEDs, and a UART-connected radio module, while the Watchdog Timer with on-chip RC oscillator guarantees recovery from radio lock-ups. SSOP-20 footprint suits coin-cell PCBs under 20 mm diameter.
Recommended
Hobbyist and Educational Projects
Students, makers, and hobbyists adopt the PIC16F54T-E/SS because of its 33-instruction RISC core - the simplest PIC architecture to learn from scratch. Projects include blinking-LED trainers, motor-speed controllers, and digital dice. ICSP programming via a PICkit 3 or PICkit 4 lets students re-flash firmware in seconds. The SSOP-20 package requires a SOIC-breakout PCB for breadboard use; the SOIC-20 'E/SO' variant is friendlier for hand-soldering.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F54T-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F54-I/SS | PIC16F54T-E/SO | PIC16F54-E/SO | PIC16F57-I/SS | PIC16C54C-04/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SSOP-20 | SSOP-20 - same | SSOP-20 - same | SSOP-20 - same | SSOP-20 - same | SSOP-20 - same |
| Program Memory | 768 bytes Flash | 768 bytes Flash | 768 bytes Flash | 768 bytes Flash | 2 KB Flash | 768 bytes OTP |
| RAM | 25 bytes | 25 bytes | 25 bytes | 25 bytes | 72 bytes | 25 bytes |
| Max Clock Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 20 | 12 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Program Memory Type | Flash | Flash | Flash | Flash | Flash | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade (vs PIC16F54-I/SS)
- SSOP-20 compact package vs SOIC-20 (vs PIC16F54T-E/SO)
- Flash reprogrammability vs OTP (vs PIC16C54C-04/SS)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin and a bulk 1uF-10uF capacitor on the supply rail. The PIC16F54T-E/SS operates from 2.0V to 5.5V; for noisy 5V rails add an RC filter (10 ohm + 0.1uF) to suppress supply glitches that could trigger spurious /MCLR events. Estimated power consumption at 5V/20 MHz is approximately 5-10 mA active, dropping to sub-microamp in sleep mode.
Route the /MCLR line away from high-current switching traces to avoid induced reset pulses; pull /MCLR high through a 10 kohm resistor with optional 100 nF capacitor for noise immunity. If using ICSP, route ICSPCLK (RB6) and ICSPDAT (RB7) with short, parallel traces and avoid crossing high-impedance analog signals to minimize programming-voltage interference.
Configuration bits (FOSC, WDTE, /PWRTE, CP) must be set correctly or the device may fail to start. The PIC16F54T-E/SS has no on-chip oscillator - you must select HS, XT, LP, or RC oscillator mode via the FOSC configuration word matching your external oscillator or resonator. Always enable the Watchdog Timer (WDTE configuration bit) in unattended embedded applications to recover from firmware lock-ups.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 qualification status not confirmed in verified web data - confirm with Microchip FAE for automotive PPAP. Halogen-free status not stated in verified data.
