PIC16LC505-04/P - 1.5KB EPROM 8-bit MCU | Microchip | 14-PDIP
MPN: PIC16LC505-04/P β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.65 | $1.65 |
| 10 | $1.49 | $14.90 |
| 100 | $1.32 | $132.00 |
| 500 | $1.18 | $590.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.05 | $1,050.00 |
PIC16LC505-04/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip microcomputer integrating a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory, timers/counters, and I/O peripherals on a single CMOS die. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16LC505 sits at: 8-bit MCU -> RISC microcontroller -> embedded controller -> microcontroller -> semiconductor IC. The 'LC' suffix denotes a low-voltage CMOS variant optimized for 2.5 V to 5.5 V operation, while the '04' suffix indicates the 4 MHz maximum clock speed.
Key features include In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP), Power-on Reset (POR), Device Reset Timer (DRT), a Watchdog Timer (WDT) with a dedicated on-chip RC oscillator, programmable code protection, and internal weak pull-ups on I/O pins. The EPROM-based program memory allows prototype and small-volume production while retaining full PIC architectural compatibility with mask-ROM PIC16C505 variants, easing long-term firmware portability.
The architecture combines a 12-bit instruction word with a Harvard-style separate program and data bus, executed by a two-stage pipeline. At 4 MHz, instruction throughput is 5 MIPS with deterministic 200 ns single-cycle execution; the device operates over a 2.5 V to 5.5 V range and an industrial temperature span of -40 C to +85 C (industrial grade).
Typical applications include low-cost consumer appliances, battery-powered remote sensors, LED driver controllers, simple motor control logic, and educational/hobbyist embedded platforms where through-hole PDIP is preferred for breadboard or hand-soldered prototyping.
Design consideration: although the LC variant tolerates down to 2.5 V, EEPROM/EPROM write and programming operations require VDD within the upper half of the supply range; ensure decoupling with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of VDD/GND.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, parametric comparisons, and practical design notes that complement the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LC505-04/P 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 PIC16LC505-04/P (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C505-04/P
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F505-I/P
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F506-I/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LC505-04I/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C505-04I/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LC505-04/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) |
| RAM Size | 72 x 8 (72 bytes) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 12 |
| CPU Speed | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns |
| Instruction Set Width | 12-bit |
| Instruction Count | 33 single-word instructions |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Oscillator Type | External |
| Package / Case | 14-DIP (PDIP), 0.300 inch / 7.62 mm |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C |
| Peripherals | WDT, POR, DRT, ICSP, weak pull-ups |
| Code Protection | Programmable |
| MSL Level | Not applicable (through-hole) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LC505-04/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (2.5 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 2 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 3 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 4 | MCLR/VPP β Master clear reset (active low) / programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | GP0/RB0 β General-purpose I/O / ICSP PGD |
| Pin 6 | GP1/RB1 β General-purpose I/O / ICSP PGC |
| Pin 7 | GP2/RB2 β General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 8 | GP3/RB3 β General-purpose I/O (input only) |
| Pin 9 | GP4/RB4 β General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 10 | GP5/RB5 β General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 11 | RB6 β General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 12 | RB7 β General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 13 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 14 | VSS β Ground reference (per datasheet 14-PDIP pinout) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LC505-04/P is suitable for 6 applications: Consumer Appliance Controllers, Battery-Powered Remote Sensors, LED Driver Controllers, Simple Motor Control Logic, Educational and Hobbyist Platforms, Field-Replaceable Industrial Modules.
Consumer Appliance Controllers
The PIC16LC505-04/P fits consumer appliance controllers thanks to its 1.5 KB EPROM, 12 I/O pins, and 4 MHz RISC core, which together handle simple state machines for toasters, fans, coffee makers, and kitchen timers. Its 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range accommodates 3.3 V or 5 V rails directly from rectified mains adapters. Compared with PIC16F-series alternatives, the OTP EPROM cost advantage is meaningful in sub-$10 high-volume appliances, while the WDT and POR blocks provide robustness against brown-out events common in motor-driven loads.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Sensors
The PIC16LC505-04/P supports battery-powered remote sensors by combining a low-voltage 2.5 V operating floor (compatible with 2x AA alkaline cells declining to ~2.4 V at end-of-life) with the LP (low-power) oscillator mode for sub-microwatt sleep currents. The 12-bit instruction set and 200 ns cycle time let the core wake, read a sensor via I/O, and return to sleep with minimal energy budget. The integrated WDT on dedicated RC oscillator eliminates an external watchdog IC, shrinking BOM for sealed sensor enclosures.
Recommended
LED Driver Controllers
The PIC16LC505-04/P functions well as an LED driver controller, with 12 I/O pins capable of multiplexing 7-segment displays or driving multiple LED strings via MOSFET gates through PWM-like bit-banging at the 200 ns instruction cycle. The 33-instruction RISC core implements breathing/colour-mixing animations efficiently while the OTP EPROM locks the colour profile at production. The 4 MHz throughput and 5 MIPS deliver smooth 50 Hz/60 Hz flicker-free PWM at 8-bit resolution without hardware peripherals.
Recommended
Simple Motor Control Logic
The PIC16LC505-04/P serves as simple motor control logic for low-DC brushed motors, solenoids, or stepper sequencing. With 12 I/O pins and 4 MHz throughput, the core can drive a half-bridge or full-bridge pre-driver directly through GPIO, implementing start/stop, direction reversal, and soft-start ramps in firmware. The 2.5 V to 5.5 V VDD range suits 3.3 V or 5 V logic-level gate drivers, while WDT and POR ensure safe motor state recovery after brown-outs in industrial 24 V environments with simple LDO pre-regulation.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Platforms
The PIC16LC505-04/P is widely used in educational and hobbyist platforms because its through-hole 14-pin PDIP is breadboard-friendly and hand-solderable, eliminating reflow equipment. The PIC16C505 architecture is taught in many microcontroller courses for its clean 33-instruction RISC model, 12-bit instruction word, and clear Harvard memory separation. ICSP support via GP0/GP1 lets students program and re-flash the device in-circuit using a PICkit 3 or similar programmer, accelerating learning cycles despite OTP limitations.
Recommended
Field-Replaceable Industrial Modules
The PIC16LC505-04/P is suited to field-replaceable industrial modules because its through-hole PDIP withstands mechanical stress and can be socketed for easy field swap-out. Its 2.5 V to 5.5 V range, industrial -40 C to +85 C operating temperature, and robust WDT with dedicated RC oscillator deliver predictable behaviour in PLC I/O expansion, sensor signal conditioning front-ends, and isolated serial-to-parallel converters. The OTP EPROM locks firmware against accidental field rewrites that could compromise safety certifications.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LC505-04/P β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C505-04/P | PIC16F505-I/P | PIC16F506-I/P | PIC16LC505-04I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 14-PDIP (0.300 inch) | 14-PDIP (0.300 inch) - same | 14-PDIP (0.300 inch) - same | 14-PDIP (0.300 inch) - same | 14-PDIP (0.300 inch) - same |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM / mask ROM | Flash | Flash | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) |
| RAM Size | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 67 bytes | 72 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| CPU Speed | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Internal Oscillator | No (external) | No (external) | Yes (4 MHz) | Yes (8 MHz) | No (external) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest voltage floor in PIC16C505 family at 2.5 V vs 3.0 V (vs PIC16C505-04/P)
- OTP EPROM cost advantage over Flash variants (vs PIC16F505-I/P)
- Through-hole PDIP form factor for prototyping and field-replaceable modules (vs PIC16F506-I/P)
- Industrial operating temperature range explicitly specified (vs PIC16C505-04/P)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD (pin 1) and a bulk 10 uF electrolytic at the supply entry. The PIC16LC505-04/P draws peak current spikes during oscillator transitions; without local decoupling, these can inject noise into the analog sections of mixed-signal boards. For battery applications, add a series ferrite bead on VDD to suppress conducted noise from DC-DC converters.
Keep oscillator traces short and surround them with a ground guard ring. For XT mode use a parallel-resonant crystal with 20-33 pF load capacitors tied to VSS; for LP mode use 68-100 pF. Route MCLR (pin 4) away from oscillator and high-current traces to avoid spurious resets. Through-hole PDIP gives generous creepage distance, so no special clearance rules apply under 50 V working voltage.
Do not assume the OTP EPROM is erasable; once programmed, the PIC16LC505-04/P cannot be rewritten. For prototype development, buy units marked 'windowed' (PIC16C505 JW package) or switch to PIC16F505 Flash. The configuration-word oscillator mode must be set explicitly; leaving it at the default can cause the device to fail to start with no external crystal. Estimated: total GPIO toggling latency = 2 instruction cycles (400 ns at 4 MHz) due to read-modify-write PORT register hazards - design critical sections accordingly.
The 12 GP/RB pins have weak internal pull-ups (typically 100-500 kohm) suitable only for switch-contact debouncing, not for driving LED loads. For LED driving, use external current-limiting resistors and ensure total source/sink current per pin does not exceed 25 mA, with package total below 200 mA. ICSP programming uses GP0/PGD and GP1/PGC - leave these accessible in production designs or include a 2x3 header footprint for in-circuit programming.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose AEC-Q100-graded PIC MCUs (e.g., PIC16F18313-I/P) for automotive. Industrial temperature grade available as PIC16LC505-04I/P.
