PIC16LC54A-04/SS - 8-bit 4MHz 768B OTP MCU SSOP-20 | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LC54A-04/SS β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.54 | $6.54 |
| 10 | $5.88 | $58.80 |
| 100 | $5.05 | $505.00 |
| 500 | $4.3 | $2,150.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.85 | $3,850.00 |
PIC16LC54A-04/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory, data RAM, and peripheral I/O on one die. Within the broader hierarchy, the PIC16LC54A belongs to: microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor -> integrated circuit. The "LC" suffix indicates a low-power CMOS variant, the "54A" identifies the specific memory/peripheral subset, and the "/SS" suffix denotes the SSOP-20 surface-mount package. The PIC16C5X family pioneered Microchip's baseline 8-bit RISC architecture with a 12-bit instruction word and a 33-instruction set, providing deterministic execution for simple control loops.
Key features include an RISC CPU core executing most instructions in a single 1 Β΅s instruction cycle (at 4 MHz oscillator), a watchdog timer for reliable unattended operation, a programmable 8-bit prescaler shared with the watchdog, and power-saving SLEEP mode. The 12 I/O pins can source/sink up to 25 mA per pin and 100 mA total, suitable for direct LED or relay drive. The OTP program memory supports in-circuit programming via Microchip's ICSP interface, although traditional windowed CERDIP variants are also available for UV erasure.
Typical applications include appliance controls, automotive sub-system modules, security and alarm panels, simple sensor signal conditioning, and battery-powered consumer products. The wide 3.0 V to 6.25 V supply range supports both 3.3 V and 5 V rails, while the low-power CMOS process enables low quiescent current draw in SLEEP mode for battery-backup designs.
When designing with this device, consider migrating to the flash-based PIC16F54 drop-in for higher-volume production where field re-programmability is required. Ensure the MCLR pin is properly biased and that in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) header access is provided on the PCB for firmware upgrades during prototyping.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LC54A-04/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 PIC16LC54A-04/SS (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Program Memory Size, Package, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Watchdog Timer.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F54-I/SS
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.68 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16LC54A-04I/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54A-04/SS
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16LV54A-04/SS
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F505-I/SS
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LC54A-04/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC RISC |
| Family | PIC16C5X |
| CPU Clock Speed | 4 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 768 B (512 x 12) |
| RAM Size | 25 B |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 6.25 V |
| Package | SSOP-20 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (Commercial) |
| Instruction Set | 33 instructions, 12-bit wide |
| Instruction Cycle | 1 us at 4 MHz |
| I/O Sink/Source per Pin | 25 mA |
| Total I/O Current | 100 mA |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with shared 8-bit prescaler |
| Power-Saving Mode | SLEEP mode |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LC54A-04/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR β Master Clear (reset) input, active low |
| Pin 2 | RA0 β Port A bit 0, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 3 | RA1 β Port A bit 1, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 4 | RA2 β Port A bit 2, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 5 | RA3 β Port A bit 3, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 6 | RA4/OSC2/CLKOUT β Port A bit 4 / oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 7 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 8 | RB0 β Port B bit 0, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 9 | RB1 β Port B bit 1, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | RB2 β Port B bit 2, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RB3 β Port B bit 3, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 12 | RB4 β Port B bit 4, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 13 | RB5 β Port B bit 5, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 14 | RB6 β Port B bit 6, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 15 | RB7 β Port B bit 7, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 17 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (3.0-6.25V) |
| Pin 18 | T0CKI/RC0 β Timer 0 clock input / Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 19 | RC1 β Port C bit 1, bidirectional digital I/O |
| Pin 20 | RC2 β Port C bit 2, bidirectional digital I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC16LC54A-04/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Consumer Appliance Control, Battery-Powered Sensor Modules, Security Alarm Panel Logic, Simple LED Lighting Controller, Automotive Sub-System Modules, Industrial Control Panel I/O.
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16LC54A-04/SS fits appliance control PCBs where cost dominates and firmware is fixed at production. With 768B OTP program memory and a 33-instruction RISC core at 4 MHz, it executes typical 500-instruction control loops in under 1 ms, sufficient for washing-machine, microwave, and rice-cooker timing logic. Its 12 GPIO with 25 mA sink/source directly drive relay coils, seven-segment LEDs, and triac gates, eliminating external driver transistors. The 3.0-6.25 V supply tolerates rectified 5 V rails without LDO regulation, simplifying the SMPS design and reducing BOM cost. Pairing with a PIC16F54 drop-in allows identical PCB layout for both low-volume OTP and high-volume flash production runs.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Modules
The PIC16LC54A-04/SS suits battery-powered sensor modules thanks to its low-power CMOS "LC" process and SLEEP mode drawing only microampere-level current. Operating voltage of 3.0-6.25 V supports both 3.3 V Li-ion and two-cell alkaline sources without level shifters. The 12 I/O lines connect to thermistor dividers, PIR sensors, and reed switches directly, while the on-chip watchdog timer wakes the MCU periodically for sub-microamp average current. The 4 MHz internal execution provides fast burst-mode processing, then returns to SLEEP for 99.9% duty cycle idle, extending coin-cell battery life to years in metering and security sensor products.
Recommended
Security Alarm Panel Logic
The PIC16LC54A-04/SS provides reliable logic control for security alarm panels where 12 zone inputs, simple decision firmware, and low cost matter. With 25 bytes RAM and 768B OTP, it handles zone-state scanning, entry/exit delays, and siren-trigger logic without external memory. The 25 mA per-pin drive directly powers piezo sirens and LED indicators without driver chips. SLEEP mode plus watchdog keeps quiescent current minimal when the panel is armed, while 4 MHz execution responds to alarm events within 1 Β΅s. Commercial temperature grade 0 C to +70 C fits indoor installation environments.
Recommended
Simple LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16LC54A-04/SS drives LED lighting controllers for decorative and architectural fixtures, where PWM dimming and pattern sequences are fixed. With 12 I/O pins, multiple LED channels are multiplexed via Charlieplexing or external MOSFETs to drive RGB strips at 25 mA per pin. The 4 MHz CPU generates PWM frequencies above 100 Hz with no perceptible flicker. OTP memory locks the firmware preventing unauthorized pattern modification. The wide 3.0-6.25 V supply accepts 5 V USB or 3.3 V regulated rails, while commercial temperature grade suits indoor fixtures.
Recommended
Automotive Sub-System Modules
The PIC16LC54A-04I/SS industrial-grade variant serves non-safety automotive sub-systems like seat controllers, mirror adjusters, and accessory timers. Operating temperature of -40 C to +85 C handles under-dash and interior cabin environments. With 768B OTP memory, fixed-function firmware is locked in production, eliminating field tampering. 12 I/O drive motor bridges via external MOSFETs for window lift and seat positioning, with 25 mA per-pin capability interfacing directly to logic-level gate drivers. Note: this part is not AEC-Q100 qualified, so for safety-critical ADAS applications, Microchip recommends PIC16F18446 or dsPIC33 families.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panel I/O
The PIC16LC54A-04/SS acts as a low-cost I/O expander and sequencer in industrial control panels. With 12 GPIO, it reads pushbuttons, selector switches, and indicator lamps while sequencing relay outputs for pump, fan, or heater control. The 4 MHz RISC core scans inputs and updates outputs in under 100 Β΅s, sufficient for human-machine interface response times. OTP firmware locks the control logic preventing unauthorized program changes in factory automation. Pairing with a watchdog supervisor IC ensures reliable unattended operation, while commercial temperature range suits indoor control cabinets.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LC54A-04/SS β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F54-I/SS | PIC16LC54A-04I/SS | PIC16C54A-04/SS | PIC16LV54A-04/SS | PIC16F505-I/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 Type | OTP EPROM (768 B) | Flash (512 B) | OTP EPROM (768 B) | OTP EPROM (768 B) | OTP EPROM (768 B) | Flash (1.5 KB) |
| CPU Clock Speed | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz (max) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 6.25 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 6.25 V | 3.0 V to 6.0 V | 2.0 V to 3.8 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | 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) |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| RAM Size | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 72 B |
Key Differentiators
- Drop-in flash upgrade path within same SSOP-20 package (vs PIC16F54-I/SS)
- Wider supply voltage range than standard PIC16C54A (vs PIC16C54A-04/SS)
- Industrial temperature grade option in same package (vs PIC16LC54A-04I/SS)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of pin 17, and add a bulk 10 Β΅F tantalum or aluminum electrolytic capacitor on the same rail. The PIC16LC54A-04/SS draws up to 2 mA active at 4 MHz and 5 V, so the rail must sustain voltage during I/O switching transients. For battery-powered designs, add a series ferrite bead to suppress noise from relay coils.
MCLR (pin 1) must never float - tie to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up, with a 100 nF capacitor to ground for noise immunity. Floating MCLR causes intermittent resets in electrically noisy environments. For ICSP programming, expose MCLR, RB6 (PGC), and RB7 (PGD) on a 0.1 inch header so firmware can be programmed after PCB assembly. Note that OTP parts cannot be re-programmed or erased.
Keep the 4 MHz crystal or ceramic resonator traces to OSC1 (pin 7) and OSC2 (pin 6) short and symmetric to minimize stray capacitance. Ground the metal pad under the SSOP-20 thermal pad to a low-impedance ground plane for EMI suppression. Route RA4-RA0 and RB0-RB7 traces away from the oscillator to avoid coupling noise into the GPIO logic.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC16F18446 or PIC16F88 family for automotive. Halogen-free status not specified in provided data.
