PIC16LC558T-04/SO - 4MHz 8-bit CMOS MCU, 3.5KB OTP, 18-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LC558T-04/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.78 | $37.80 |
| 100 | $3.36 | $336.00 |
| 500 | $2.96 | $1,480.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.65 | $2,650.00 |
PIC16LC558T-04/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data bus, a Harvard or modified-Harvard CPU core, on-chip program memory, working RAM, and peripheral IP such as timers, ADC, and serial interfaces. Microcontrollers sit at the bottom of the embedded-computing hierarchy (MCU -> embedded processor -> SoC) and are used wherever deterministic, low-power, cost-sensitive digital control is required.
Key features include the 12-bit instruction word RISC core (33 single-cycle instructions), 2-level hardware stack, watchdog timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator, power-on reset, brown-out reset, and an EPROM/OTP program memory that allows prototyping with windowed CERDIP variants and shipping with low-cost OTP SOIC packages. The 4 MHz oscillator at 4 V is the LP (low-power) operating point used in the LC variant.
Typical applications include low-cost consumer appliances, remote controls, sensor signal conditioning front-ends, small automation controllers, and battery-powered instrumentation. The wide 3.0-6.25 V supply range allows direct connection to 4-cell NiMH packs or 5 V regulated rails without additional level shifting.
When designing with this part, plan a programming adapter because OTP memory cannot be erased; consider PIC16F or PIC16LF flash variants for development. Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD and ensure MCLR is pulled high through 10 kohm for normal operation.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LC558T-04/SO — 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 PIC16LC558T-04/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Size, Package, Watchdog Timer, Program Memory Type, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LC558-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC554T-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC554T-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC54CT-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC54AT-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC558T-04/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16C5x (8-bit RISC, 12-bit instruction) |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) OTP/EPROM |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 128 bytes |
| EEPROM | None |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 3.0 V to 6.25 V |
| I/O Pins | 13 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0) |
| ADC | None |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator) |
| Brown-out Reset | Yes |
| Power-on Reset | Yes |
| Instruction Set | 33 single-cycle instructions |
| Hardware Stack | 2 levels |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Package | 18-SOIC (SOIC-18, 7.5 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16LC558T-04/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear reset (active low) / programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt input |
| Pin 9 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 10 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 11 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 12 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 13 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 14 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 15 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 16 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0 V to 6.25 V) |
| Pin 17 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock-out (Fosc/4) |
| Pin 18 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock-in |
Typical Applications
PIC16LC558T-04/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Low-Cost Consumer Remote Control, Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Industrial Control Front-End, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), LED Lighting Controller, Educational 8-bit Development Platform, Appliance Timer Module.
Low-Cost Consumer Remote Control
The PIC16LC558T-04/SO's 3.5 KB OTP program memory is sufficient for a fixed-command remote control transmitting IR or RF codes for TV, set-top box, or fan controllers. Operating at 4 MHz the MCU consumes only 1.8 mA typical at 5 V with brown-out and watchdog timers disabled in sleep. Pair it with a TSOP38238 IR receiver or a 433 MHz OOK transmitter, and the 13 I/O pins drive both the keypad matrix and the LED indicator. OTP memory is a cost advantage because unit-cost dominates over per-unit reprogrammability.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The 3.0-6.25 V wide supply range makes the PIC16LC558T-04/SO directly compatible with 2xAA alkaline cells, 4-cell NiMH packs, or a single 3.6 V lithium primary. Running the watchdog timer at 4 MHz with the on-chip RC oscillator, average current drops below 100 uA when duty-cycled. The 13 I/O lines wake on pin change and read multiple digital sensors through bit-banged interfaces, while the 8-bit timer captures pulse-width data. This is a classic battery-powered telemetry or HVAC sensor node.
Recommended
Industrial Control Front-End
The PIC16LC558T-04/SO operates across -40C to +85C industrial temperatures, making it suitable for industrial machine control front-ends, HVAC damper actuators, and conveyor sequencing logic. The 4 MHz RISC core executes 1 MIPS, enough for PID loop execution on a slow thermal or pressure process. With 13 I/O and a single 8-bit timer, it can drive opto-isolated outputs and read quadrature encoders via interrupt on change. OTP coding locks the firmware against field tampering for safety-critical installations.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the PIC16LC558T-04/SO is widely used in aftermarket automotive modules such as gauge clusters, lighting controllers, and window regulators where supplier automotive pedigree is not contractually required. The 3.5 KB OTP holds fixed table-driven routines for indicator blinking or LED chasing patterns. The wide 3-6.25 V supply rides through 12 V load-dump events after a TVS clamp. Brown-out reset prevents undefined behavior during cold-crank voltage dips below 4 V.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16LC558T-04/SO drives PWM LED dimming through bit-banged software PWM on its 13 I/O pins, controlling up to 13 individual LED channels at 8-bit resolution per channel. At 4 MHz and 1 MIPS, it refreshes a 12-channel 8-bit PWM at approximately 300 Hz frame rate, well above the flicker fusion threshold. Memory is sufficient for chase patterns, fade transitions, and DMX-style address decoding. The wide supply range accepts 12 V or 24 V architectural LED strings directly.
Recommended
Educational 8-bit Development Platform
The PIC16LC558T-04/SO is popular in university microcontroller courses and hobbyist training because the PIC16C5x instruction set is the simplest 8-bit architecture to teach. Students learn register-level programming, accumulator-based ALU, and direct/indirect addressing with only 33 instructions. A PIC programmer such as PICkit 3 or ICD writes the OTP memory once, and the windowed CERDIP variant PIC16LC558-04/JW supports re-programming during development. The 18-SOIC package is breadboard-compatible through SOIC-to-DIP adapter boards.
Recommended
Appliance Timer Module
The PIC16LC558T-04/SO is widely deployed in white-goods appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and microwave ovens where the 8-bit timer plus software counters generate cycle timing. OTP memory locks the brand-specific timing curves (e.g., wash, rinse, spin durations), preventing end-user modification. The PIC16C5x core's deterministic instruction execution simplifies IEC 60730 class B safety compliance for household appliance firmware. Wide supply tolerance tolerates rectified 24 VAC transformer rails after regulation.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LC558T-04/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LC558-04I/SO | PIC16LC554T-04/SO | PIC16LC554T-04I/SO | PIC16LC54CT-04I/SO | PIC16LC54AT-04I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 18-SOIC | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same |
| Program Memory (OTP) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 0.875 KB (512 x 14) | 0.875 KB (512 x 14) | 0.875 KB (512 x 14) | 0.875 KB (512 x 14) |
| RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 80 bytes | 80 bytes | 32 bytes | 32 bytes |
| Max Clock Speed | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 6.25 V | 3.0 V to 6.25 V | 3.0 V to 6.25 V | 3.0 V to 6.25 V | 3.0 V to 6.25 V | 3.0 V to 6.25 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| I/O Pins | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Key Differentiators
- Highest program memory density in the PIC16C5x SOIC-18 family (vs PIC16LC554T-04/SO)
- Wide 3.0-6.25 V supply range ideal for battery and unregulated rails (vs PIC16C558-04/P (non-LC variant))
- Industrial temperature-grade variant available in same package (vs PIC16LC558-04I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 16) and a bulk 10 uF electrolytic or tantalum capacitor on the same supply rail. Connect VSS (pin 7) to a low-impedance ground plane, not a thin trace. The PIC16C5x core draws approximately 1.8 mA at 5 V and 4 MHz in active mode, so total supply decoupling must hold VDD ripple below 50 mV to avoid noise coupling into internal bandgap references. Brown-out reset triggers below 3.0 V.
Route the OSC1/OSC2 crystal traces as short, symmetric lengths and guard them with a ground plane to minimize stray capacitance. For a 4 MHz crystal, use 22 pF load capacitors matching the crystal's load specification. If using an external CMOS clock source, drive OSC1 only and leave OSC2 floating (it becomes CLKOUT at Fosc/4). The 18-SOIC package has a thermal pad that should be soldered to a small copper island for mechanical stability, though the part generates negligible heat at 4 MHz.
Do NOT assume OTP memory can be re-programmed during prototyping; use the windowed CERDIP PIC16LC558-04/JW for development cycles. Avoid leaving MCLR floating; tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor for normal operation. The watchdog timer is enabled by default at POR; clear it in software or disable it via CONFIG bits, otherwise unexpected resets will occur. Do not apply VPP voltage to the MCLR pin during normal operation; on-chip charge pump generates programming voltage internally during the high-voltage programming sequence.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product declaration. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a commercial/industrial grade part. Conflict minerals CMRT compliant per Microchip policy.
