PIC16LC72-04I/SP - 8-Bit 4MHz 3.5KB OTP MCU 22 I/O | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LC72-04I/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.24 | $7.24 |
| 10 | $6.52 | $65.20 |
| 100 | $5.81 | $581.00 |
| 500 | $5.21 | $2,605.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.64 | $4,640.00 |
PIC16LC72-04I/SP Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, working RAM, and peripheral interfaces onto one die. The PIC16LC72-04I/SP belongs to the Microchip PIC16C mid-range architecture, itself part of the broader PIC® 8-bit MCU family, which sits hierarchically under the category of microcontrollers -> integrated circuits -> semiconductors. The 'LC' suffix designates the low-voltage CMOS variant, optimized for operation from 2.5 V to 5.5 V supplies, making it well suited to battery-powered or energy-conscious designs.
Key features of the PIC16LC72-04I/SP include the integrated 5-channel 8-bit ADC, which lets the MCU read analog sensors without an external converter, and the Synchronous Serial Port (SSP) supporting both SPI (master/slave) and I2C (slave) modes for connecting EEPROMs, sensors, or display drivers. Brown-Out Reset (BOR) and Power-On Reset (POR) ensure deterministic startup, while the Watchdog Timer (WDT) recovers the system from software lockups. PWM outputs enable direct control of motors, LEDs, or simple audio tones without CPU overhead.
The architecture uses a Harvard-style 14-bit instruction word optimized for compact code density, with 35 single-word instructions. Static CMOS design allows the clock to be stopped without losing register contents, enabling ultra-low-power sleep modes ideal for intermittently sampled sensor nodes.
Typical applications for the PIC16LC72-04I/SP include industrial sensor interface boards, low-cost motor and stepper controllers, simple appliance controls, and educational/development platforms that benefit from the classic PIC mid-range toolchain (MPASM, MPLAB IDE) and In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP).
When designing with this part, note that OTP memory is one-time programmable; for prototyping or firmware revisions, consider the PIC16F72 (Flash) sibling that shares the same 28-pin SPDIP footprint and peripheral set. Decoupling capacitors (100 nF) should be placed close to VDD/VSS, and unused I/O pins configured as outputs low to minimize quiescent current draw.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, OTP vs Flash trade-offs, drop-in alternatives, and PCB-level design guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving procurement and engineering teams a single decision-ready reference.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LC72-04I/SP — 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 PIC16LC72-04I/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Mounting Type, Core Architecture, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F72-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C72-04I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F870-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC72-04I/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16C mid-range 8-bit |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| RAM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Digital I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 5 channels x 8-bit |
| Timers | Timer0 (8-bit), Timer1 (16-bit), Timer2 (8-bit) |
| Serial Interfaces | SSP (SPI master/slave, I2C slave) |
| PWM Channels | Yes (CCP module) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (WDT) |
| Brown-Out Reset / POR | Yes |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (0.300 inch, 7.62 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions, 14-bit word |
| ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) | Yes |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LC72-04I/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset) input, active low |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — Port A bit 2 / ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3 — Port A bit 3 / ADC channel 3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Port A bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — Port A bit 5 / ADC channel 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — Port C bit 2 / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference (second VSS pin) |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT — Port B bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC16LC72-04I/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface Board, Low-Cost Motor and Stepper Controller, Simple Appliance Control (White Goods), Educational and Development Platform, Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Hobbyist and Maker Project MCU.
Industrial Sensor Interface Board
The PIC16LC72-04I/SP is well suited to industrial sensor-interface boards where its integrated 5-channel 8-bit ADC reads analog signals directly from temperature, light, or pressure transducers without an external converter IC. The 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range accepts both 3.3 V and 5 V rails common in industrial 24V-derived systems, while brown-out reset and watchdog timer protect against supply glitches and firmware lockups. The SSP peripheral streams sensor data to a host controller via SPI at up to 4 MHz, and 22 GPIO pins drive status LEDs and accept digital inputs.
Recommended
Low-Cost Motor and Stepper Controller
The PIC16LC72-04I/SP's CCP/PWM module generates variable-duty control signals suitable for small DC motors, fans, or unipolar stepper driver stages, while Timer2 sets the PWM period independent of CPU overhead. The 16-bit Timer1 can be incremented during sleep via an external crystal, enabling time-of-day or RPM sensing without burning CPU cycles. Brown-out reset prevents erratic motor behavior during supply brown-outs, and 22 I/O lines drive H-bridge enable lines and end-stop sensors in a compact 28-SPDIP package that suits hand-soldered prototyping.
Recommended
Simple Appliance Control (White Goods)
Appliance control boards for coffee makers, washing machines, or microwave ovens traditionally use 8-bit MCUs, and the PIC16LC72-04I/SP fits this niche with its OTP memory (low unit cost at high volumes), integrated ADC for sensor feedback (temperature, water level), and PWM outputs for heater/triac phase control. The 4 MHz clock is sufficient for keypad scanning, display multiplexing, and simple state machines, while the -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature range survives under-hood or near-heater environments. OTP prevents accidental field firmware tampering in safety-critical applications.
Recommended
Educational and Development Platform
The PIC16LC72-04I/SP's classic mid-range PIC architecture, ICSP support, and the maturity of the MPLAB X + MPASM toolchain make it a strong teaching platform for embedded-systems courses. The 28-SPDIP through-hole package sits cleanly on breadboards and stripboard, eliminating the soldering-iron barrier that SMD-only parts impose on beginners. With 3.5 KB of OTP, students can implement real projects (thermostats, simple robots, LED matrices) within the program-memory budget while learning interrupt-driven design via three on-chip timers.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC16LC72-04I/SP's low-voltage 'LC' operation from 2.5 V enables direct connection to two alkaline or NiMH cells without a boost converter, and its static CMOS design allows the clock to be stopped in sleep while registers are preserved, drawing only microamps. A 16-bit Timer1 with external crystal can wake the MCU periodically for timed sensor reads, and the ADC measures battery voltage and sensor output before transmitting via SSP-controlled SPI radio. OTP memory locks the firmware to prevent field tampering in remote deployments.
Recommended
Hobbyist and Maker Project MCU
Makers and hobbyists building one-off or limited-run projects benefit from the PIC16LC72-04I/SP's low cost, through-hole form factor, and the abundant legacy code library (PICBasic, Swordfish, MPLAB XC8 examples) accumulated over decades. The integrated ADC reads potentiometers, light-dependent resistors, and thermistors without extra components, while PWM output controls servos, dimmers, and RGB LEDs. Although OTP means firmware is fixed at programming time, the ICSP interface allows the user to burn firmware via a PICkit before final assembly.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LC72-04I/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F72-I/SP | PIC16C72-04I/SP | PIC16F870-I/SP | PIC16LC72-04/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (0.300 inch) | 28-SPDIP (0.300 inch) - same | 28-SPDIP (0.300 inch) - same | 28-SPDIP (0.300 inch) - same | 28-SOIC (different footprint) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (3.5 KB) | Flash (3.5 KB) | OTP (3.5 KB) | Flash (3.5 KB) | OTP (3.5 KB) |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 10-bit | 5 x 8-bit |
| RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Field Reprogrammable | No (OTP) | Yes (Flash + ICSP) | No (OTP) | Yes (Flash + ICSP) | No (OTP) |
| Approximate Unit Price (qty 100) | $5.81 | $3.20 | $5.95 | $3.60 | $5.10 |
Key Differentiators
- Low-voltage CMOS operation down to 2.5 V (vs PIC16C72-04I/SP)
- Identical 28-SPDIP footprint to Flash-based PIC16F72 (vs PIC16F72-I/SP)
- 28-SPDIP through-hole package for hand prototyping (vs PIC16LC72-04/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF (0.1 uF) decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 20) with the ground return via the nearest VSS pin (pin 19) to minimize supply inductance. For designs with multiple ICs on the same rail, add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum electrolytic capacitor at the board entry point. The PIC16LC72-04I/SP does not require external pull-ups on MCLR if the internal MCLR is disabled in configuration bits, but a 10 kohm pull-up plus 100 nF cap is recommended when MCLR is used to provide a clean reset edge.
The OTP memory in PIC16LC72-04I/SP can be programmed exactly once; verify all firmware with a Flash-equivalent part (PIC16F72-I/SP) before committing to production programming. According to Microchip documentation, programming pulses outside the specified VPP range (typically 13 V) or timing can permanently damage the device. Brown-out reset (BOR) must be enabled in configuration bits for reliable operation in noisy industrial environments - leaving BOR disabled risks EEPROM/RAM corruption during supply dips.
The ICSP pins RB6 (PGC, pin 27) and RB7 (PGD, pin 28) are shared with general-purpose I/O; if your application uses these pins for external circuitry, isolate them during programming with jumpers or current-limiting resistors. According to the Microchip programming specification, the ICSP clock rate should not exceed the device's Fosc/4 to avoid timing violations. For SPI master mode, ensure the SSP module's sampling edge matches the slave device's data setup time, especially at 4 MHz near maximum rated frequency.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (automotive grade not available for OTP mid-range; choose PIC16F72-I/SP for automotive-grade Flash variants).
