PIC16LC72T-04/SS - 8-bit MCU, 4MHz, 3.5KB OTP, 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LC72T-04/SS ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.45 | $7.45 |
| 10 | $6.8 | $68.00 |
| 100 | $6.1 | $610.00 |
| 500 | $5.55 | $2,775.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.05 | $5,050.00 |
PIC16LC72T-04/SS Overview
A PIC microcontroller (Programmable Intelligent Computer) is a Harvard-architecture RISC device that separates program and data memory, executes most instructions in a single clock cycle, and is widely used for embedded control in industrial, consumer, and automotive body-electronics applications. Within Microchip's portfolio, the PIC16C mid-range family sits between the baseline PIC10/12/16 and the high-end PIC17/18, offering a balance of peripheral integration, code efficiency, and ease of development.
Key features of the PIC16LC72T-04/SS include a Synchronous Serial Port (SSP) supporting both SPI and I2C, a Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module with up to 10-bit PWM resolution, an 8-bit Timer0 with an 8-bit prescaler, and brown-out detection circuitry for a deterministic Brown-out Reset (BOR). The 'LC' suffix indicates a low-voltage CMOS variant that operates across 2.5 V to 5.5 V, while the 'T' denotes tape-and-reel packaging. OTP memory is programmed once but provides lower unit cost than windowed or flash parts for mature production volumes.
Typical applications include low-cost motor control (small DC fans and solenoids), sensor signal conditioning with the on-chip ADC, I2C/SPI peripheral expansion in human-machine interface (HMI) boards, and battery-powered instrumentation. The 28-SSOP footprint is industry-standard, easing layout migration across the PIC16C7x family. When designing, place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD, and observe the 4 MHz maximum oscillator to maintain instruction-cycle accuracy. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LC72T-04/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 PIC16LC72T-04/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, ADC, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LC72-04/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LC72A-04I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC72-04I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F72-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LC710-04/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.16 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC711-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC72T-04/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Series | PIC 16C |
| Core Architecture | 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Instruction Set | 14-bit |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V (low-voltage 'LC' variant) |
| ADC | 8-bit, 5 channels |
| Timers | Timer0 (8-bit) + Timer1 (16-bit) + Timer2 (8-bit) |
| PWM Resolution | Up to 10-bit (CCP module) |
| Serial Interfaces | SSP (SPI + I2C), USART/SCI |
| Brown-out Reset (BOR) | Yes |
| Package | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm body, 0.65 mm pitch) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (Tape & Reel) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) |
PIC16LC72T-04/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (Reset, active-low) / Programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — PORTA bit 2 / analog input 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF — PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / ADC reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / Capture Compare PWM 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART transmit / clock |
| Pin 17 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART receive / data |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 20 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 21 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 22 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 23 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 24 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 25 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 26 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 27 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 28 | RA6 — PORTA bit 6 (multiplexed with OSC2 on some PIC16C72) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LC72T-04/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Small DC Motor and Fan Control, Sensor Signal Conditioning with On-Chip ADC, I2C/SPI Peripheral Expansion Boards, Battery-Powered Hand-Held Instruments, Consumer Appliance User Interface, Industrial Control and Automation, Legacy Industrial Board Spare-Part Replacement.
Small DC Motor and Fan Control
The PIC16LC72T-04/SS is well suited for small brushed DC motor and fan speed control because its Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module delivers up to 10-bit PWM resolution at 4 MHz, providing smooth duty-cycle control from 0% to 100% across motor speed commands. The 5-channel 8-bit ADC accepts tachogenerator or back-EMF feedback at AN0-AN4 without external signal conditioning, while the SSP module provides SPI/I2C for digital potentiometer or EEPROM interface. At 5 V supply, the LC variant consumes only a few mA active, making it ideal for low-cost fans, pumps, and small appliance motor control where OTP cost savings out-weigh the convenience of flash memory. The 28-SSOP footprint keeps the BOM compact, fitting inside a hand-held tool chassis.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning with On-Chip ADC
For analog sensor interfaces, the PIC16LC72T-04/SS's 5-channel 8-bit ADC handles thermocouple reference-junction compensation, photodiode current-to-voltage, or 4-20 mA loop monitoring without an external ADC IC. Each conversion completes in approximately 20 us at 4 MHz, supporting a 50 Hz polling rate per channel. The 128-byte RAM is sufficient for moving-average filters and linearization lookup tables. The LC low-voltage operation (2.5 V to 5.5 V) accommodates 3.3 V sensors and coin-cell powered instrument clusters. Combined with the on-chip BOR (Brown-out Reset), the device delivers deterministic restarts in noisy industrial environments where sensor signal lines run next to switching loads.
Recommended
I2C/SPI Peripheral Expansion Boards
The PIC16LC72T-04/SS's Synchronous Serial Port (SSP) implements both SPI (mode 0 to 3 up to 4 MHz) and I2C master/slave, making it a drop-in I/O expander that off-loads a host MCU from keypad scan, LED driver control, or EEPROM read/write duties. Three I2C buses are not available on a single SSP, but two external I2C lines (SDA/SCL) plus one SPI bus share PORTB and PORTC, enabling sensor-array interfacing. With 25 GPIO pins plus the ADC, the chip serves as an interface controller in industrial HMI panels, kiosks, and small appliance control boards where Microchip's long-term PIC16C72 firmware base is preserved. Tape-and-reel packaging supports high-volume pick-and-place assembly.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Hand-Held Instruments
The 'LC' low-voltage CMOS designation lets the PIC16LC72T-04/SS operate from a single lithium cell (2.5 V minimum) or two AA batteries, extending runtime in hand-held multimeters, laser distance meters, and barcode scanners. Brown-out Reset protects against data corruption when the battery voltage sags under load, while the ADC with low-power sleep mode enables periodic wake-up sampling. The 4 MHz clock is sufficient for UART command interpretation and LED display multiplexing without requiring a high-speed MCU. For products in regulated test equipment or portable industrial meters, this part delivers Microchip's mature PIC16C tool-chain support at minimum BOM cost.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance User Interface
The PIC16LC72T-04/SS handles the user-interface task in coffee machines, washing machines, and microwave ovens, where 25 GPIO pins are sufficient for a 4x4 keypad matrix, 7-segment LED driver, buzzer, and several indicator LEDs. The PWM output drives the buzzer at variable duty cycles for tone alerts. With OTP memory, the firmware is locked-in at programming time, which is desirable for consumer products where accidental re-flashing in the field must be prevented. The 28-SSOP is industry-standard and supported by automated pick-and-place lines, while the commercial 0C to +70C range suits indoor appliance environments.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation
In factory automation - relay drivers, contactor controllers, conveyor belt sequencing - the PIC16LC72T-04/SS provides deterministic 8-bit processing at 4 MHz with 14-bit instructions, ample for ladder-logic-equivalent sequential control. The Brown-out Reset and Watchdog Timer (separate from BOR) protect against mains-rail glitches. The SSP allows communication with industrial I/O modules via SPI or I2C, while the USART enables RS-232/RS-485 driver connections for SCADA integration. The 28-SSOP's wide -40C to +85C variants (PIC16LC72-04I/SS) extend deployment to plant-floor temperature extremes, while the OTP memory reduces cost-per-unit in mature, locked-down designs.
Recommended
Legacy Industrial Board Spare-Part Replacement
The PIC16LC72T-04/SS is specifically targeted at maintaining long-life industrial equipment designed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the PIC16C7x family was mainstream. Field-replacement boards, CNC controllers, and industrial printers with PIC16C72 firmware require a bit-compatible replacement that maintains identical pinout, register map, and timing. While Microchip no longer produces the OTP version, broker-distributor stock and authorized distributors still ship PIC16LC72T-04/SS for warranty-repair scenarios where re-programming is unnecessary. The PIC16F72-I/SS is the forward-compatible upgrade path for new designs that wish to preserve firmware while gaining flash reprogrammability.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LC72T-04/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LC72-04/SS | PIC16LC72A-04I/SS | PIC16LC72-04I/SS | PIC16F72-I/SS | PIC16LC710-04/SS | PIC16LC711-04/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Memory Type | OTP (3.5 KB) | OTP (3.5 KB) | OTP (3.5 KB) | OTP (3.5 KB) | Flash (3.5 KB) | OTP (1 KB) | OTP (1.75 KB) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Data RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 36 bytes | 68 bytes |
| ADC | 8-bit, 5-channel | 8-bit, 5-channel | 8-bit, 5-channel | 8-bit, 5-channel | 8-bit, 5-channel | 8-bit, 4-channel | 8-bit, 4-channel |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Active | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Low-voltage LC variant covers 2.5 V to 5.5 V for battery-powered designs (vs PIC16C72-04/P (standard 4.5 V to 5.5 V))
- 5-channel 8-bit ADC with internal VREF option (vs PIC16LC710-04/SS (4-channel only))
- OTP memory reduces per-unit cost versus flash parts in high-volume production (vs PIC16F72-I/SS (flash, 3.5 KB))
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 15), with a 10 uF bulk electrolytic on the same VDD trace. The PIC16LC72T-04/SS 'LC' variant draws up to 2 mA active at 4 MHz/5 V. Brown-out Reset threshold is internal at approximately 4.0 V; for 3.3 V-only operation, configure the BOR via configuration bits to prevent false resets. Do not power the device below 2.5 V - OTP reads become unreliable below this floor.
The 28-SSOP has a 0.65 mm pitch and 5.30 mm body width; route 4-mil traces with 4-mil spacing under the package to escape PORTA, PORTB, and PORTC pins. Keep the analog inputs RA0-RA4 away from the switching traces of the CCP1/RC2 PWM output to avoid ADC crosstalk. Add a ground guard ring around the MCLR pin (pin 1) to improve ESD immunity on factory programming fixtures.
Do not connect RA5 as an analog input when the SPI port is enabled in slave mode - RA5 doubles as the SS (slave select) pin, and driving it low causes SSP resets. Also, note that this OTP part can be programmed only once - any firmware bug shipped to the field cannot be patched, so design verification must be exhaustive. Use the PIC16F72-I/SS flash-based equivalent for development and only program the OTP version in production volume.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - automotive applications should use PIC16F72-I/SS with AEC-Q100 grade. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in verified web data.
