PIC17C44T-33/L - 8-Bit 33MHz PIC17C MCU 16KB OTP 44-PLCC | Microchip
MPN: PIC17C44T-33/L ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $12.5 | $12.50 |
| 10 | $11.25 | $112.50 |
| 100 | $9.85 | $985.00 |
| 500 | $8.5 | $4,250.00 |
| 1,000 | $7.25 | $7,250.00 |
PIC17C44T-33/L Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory (ROM/EPROM/Flash), data RAM, and programmable I/O peripherals onto one IC. The PIC17C family targets high-end 8-bit applications requiring more computational throughput than the PIC16 family and bridges toward the PIC18 generation. Architecturally, the PIC17C44 belongs to the Modified Harvard architecture family with separate program and data buses, which lets instructions be fetched in parallel with operand access, yielding predictable deterministic throughput essential for real-time control loops. OTP EPROM lets prototypes be programmed in volume with no windowed package cost.
Key features include a 33 MHz maximum operating frequency, 16 KB on-chip OTP EPROM (organized 8K x 16 instruction words), 454 bytes of general-purpose RAM, 33 digital I/O lines, an internal 8-level hardware stack, and a programmable code-protection bit. Peripherals include three 8-bit timer/counters, a Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (USART), a watchdog timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator, and a programmable brown-out reset.
The die is fabricated on a low-power CMOS process, allowing operation from a single 4.5 V to 6.0 V supply and supporting commercial temperature grades. The 16-bit instruction width enables immediate operand encoding and direct register-memory operations that are awkward on 12-bit and 14-bit PIC cores, while preserving the PIC register-file programming model familiar to PIC16/PIC18 developers.
Typical applications include industrial control and automation front-ends, automotive body and instrument modules, consumer appliance controllers, security and access-control panels, and embedded communication bridges where 33 MIPS of throughput and 33 I/O pins suffice. Designers often pair it with external EEPROM for parameter storage and an RS-232/RS-485 transceiver for serial connectivity via the integrated USART.
When migrating firmware, the PIC17C44 source-level compatibility with PIC18 simplifies porting to modern Flash parts, but designers should note the OTP-only program memory means any post-production firmware update requires a board re-spin or a piggyback socket adapter. Decoupling must include a 100 nF ceramic and a 10 µF tantalum placed within 6 mm of VDD, with MCLR pulled high through a 10 kΩ resistor.
This page synthesizes distributor stock data, parametric alternatives, and practical design notes that complement the Microchip datasheet, helping sourcing engineers make an informed decision on a long-running legacy MCU.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC17C44T-33/L — 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 PIC17C44T-33/L (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Mounting Type, Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type, Core Architecture, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC17C44-33/L
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C44T-25/L
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC17C44T-16/L
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C44-33I/L
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC17C44T-33I/L
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F452-I/L
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4550-I/L
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC17C44T-33/L Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC (8-bit RISC, Modified Harvard) |
| Family | PIC17C |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 33 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB (8K x 16 instruction words) |
| Data RAM | 454 bytes |
| Instruction Set Size | 58 single-word instructions |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 121 ns (single cycle) |
| Operating Voltage (Vdd) | 4.5 V to 6.0 V |
| I/O Pins | 33 |
| Timers | 3 x 8-bit Timer/Counter |
| USART | 1 x USART (SCI) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator |
| Brown-out Reset | Programmable |
| Stack | 8-level hardware stack (16-bit) |
| Code Protection | Programmable code-protection bit |
| Package | 44-PLCC (J-lead, 16.59 x 16.59 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial |
PIC17C44T-33/L Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master Clear (Reset) input, internal pull-up, requires 10 kΩ pull-up |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Port A bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — Port A bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Port A bit 4 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — Port A bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 8 | OSC1 — Crystal/clock input |
| Pin 9 | OSC2 — Crystal/clock output |
| Pin 10 | Vss — Ground (0 V) |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 (digital I/O / TX) |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 (digital I/O / RX) |
| Pin 19 | Vss — Ground (0 V) |
| Pin 20 | Vdd — Positive supply (5 V nominal) |
| Pin 21 | RD0 — Port D bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 22 | RD1 — Port D bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 23 | RD2 — Port D bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 24 | RD3 — Port D bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 25 | RD4 — Port D bit 4 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 26 | RD5 — Port D bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 27 | RD6 — Port D bit 6 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 28 | RD7 — Port D bit 7 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 29 | RE0 — Port E bit 0 (digital I/O / INT0) |
| Pin 30 | RE1 — Port E bit 1 (digital I/O / INT1) |
| Pin 31 | RE2 — Port E bit 2 (digital I/O / T0CKI) |
| Pin 32 | RE3 — Port E bit 3 (digital I/O / CCP) |
| Pin 33 | RB0 — Port B bit 0 (digital I/O / INT) |
| Pin 34 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 35 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 36 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 37 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 38 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 39 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 (digital I/O / PGC) |
| Pin 40 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 (digital I/O / PGD) |
| Pin 41 | Vss — Ground (0 V) |
| Pin 42 | Vdd — Positive supply (5 V nominal) |
| Pin 43 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 44 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC17C44T-33/L is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control & Automation, Automotive Body & Instrument Modules, Consumer Appliance Controllers, Security & Access Control Panels, Embedded Communication Bridges, Point-of-Sale & Vending Machine Controllers.
Industrial Control & Automation
PIC17C44T-33/L fits industrial control front-ends requiring reliable deterministic 8-bit throughput. Its 33 MHz clock input delivers 121 ns single-cycle instruction execution (8.33 MIPS sustained), enough to scan multiple sensor inputs, debounce a 32-key matrix keypad, and drive stepper-motor phase logic within a 1 ms control loop. The 33 I/O pins accommodate multiple relay drivers, opto-isolated 24 V inputs, and 7-segment or character-LCD displays directly without external mux. Integrating USART allows Modbus RTU (RS-485) or legacy RS-232 host connection for SCADA integration.
Recommended
Automotive Body & Instrument Modules
PIC17C44T-33/L is well-suited to non-safety-critical automotive body controllers such as instrument-cluster drivers, HVAC control panels, lighting controllers, and accessory modules. The 4.5-6 V supply range matches the regulated 5 V automotive body bus; 33 digital I/O can drive an 8-digit multiplexed LED cluster, 4-step rotary encoder inputs, and LIN-bus gateway via the integrated USART. The programmable brown-out reset protects against cranking-voltage dropouts, while the watchdog timer with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator catches code-flow anomalies. Commercial-grade /L suffix is acceptable for cabin modules; for under-hood use, the /I industrial variant PIC17C44T-33I/L is recommended.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Controllers
PIC17C44T-33/L drives washing-machine, dishwasher, microwave-oven, and air-conditioner control boards where 16 KB OTP suffices for state-machine logic, user-interface menus, and sensor-fusion algorithms. The 33 MIPS throughput executes PID temperature control, BLDC motor commutation, and triac-fired heater pulse generation without CPU starvation. Hardware stack depth of 8 levels supports nested ISRs for timer and USART interrupts. OTP EPROM programming cost per unit compares favorably with Flash parts in high-volume appliance SKUs, and the 44-PLCC package with J-leads survives lead-free reflow and high-vibration cabinet environments.
Recommended
Security & Access Control Panels
PIC17C44T-33/L sits at the heart of intrusion-alarm panels, keypad-access controllers, and intercom master stations. Its on-chip hardware features support real-time tamper detection: a programmable watchdog timer with a dedicated RC oscillator frees the system clock for the user code, while code-protection bits lock the OTP EPROM against external read-back. The integrated USART accepts Modbus messages from keypads or sub-panels, and 33 I/O scan up to 8 zones of PIR sensors, glass-break detectors, smoke alarms, and door contacts without external mux logic. With external EEPROM for 256-entry event logging, the panel records arm/disarm history even if the host is offline.
Recommended
Embedded Communication Bridges
PIC17C44T-33/L acts as a low-cost protocol bridge between RS-232/Modbus, I2C peripherals, and SPI sensors. Its USART handles half-duplex RS-485 bus arbitration at up to 375 kbps (PIC17C-supported baud rate), while software bit-banging on Port B and Port C adds I2C master/slave and SPI master interfaces for sensor hubs. With 454 bytes RAM, the bridge buffers one full Modbus PDU (~256 bytes) plus protocol-conversion state without external SRAM. Three 8-bit timers expose precise timing for token-passing arbitration, while the brown-out reset ensures deterministic restart after a 12 V bus transient.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale & Vending Machine Controllers
PIC17C44T-33/L is deployed in vending-machine controllers, parking-meter kiosks, and POS terminals where 16 KB OTP program memory accommodates firmware for bill/coin validation, escrow logic, and inventory messages. Its 33 MIPS cycles through bill-validator pulse-decoding within 100 µs, validates MDB or Executive protocol transactions to vending accessories, and serves an LCD-character display using timer-driven bit-banged I/O. Hardware stack of 8 levels supports nested ISRs (USART, timer, MDB poll) without stack overflow on edge cases. OTP programming locks firmware against cloning attempts at high-volume kiosk SKUs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC17C44T-33/L — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC17C44-33/L | PIC17C44T-25/L | PIC17C44T-33I/L | PIC18F452-I/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-PLCC (16.59 x 16.59 mm) | 44-PLCC - same | 44-PLCC - same | 44-PLCC - same | 44-PLCC - same |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 33 MHz | 33 MHz | 25 MHz | 33 MHz | 40 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | 16 KB OTP EPROM | 16 KB OTP EPROM | 16 KB OTP EPROM | 16 KB OTP EPROM | 32 KB Flash |
| Instruction Cycle | 121 ns (single-cycle) | 121 ns | 160 ns | 121 ns | 100 ns |
| Data RAM | 454 bytes | 454 bytes | 454 bytes | 454 bytes | 1.5 KB |
| I/O Pins | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 34 |
| Operating Voltage | 4.5 V to 6.0 V | 4.5 V to 6.0 V | 4.5 V to 6.0 V | 4.5 V to 6.0 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0C to +70C) | Commercial | Commercial | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) |
Key Differentiators
- Higher clock frequency than other PIC17C variants (vs PIC17C44T-25/L)
- Industrial-grade option shares exact same silicon (vs PIC17C44T-33I/L)
- Still-available OTP choice when Flash proms are undesired (vs PIC18F452-I/L)
Design Notes
Estimated: PIC17C44T-33/L draws approximately 35 mA active current at 33 MHz @ 5 V when all 33 I/O pins drive capacitive loads. A 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 6 mm of each Vdd pin suppresses switching noise, and a single 10 µF tantalum bulk capacitor handles the MCLR transient when the system resets. Per Microchip PIC17C hardware design notes, do not exceed 6.0 V on any pin or 7.0 V on MCLR; in noisy automotive environments, add a series 1 kΩ and 1N4148 clamping diode to MCLR to absorb ESD strikes above 6.5 V.
Estimated: PIC17C44T-33/L is OTP (One-Time Programmable), so production prototypes must use ceramic-windowed PIC17C44JW or a Flash PIC18 cousin (PIC18F452) for firmware iteration. The 16 KB OTP is organized as 8K x 16-bit words because the PIC17C uses 16-bit instructions; do NOT confuse the instruction-word count with byte count. The 8-level hardware stack means deeply nested ISRs will overflow the stack silently; keep ISR nesting to one or two levels. The watchdog timer requires configuration bits set at OTP time; once locked, the WDT cannot be disabled without a chip erase (not available on OTP).
Estimated: The 44-PLCC socket (Microchip part number 44-PLCC-OS-ND or equivalent Yamaichi IC51-044-2-6847) accommodates in-circuit firmware development; without a socket, in-field firmware updates require board scrap. Use a 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane under the MCU, route oscillator traces (OSC1/OSC2) with ground guard for the full length, and length-match high-speed Port D outputs to a peripheral bus to avoid skewed write pulses on parallel peripherals like LCD controllers.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance data for PIC17C44T-33/L is not explicitly published in the verified Microchip product pages provided; legacy OTP PIC17C PLCC parts are typically NOT RoHS compliant due to leaded terminations. RoHS-compliant designs should consider PIC18F or dsPIC33 family. AEC-Q100 not applicable - PIC17C is a commercial/industrial MCU without automotive qualification.
