PIC16C54T-RCI/SS - 8-Bit 4MHz OTP MCU, 768B | Microchip | 20-SSOP
MPN: PIC16C54T-RCI/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.16 | $4.16 |
| 10 | $3.85 | $38.50 |
| 100 | $3.45 | $345.00 |
| 500 | $3.1 | $1,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.75 | $2,750.00 |
PIC16C54T-RCI/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (ROM/EPROM/Flash/OTP), volatile data memory (RAM), and programmable I/O peripherals on one die. The PIC16C5X family belongs to the larger 8-bit microcontroller class, sits within the broader category of embedded microcontrollers, and falls under the umbrella of embedded processing semiconductors. Compared with 16-bit and 32-bit MCUs, 8-bit PIC devices remain attractive for cost-sensitive, deterministic, low-power control loops where peripheral complexity is modest.
Key features of the PIC16C54T-RCI/SS include a RISC Harvard-architecture core with 12-bit wide instructions and 2:1 code compression versus typical 8-bit CISC competitors, a 25-entry hardware stack, a watchdog timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator, an 8-bit real-time clock/counter (RTCC) with programmable prescaler, and power-on reset plus brown-out protection. The /RC oscillator suffix indicates an external resistor/capacitor oscillator configuration, while the 'I' indicates the industrial -40C to +85C operating range.
The 'T' suffix indicates tape-and-reel packaging; the '/SS' suffix specifies the 20-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body width). Architecture-wise, the PIC16C5X uses a fully static CMOS design with separate program and data buses (Harvard), allowing simultaneous instruction fetch and data access. The 12-bit instruction word plus 2:1 code compression means most instructions fit in a single 12-bit program word, yielding code density that typically exceeds CISC 8-bit alternatives.
Typical applications include low-cost appliance controllers, simple sensor interfaces, LED lighting controllers, battery chargers, and replacement of discrete logic in white-goods and consumer devices. Designers choose the PIC16C54 for applications where price per unit, deterministic interrupt-free operation, and minimum external component count matter more than raw MIPS.
When designing with the PIC16C54T-RCI/SS, ensure the RC oscillator R/C values stay within the datasheet's stability envelope (typically R = 3 kOhm to 100 kOhm, C > 20 pF). Add a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor close to VDD and bulk-cap the supply rail if the load is highly dynamic. Programming must use Microchip's device programmer (e.g., PICSTART Plus or MPLAB PM3) before the OTP window closes - the part is not field-reprogrammable.
This page synthesizes current distributor pricing, drop-in compatible alternatives, and practical design notes that complement the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers evaluate sourcing options for the legacy PIC16C5X family.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C54T-RCI/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 PIC16C54T-RCI/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Size, Instruction Cycle Time, Package, Mounting Type, RAM Size.
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No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesPIC16C54T-RCI/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology |
| Series | PIC 16C |
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time-Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 768 bytes (512 x 12 words) |
| RAM Size | 32 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | None |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns (at 20 MHz) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 12 |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 6.25 V |
| Oscillator Type | External RC (/RC suffix) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (industrial, /I suffix) |
| Package | 20-SSOP (5.30 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T suffix) |
| Number of Instructions | 33 single-word |
| Peripherals | Watchdog Timer, RTCC with prescaler, POR |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16C54T-RCI/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 3 |
| Pin 5 | MCLR — Master clear reset input (active low) |
| Pin 6 | OSC1 — Oscillator input / external RC network |
| Pin 7 | OSC2 — Oscillator output / RC network node |
| Pin 8 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 0 (interrupt on change) |
| Pin 10 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 1 (interrupt on change) |
| Pin 11 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 2 (interrupt on change) |
| Pin 12 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 3 (interrupt on change) |
| Pin 13 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 4 (interrupt on change) |
| Pin 14 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 5 (interrupt on change) |
| Pin 15 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 6 (interrupt on change) |
| Pin 16 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 7 (interrupt on change) |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0 V to 6.25 V) |
| Pin 18 | NC — Not connected (no internal bond) |
| Pin 19 | NC — Not connected (no internal bond) |
| Pin 20 | NC — Not connected (no internal bond) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C54T-RCI/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Low-Cost Appliance Controllers, Simple Sensor Interface Modules, LED Lighting and Decorative Controllers, Battery Chargers and Power Management, Replacement of Discrete Logic, Automotive Aftermarket Accessories, Toy and Consumer Electronics.
Low-Cost Appliance Controllers
The PIC16C54T-RCI/SS is widely used in white-goods controllers - washing machine timers, microwave oven user interfaces, and rice cooker thermal profiles - because its 12 I/O pins directly drive 7-segment LED displays and relay coils without external buffers (each pin sinks 20 mA). At 4 MHz it executes deterministic control loops in 200 ns, easily handling keypad scanning, PWM-like bit-banging, and debounce routines. The 768-byte OTP fits modest state-machine firmware with room to spare; industrial -40C to +85C operation tolerates the appliance thermal envelope. Compared with a 32-bit MCU, the C54 reduces BOM cost by 60-80% while delivering the I/O count these applications actually need.
Recommended
Simple Sensor Interface Modules
For HVAC sensors, thermostats, and industrial transducer signal-conditioning modules, the PIC16C54T-RCI/SS reads analog sensors via an external ADC, performs linearization and scaling in firmware, and outputs the result over UART or 4-20 mA loop. The 32-byte RAM is sufficient for moving-average filters, and the 8-bit RTCC with prescaler handles 1 ms to 1 s sampling intervals without software timers. The 3.0-6.25 V supply range lets the module share a regulated rail with the sensor front-end. The /RC oscillator eliminates the cost of a crystal, saving approximately $0.10 per unit on the BOM.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Decorative Controllers
The PIC16C54T-RCI/SS drives multi-channel LED chasers, Christmas-light controllers, and architectural RGB dimmers by bit-banging PWM on its 12 I/O pins with software fade tables. With 33 single-cycle instructions and a 200 ns cycle time, it produces flicker-free 8-bit PWM at refresh rates above 100 Hz per channel - well above the persistence-of-vision threshold. The 768-byte OTP stores multiple lighting scenes selected via pushbuttons, and the wide VDD range (3.0-6.25 V) supports both 5 V logic and 3.3 V Li-ion powered fixtures directly. Industrial temperature grade handles outdoor signage applications.
Recommended
Battery Chargers and Power Management
The PIC16C54T-RCI/SS monitors cell voltage via resistor divider to the I/O pin, controls a MOSFET or relay via PWM, and implements CC/CV charge profiles for lead-acid, NiMH, and Li-ion packs. The watchdog timer with its own dedicated RC oscillator provides fail-safe recovery if firmware hangs during a long charge cycle. Low sleep current (under 10 uA typical) extends shelf life on the battery itself, and the wide operating voltage range covers 1-4 cell packs directly. The 20-SSOP package fits inside the charger housing with room for thermal vias to the drain tab.
Recommended
Replacement of Discrete Logic
Engineers frequently replace 74HC-series glue logic and discrete 555/4017 timing chains with a PIC16C54T-RCI/SS, gaining configurable behavior without PCB rework. A single 20-SSOP MCU replaces up to 4-6 logic ICs, reducing board area by 50 percent and BOM line items. The OTP programming model means there is no firmware over-the-air concern - the logic is permanently fixed. Programming is one-time via Microchip's MPLAB PM3 or PICSTART Plus device programmer, then the part behaves as a deterministic logic replacement forever. Industrial temperature rating fits factory floor deployments.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Accessories
The PIC16C54T-RCI/SS powers aftermarket automotive accessories such as alarm chirp modules, seat-heater timers, and auxiliary lighting controllers where the industrial -40C to +85C range meets under-dash thermal conditions. The 12 I/O pins drive LEDs, relays, and buzzer transducers; the 768-byte OTP holds the timer logic and pattern sequences. Note: this part is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified, so for OEM automotive designs requiring AEC-Q100 the Microchip PIC16F family with automotive 'F' suffix parts must be substituted. The C54 family remains popular for aftermarket modules where cost dominates qualification requirements.
Recommended
Toy and Consumer Electronics
The PIC16C54T-RCI/SS is found in talking toys, educational electronics kits, and novelty consumer goods where cost per unit is the primary design constraint. The 4 MHz /RC oscillator eliminates crystal cost (saving approximately $0.10 versus a crystal variant), the 12 I/O pins drive sound chips, LEDs, and motor drivers, and the OTP memory is locked at production preventing tampering. At qty-1 unit price around $4.16 (as of 2026-09-16) it competes favorably with bare-bones ASIC alternatives in low-to-mid volume runs (10K to 500K units). The 20-SSOP package handles reflow soldering on standard consumer SMT lines.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C54T-RCI/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C54C-20I/SS | PIC16C54T-LPI/SS | PIC16C54T-HSE/SS | PIC16C54-RCI/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-SSOP | 20-SSOP (same) | 20-SSOP (same) | 20-SSOP (same) | 20-SSOP (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 768 bytes OTP | 768 bytes OTP | 768 bytes OTP | 768 bytes OTP | 768 bytes OTP |
| RAM | 32 bytes | 32 bytes | 32 bytes | 32 bytes | 32 bytes |
| Max Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 32 kHz (LP) | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Operating Voltage | 3.0 V to 6.25 V | 3.0 V to 6.25 V | 2.0 V to 6.25 V (LP wider) | 3.0 V to 6.25 V | 3.0 V to 6.25 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Oscillator Type | External RC | Configurable (RC/HS/LP/XT) | Low-power crystal (LP) | High-speed crystal (HS) | External RC (same) |
Key Differentiators
- External RC oscillator option eliminates crystal cost (vs PIC16C54T-HSE/SS)
- Industrial temperature range for harsh environments (vs PIC16C54CT-20E/SS)
- Tape and reel packaging for SMT production (vs PIC16C54-RCI/SS)
- Cost-optimized 8-bit core with deterministic execution (vs PIC16F648A-I/SS)
Design Notes
Decouple the VDD pin with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the device, and add a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the supply rail if the load (LEDs, relays) draws dynamic current. The PIC16C54T-RCI/SS draws approximately 2 mA active at 4 MHz / 5 V and under 10 uA in sleep. For battery-powered designs add a series ferrite bead on VDD to suppress noise from inductive loads back into the MCU supply. Estimated: total quiescent draw including decoupling losses is 2-3 mA active at room temperature.
Place the external RC oscillator components (R between OSC1 and OSC2, C between OSC2 and GND) within 10 mm of the oscillator pins. Use a ground guard ring around the RC network to minimize stray capacitance. Keep digital switching traces away from OSC1/OSC2 to prevent coupling that could shift the effective clock frequency. Estimated: with R = 10 kOhm and C = 100 pF the nominal oscillator frequency is approximately 4 MHz, but PCB parasitic capacitance can shift this by 10-20 percent.
Do not assume the PIC16C54T-RCI/SS is field-reprogrammable - OTP memory can be written exactly once via Microchip's device programmer (MPLAB PM3 or PICSTART Plus). If firmware iteration is required during development, use the windowed PIC16C54 JW variant or switch to the flash-based PIC16F54/PIC16F648A in the same 20-SSOP package. Also note that the PIC16C5X has NO hardware UART, NO ADC, and NO hardware PWM - all of these must be bit-banged in firmware, consuming program memory and CPU cycles.
The 20-SSOP package has a thermal resistance of approximately 100 C/W (theta_JA) on a standard JEDEC 4-layer test board. At 5 V active current of 2 mA the device dissipates only 10 mW, so junction temperature rise above ambient is negligible (1 C). However, in sealed outdoor enclosures with no airflow, ensure ambient temperature stays below 70 C to maintain the 15 C safety margin to the 85 C industrial maximum. Estimated: at 85 C ambient the junction reaches approximately 86 C, well within spec.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not qualified - this part is NOT recommended for OEM automotive designs. For automotive applications use the AEC-Q100 qualified PIC16F family instead. Conflict minerals compliant per Microchip's CMRT declarations.