PIC16C76-20/SO - 8-bit OTP MCU 14KB 20MHz SOIC-28 | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C76-20/SO ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10.24 | $10.24 |
| 10 | $9.62 | $96.20 |
| 100 | $8.55 | $855.00 |
| 500 | $7.49 | $3,745.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.42 | $6,420.00 |
PIC16C76-20/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory (ROM/RAM), and peripherals on one silicon die, optimized for embedded control tasks. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16C76 belongs to the microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> mid-range PIC16C family -> CMOS RISC architecture. These MCUs sit below 16-bit and 32-bit microcontrollers in performance and complexity but excel in deterministic real-time control, low cost, and ultra-low standby power. The PIC16C7X family adds integrated analog (ADC) and serial peripherals on top of the baseline PIC16C5X/PIC12CXXX core, making it a bridge between pure digital logic replacement and full analog-mixed systems.
Key features include 35 single-word instructions (all single-cycle except program branches), wide operating voltage from 2.5 V to 6.0 V, commercial/industrial/extended temperature grades, 25 mA source/sink per I/O, and Microchip's nanoWatt-style low-power modes drawing 15 µA typical at 5 V/4 MHz active and 1 µA typical standby at 3 V/32 kHz. The OTP program memory allows one-time factory or field programming via Microchip development tools, and the device is code-compatible with PIC16C72/73/74/77 siblings.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, sensor signal conditioning, low-end motor and HVAC control, instrumentation front-ends, and legacy embedded systems where a drop-in PIC16C7X upgrade path is desired. Microchip explicitly recommends the flash-based PIC16F76 as the newer, reprogrammable alternative for new designs. When designing with this MCU, ensure the OTP programming window is satisfied during in-system programming and observe the 6.0 V absolute-maximum VDD limit to avoid latch-up. The 28-SOIC footprint is industry-standard for through-hole-free mid-range PIC designs.
This page synthesizes current distributor pricing, package-matched drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not aggregated on a single manufacturer page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C76-20/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 PIC16C76-20/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Size, Operating Temperature Range, Package, Mounting Type, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F76-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C76-10/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C76-20I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C76-20E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C76T-20/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C76-20/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Family | PIC16C7X (mid-range) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| RAM Size | 368 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 6.0 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 5 channels, 8-bit |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| Capture/Compare/PWM | 2 modules |
| Serial Interfaces | SSP (SPI/I2C) + USART |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (SO, 0.295 inch / 7.50 mm width) |
| I/O Source/Sink Current | 25 mA / 25 mA |
| Active Current (typ.) | 15 µA at 5 V / 4 MHz |
| Standby Current (typ.) | 1 µA at 3 V / 32 kHz |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
PIC16C76-20/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (active-low reset) / OTP programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input channel 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF- — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input channel 3 / ADC negative reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 (open-drain) / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input channel 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / clock output (Fosc/4) |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 input/output |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 input/output |
| 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 TX / USART clock |
| Pin 17 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 18 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt input |
| Pin 19 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 20 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 21 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 22 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 23 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 24 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 25 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 26 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 27 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5 V to 6.0 V) |
| Pin 28 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet; reserved) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C76-20/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Controllers, HVAC and Appliance Control, Sensor Signal Conditioning, Legacy Embedded Upgrades, Low-Speed Communication Gateways, Educational and Development Platforms.
Industrial Automation Controllers
The PIC16C76-20/SO fits industrial PLC sub-modules and sensor-interface boards thanks to its 5-channel 8-bit ADC, 22 GPIO at 25 mA drive, and 20 MHz / 5 MIPS throughput. At 5 V supply it can read 4-20 mA loop inputs, drive relay coils directly, and time multiplex RS-485 communication via the on-chip USART. Its 2.5-6.0 V operating range tolerates loosely regulated 24 V industrial rails stepped down to 5 V, and the 1 µA standby current suits battery-backed black-box recorders that wake on interrupt.
Recommended
HVAC and Appliance Control
In HVAC damper actuators, refrigerator control boards, and washing-machine user-interface modules, the PIC16C76-20/SO delivers deterministic loop times for triac-fired heater regulation and BLDC fan commutation. The dual CCP modules generate PWM at up to 10-bit resolution for variable-frequency drives, while the 8-bit ADC reads thermistor or 4-20 mA pressure transducer inputs. The 28-SOIC footprint enables compact appliance-control PCBs, and the OTP program memory prevents firmware tampering in volume consumer production.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16C76-20/SO is well suited to bridge-sensor excitation and digital readout for strain gauges, load cells, and pressure transducers. Its 5-channel 8-bit ADC scans up to five sensors with programmable acquisition time, and the 25 mA I/O source current can drive Wheatstone-bridge excitation directly without a separate buffer. The SSP module logs data to a serial EEPROM (e.g., 24LC256), and the USART streams readings to a host PLC. Low standby current (1 µA) enables remote, battery-powered structural-health monitoring nodes.
Recommended
Legacy Embedded Upgrades
Existing products based on the PIC16C72 or PIC16C73 can upgrade to the PIC16C76-20/SO without PCB rework: all four share the 28-pin SOIC pinout documented in the Microchip pin/code compatibility chart. The PIC16C76 adds a 16-bit timer, a second CCP module, and a larger 14 KB program memory over the PIC16C72. This is the typical migration path for legacy designs seeking more peripheral headroom without redesigning the analog front-end. The same code recompiles against the PIC16F76 for new variants.
Recommended
Low-Speed Communication Gateways
The PIC16C76-20/SO bridges I2C sensors and SPI peripherals to UART or RS-232 hosts in low-throughput gateway applications. Its SSP module masters I2C at 100/400 kHz to poll sensors, while the separate USART runs at 9600-115200 baud to forward data to a host controller. With 20 MHz / 5 MIPS, the MCU can sustain full-duplex translation between buses without overrun. Typical deployments include BLE-sensor-to-UART bridges and Modbus RTU slave interfaces in industrial telemetry.
Recommended
Educational and Development Platforms
The PIC16C76-20/SO is widely used in university embedded-systems curricula and Microchip trainer boards because its 35-instruction RISC core, 28-SOIC footprint, and on-chip peripherals cover the canonical 8-bit teaching topics: GPIO, timers, ADC, PWM, I2C, SPI, and UART. The 200 ns instruction cycle makes timing calculations transparent for first-time students. Although newer curricula migrate to PIC16F1x or dsPIC, the C76 remains a faithful teaching artifact for OTP-memory and bare-metal programming concepts.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C76-20/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F76-I/SO | PIC16C76-10/SO | PIC16C76-20I/SO | PIC16C76-20E/SO | PIC16C76T-20/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC (SO, 0.295 inch) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (14 KB) | Flash (14 KB) | OTP (14 KB) | OTP (14 KB) | OTP (14 KB) | OTP (14 KB) |
| Max Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 10 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0C to +70C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Commercial | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Commercial |
| ADC Channels | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit |
| RAM | 368 bytes | 368 bytes | 368 bytes | 368 bytes | 368 bytes | 368 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | Active | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
Key Differentiators
- One-Time-Programmable memory with industrial temperature options (vs PIC16F76-I/SO)
- Code- and pin-compatible 28-SOIC upgrade path from PIC16C72/73/74 family (vs PIC16C73B-04I/SO)
- 20 MHz / 5 MIPS performance with 1 µA standby current (vs PIC16C76-10/SO)
Design Notes
PIC16C76-20/SO operates from 2.5 V to 6.0 V and draws approximately 15 µA typical active at 5 V / 4 MHz and 1 µA typical standby at 3 V / 32 kHz. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD (pin 27) and a bulk 10 µF tantalum near the MCU. Do NOT exceed 6.0 V; latch-up can permanently damage the CMOS die. For battery applications, use sleep mode aggressively and gate peripheral clocks via PCON.
Use the standard 28-SOIC land pattern from IPC-7351 (1.27 mm pitch). Keep the oscillator traces short (less than 10 mm) and surround the crystal with a ground pour to attenuate radiated EMI. MCLR/VPP (pin 1) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; adding a 100 nF capacitor here creates a power-on-reset delay. Route ICSP clock (RB6/PGC, pin 24) and data (RB7/PGD, pin 25) traces to a 5-pin header matching the Microchip ICD layout for field programming access.
Because PIC16C76 uses OTP (one-time programmable) memory, a failed programming cycle bricks the device. Verify VDD is within 4.5-5.5 V during OTP programming and that MCLR/VPP rises to 13-14 V cleanly with no ringing. Unlike flash-based PIC16F76, this part CANNOT be reprogrammed - budget extra units for development. Also note that PORTA bit 4 (RA4) is open-drain and requires an external pull-up if used as a digital output driving a logic-high load.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free status per Microchip product page; AEC-Q100 not applicable for commercial-grade 8-bit MCU; halogen-free status not explicitly stated in scraped data and is marked unknown.
