Internal oscillator

jjude · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 37

How reliable is the internal oscillator (PIC16F616)?
Does it work reliably even after 10 years?

SherpaDoug · Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Posts: 1640 Location: Cape Cod Mass USA

Do you have any reason to believe the oscillator would be any less reliable than the rest of the PIC?
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Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19338

The internal oscillators, are basically a simple RC circuit. So as reliable (in terms of actually working), as the rest of the chip.
Where there may well be long term problems, are in accuracy.
Historically the RC oscillators on other chips keep working fine, but do drift to some extent with time. If accuracy is not a problem, there is as much chance of these keeping _working_, as the rest of the chip. However if you rely on timings dependant on the clock, then aging of the internal components _will_ occur, and is generally not characterized in the data, so is unpredictable.
Since the 16F616, has only been made for about four years, 'knowledge' of longevity is non existent. However the core components in many cases are common with other chips that have been around longer, so an 'informed' prediction can be made.
I've got 16C84 circuits, that have been working non stop now since 1994, and so far none have had the PIC fail. However all use crystal oscillators.

Best Wishes