SN74AHCT138N Texas Instruments Integrated Circuit (Dual-In-Line Packages) In Stock

Texas Instruments SN74AHCT138N is a 3-to-8 line inverting decoder and demultiplexer operating from a 4.5V to 5.5V supply. It features 3 enable inputs for cascading and output enable control, with a 50 pF load capacitance rating. Packaged in a 16-pin PDIP for easy through-hole assembly in address decoding and bus expansion designs.

ACTIVEIntegrated CircuitVerified May 2026
Package / Visual Reference
SN74AHCT138NDual-In-Line Packages
Quick Facts
Manufacturer
Texas Instruments
Package
Dual-In-Line Packages
Pin Count
16
Lifecycle
ACTIVE
Category
Integrated Circuit
Price
From $0.3563(MOQ 25)
Temp Range
-40.0°C to 85.0°C
RoHS
Compliant
Lead Time
3–7 business days
Shipping
DHL Express · Worldwide

What are the key features of SN74AHCT138N?

  • 3-to-8 line inverting decoder / demultiplexer logic function
  • Supply voltage range: 4.5V to 5.5V (AHCT family)
  • 3 enable inputs for cascading and chip-select control
  • Maximum output low current: 8 mA per output pin
  • 50 pF load capacitance rating for standard bus loads
  • 16-pin PDIP through-hole package for breadboard and prototype use

What is SN74AHCT138N used for?

SN74AHCT138N is widely used in address decoding circuits for microprocessor memory maps, enabling 8 independently selectable outputs from 3 binary address lines. It also serves in demultiplexing applications, bus expansion, and peripheral chip-select generation in embedded and digital logic systems operating at 5V.

What are the specifications of SN74AHCT138N?

Pbfree CodeYes
YTEOL15
Additional Feature3 ENABLE INPUTS
FamilyAHCT/VHCT/VT
Input ConditioningSTANDARD
JESD-30 CodeR-PDIP-T16
JESD-609 Codee4
Load Capacitance (CL)50pF
Logic IC Type3-LINE TO 8-LINE DECODER
Max I(ol)0.008A
Number of Bits8
Number of Functions1
Output Characteristics3-STATE
Output PolarityINVERTED
Package Body MaterialPLASTIC/EPOXY
Package Equivalence CodeDIP16,.3
Package ShapeRECTANGULAR
Package StyleIN-LINE
Packing MethodTUBE
Power Supply Current-Max (ICC)0.04mA
Prop. Delay@Nom-Sup12ns
Propagation Delay (tpd)13ns
Qualification StatusNot Qualified
Supply Voltage-Max (Vsup)5.5V
Supply Voltage-Min (Vsup)4.5V
Supply Voltage-Nom (Vsup)5V
Surface MountNO
TechnologyCMOS
Temperature GradeINDUSTRIAL
Terminal FinishNickel/Palladium/Gold (Ni/Pd/Au)
Terminal FormTHROUGH-HOLE
Terminal Pitch2.54mm
Terminal PositionDUAL
PackageDual-In-Line Packages

Compliance & Regulatory

RoHS StatusCompliant
Lead-FreeYes (Pb-Free)
ECCNEAR99
HTS Code8542.39.00.90
Country of OriginMalaysia, Mexico

Where can I find the SN74AHCT138N datasheet?

SN74AHCT138N Datasheet Download

Official datasheet from Texas Instruments

What are equivalent replacements for SN74AHCT138N?

Compatible alternatives and drop-in replacements for SN74AHCT138N:

SN74AHCT138NE4Texas Instruments AHCT/VHCT/VT Series, Inverted Output,

CMOS, PDIP16

View Part →
SN74AHCT138DTexas Instruments

AHCT/VHCT/VT Series, Inverted Output, CMOS, PDSO16

View Part →
SN74AHCT138NSRTexas Instruments

AHCT/VHCT/VT Series, Inverted Output, CMOS, PDSO16

View Part →
SN74AHCT138DG4Texas Instruments

AHCT/VHCT/VT Series, Inverted Output, CMOS, PDSO16

View Part →
SN74AHCT138QDRG4Q1Texas Instruments

AHCT/VHCT/VT Series, Inverted Output, CMOS, PDSO16

View Part →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many outputs does SN74AHCT138N drive, and what logic level does each output assert when selected?

SN74AHCT138N drives 8 outputs in a 3-to-8 inverting configuration, asserting each selected output LOW (active-low) while the remaining 7 outputs stay HIGH. The maximum output low current is 8 mA at 4.5V to 5.5V supply.

For a 5V microcontroller address bus, how does SN74AHCT138N compare to a 74HC138 in terms of supply compatibility?

SN74AHCT138N operates from 4.5V to 5.5V and accepts TTL-level inputs (AHCT family), making it directly compatible with 5V microcontrollers and 3.3V logic outputs without level-shifting, unlike 74HC138 which typically requires 2V to 6V supply and CMOS-level inputs.

Can SN74AHCT138N be cascaded to decode more than 8 addresses?

Yes. SN74AHCT138N includes 3 enable inputs that can be connected to address lines or outputs of another decoder, enabling straightforward cascading to build 4-to-16 or larger address decoders using 2 or more devices across a 16-pin PDIP footprint.

Which PCB assembly method does the SN74AHCT138N PDIP package support?

The 16-pin PDIP package uses a 2.54 mm through-hole pitch with a 7.62 mm row spacing, supporting manual insertion and wave soldering. This makes SN74AHCT138N easy to use on breadboards and standard through-hole PCBs in prototype and low-volume production runs.

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About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments (TI) is a global semiconductor company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. TI designs and manufactures analog and embedded processing chips used in industrial, automotive, consumer, communications, and enterprise systems.

AvailabilityIn Stock
Reference Price (USD)
From $0.3563
Buy from 1pc · Factory-direct pricing
Qty.Unit PriceExt. Price
25+$0.4454$11.13
100+$0.4119$41.19
250+$0.3563$89.08
pcs
Unit price: $0.4454 · Total: $11.13

In Stock · 24h Response · Worldwide Shipping

Lead Time3-7 business days
MOQFrom 1 piece
ShippingDHL / FedEx / UPS
OriginChina (Authorized)

Response within 24 hours · Worldwide shipping

Their engineering team helped us find a pin-compatible alternative when our original MCU went EOL.

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Marco Rossi
CTO, AutoDrive Systems, Italy