SN74ALS138ADRE4 Texas Instruments Integrated Circuit (Small Outline Packages) In Stock

The SN74ALS138A is a high-performance Schottky-clamped 3-to-8 line decoder/demultiplexer from the ALS logic family, housed in a 16-pin SOIC package. It features 2 active-low and 1 active-high enable inputs and a 50 pF load capacitance specification for fast switching. Used for memory address decoding, peripheral chip-select generation, and bus demultiplexing in embedded systems.

OBSOLETEIntegrated CircuitVerified Jun 2026
Package / Visual Reference
SN74ALS138ADRE4Small Outline Packages
Quick Facts
Manufacturer
Texas Instruments
Package
Small Outline Packages
Pin Count
16
Lifecycle
OBSOLETE
Category
Integrated Circuit
Temp Range
?°C to 70.0°C
RoHS
Compliant
Lead Time
3–7 business days
Shipping
DHL Express · Worldwide

What are the key features of SN74ALS138ADRE4?

  • 3-to-8 line decoder with Schottky-clamped ALS technology for high-speed performance
  • 2 active-low and 1 active-high enable inputs for flexible chip-select control
  • 50 pF load capacitance rating supporting high fan-out bus applications
  • 8 mA output sink current capability for driving multiple TTL and CMOS loads
  • 16-pin SOIC package compatible with standard PCB assembly processes

What is SN74ALS138ADRE4 used for?

The SN74ALS138A is widely used in microprocessor-based systems for decoding 3 address lines into 8 unique chip-select signals, enabling bank-switched memory and peripheral expansion without additional glue logic. Its ALS Schottky construction provides propagation delays suitable for 5 V bus systems running above 10 MHz clock rates. The device also serves as an 8-output demultiplexer in data routing circuits and LED driver selector stages.

What are the specifications of SN74ALS138ADRE4?

YTEOL0
Additional Feature2 ACTIVE-LOW AND 1 ACTIVE-HIGH ENABLE INPUT, SCHOTTKY-CLAMPED FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE
FamilyALS
Input ConditioningSTANDARD
JESD-30 CodeR-PDSO-G16
JESD-609 Codee4
Load Capacitance (CL)50pF
Logic IC Type3-LINE TO 8-LINE DECODER
Max I(ol)0.008A
Number of Functions1
Output PolarityINVERTED
Package Body MaterialPLASTIC/EPOXY
Package Equivalence CodeSOP16,.25
Package ShapeRECTANGULAR
Package StyleSMALL OUTLINE
Packing MethodTR
Peak Reflow Temperature (Cel)260
Power Supply Current-Max (ICC)10mA
Prop. Delay@Nom-Sup22ns
Propagation Delay (tpd)22ns
Qualification StatusNot Qualified
Supply Voltage-Max (Vsup)5.5V
Supply Voltage-Min (Vsup)4.5V
Supply Voltage-Nom (Vsup)5V
Surface MountYES
TechnologyTTL
Temperature GradeCOMMERCIAL
Terminal FinishNickel/Palladium/Gold (Ni/Pd/Au)
Terminal FormGULL WING
Terminal Pitch1.27mm
Terminal PositionDUAL
Time@Peak Reflow Temperature-Max (s)30
PackageSmall Outline Packages

Compliance & Regulatory

RoHS StatusCompliant
Lead-FreeYes (Pb-Free)
Moisture Sensitivity LevelMSL 1
ECCNEAR99
HTS Code8542.39.00.60

Where can I find the SN74ALS138ADRE4 datasheet?

SN74ALS138ADRE4 Datasheet Download

Official datasheet from Texas Instruments

What are equivalent replacements for SN74ALS138ADRE4?

Compatible alternatives and drop-in replacements for SN74ALS138ADRE4:

SN74ALS138ADRG4Texas Instruments

ALS Series, Inverted Output, TTL, PDSO16

View Part →
SN74ALS138ADG4Texas Instruments

ALS Series, Inverted Output, TTL, PDSO16

View Part →
SN74ALS138ADTexas Instruments

ALS Series, Inverted Output, TTL, PDSO16

View Part →

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the SN74ALS138ADRE4 decode a 3-bit address bus into 8 chip-select lines, and how many outputs are active at one time?

The SN74ALS138A takes a 3-bit binary address on its A, B, C inputs and asserts exactly 1 of its 8 active-low outputs at a time, selecting the corresponding memory or peripheral device. The remaining 7 outputs stay high, providing non-overlapping chip selects for up to 8 devices on a single address decode stage.

What output sink current does the SN74ALS138ADRE4 support, and how does the ALS Schottky process improve its switching speed versus standard TTL?

The device sinks up to 8 mA per output with a 50 pF load capacitance, meeting standard TTL drive requirements. The ALS Schottky process reduces propagation delay to typically 5 ns to 11 ns, roughly 2× to 3× faster than standard 74LS-series decoders, enabling use in 8 MHz to 16 MHz bus systems without wait states.

For a 5 V embedded system needing memory bank switching across 8 devices, why is the SN74ALS138ADRE4 suitable compared to CMOS-only decoder alternatives?

The SN74ALS138A is specifically optimized for 5 V TTL-level systems with guaranteed IOL of 8 mA, matching the drive requirements of bipolar memory chips and legacy peripherals. CMOS alternatives like the 74HC138 have lower output drive at 5 V under heavy loads, while the ALS version maintains consistent timing with loads up to 50 pF across the full 0 °C to 70 °C commercial temperature range.

Related Guides

Why Buy from FindMyChip

Authorized Source
Verified supply chain with full traceability & inspection
Competitive Pricing
Factory-direct from China distributors, low MOQ
Fast Shipping
DHL Express 3–5 days · FedEx/UPS 5–7 days worldwide
Quality Guaranteed
30-day replacement for defective parts, no questions asked

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)
Contact for Price
Buy from 1pc · Factory-direct pricing
pcs

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.

MR
Marco Rossi
CTO, AutoDrive Systems, Italy