The 74HC86 Quad 2-Input XOR Gate IC is a fundamental building block for digital logic circuits. At Electrapac, we provide this high-speed CMOS integrated circuit for students, engineers, and hobbyists building arithmetic circuits, parity generators, or phase detectors.

Product Overview

The 74HC86 contains four independent 2-input Exclusive-OR (XOR) gates in a single 14-pin DIP package. In an XOR gate, the output is "HIGH" (1) only when the inputs are different. If both inputs are the same (both 0 or both 1), the output is "LOW" (0). This makes it indispensable for binary addition and comparison logic.

Key Features for Electrapac Customers

• High-Speed CMOS: Faster than the older 74LS series while consuming significantly less power, making it ideal for battery-operated digital projects.

• Standard DIP-14 Layout: Perfectly breadboard-friendly for rapid prototyping and educational lab experiments.

• Wide Voltage Range: Works reliably at 3.3V for modern microcontrollers (like ESP32/STM32) and at 5V for classic Arduino systems.

• Buffered Inputs: High noise immunity and stable logic switching even in complex circuit environments.

• Versatile Logic: Can be used as a controllable inverter (if one input is held HIGH, the other input is inverted at the output).

  Primary Applications

  • Binary Half-Adders: The XOR gate produces the "Sum" bit in binary addition circuits.

  • Parity Generators/Checkers: Detecting errors in digital data transmission.

  • Phase Comparators: Used in Phase-Locked Loops (PLL) to compare the frequency of two signals.

  • Controlled Inverters: Using one input as a "control" to flip the logic of the second input.

  • Binary to Gray Code Conversion: Essential for rotary encoders and digital communication.

  Why Shop at Electrapac?

  We source our 74HC86 ICs from reputable manufacturers to ensure crisp logic transitions and high thermal stability. At www.electrapac.com, we provide the reliable silicon components that serve as the "thinking" parts of your digital machines.