7400 Series Guide: 74HC20/74LS20 (Dual 4-input NAND gates)

The 74×20 (ex 74HC20) is a chip with two 4-input NAND gates.

In this guide, you’ll learn the things you need to know about this chip in order to use 4-input NAND gates in your own projects.

What does the 74HC20 / 74LS20 do?

The 74×20 gives you two 4-input NAND gates that you can use individually. A NAND gate is a logic gate that outputs 0 (LOW) only if all of its inputs are 1 (HIGH).

An easy way to remember what the result will be from a NAND gate is to think of the AND gate and to remember that the output will be the opposite. For an AND gate, ALL inputs must be HIGH for the output to become HIGH. So for the 4-input NAND gate, all of the four inputs must be HIGH for the output to become LOW.

How To Use This Chip

The 74HC20 comes in a 14-pin package, and you need to connect it to power before you can use it. Most 7400 ICs support a VCC voltage of 5V. One difference between the HC and LS versions of the chip is that the 74HC20 supports 2V to 6V, while the 74LS20 only supports 5V.

The maximum current you can pull out of one output pin is usually 0.4 to 4 mA (depending on the model) when the pin is high (sourcing) or 4 to 8 mA when the pin is low (sinking). This can be different between models, so check the datasheet of your model to verify.

Once you’ve connected it to power, you can use any of the two 4-input NAND gates inside.

74×20 Pinout

The 74×20 has 14 pins and contains two 4-input NAND gates laid out as shown in the pinout diagram below:

Pin #	Type	Description
1	Input	Input to the first NAND gate.
2	Input	Input to the first NAND gate.
3	NC	Not in use (Not Connected).
4	Input	Input to the first NAND gate.
5	Input	Input to the first NAND gate.
6	Output	Output from the first NAND gate.
7	Power	Connect to ground (GND).
8	Output	Output from the second NAND gate.
9	Input	Input to the second NAND gate.
10	Input	Input to the second NAND gate.
11	NC	Not in use (Not Connected).
12	Input	Input to the second NAND gate.
13	Input	Input to the second NAND gate.
14	Power	Positive power supply (VCC). Connect to +5V power.

Alternatives and Equivalents for 74HC20 / 74LS20

There are many versions of the 74×20 chip. They all have the same functionality but with different specifications such as supported voltages and maximum current output.

Here’s a list of a few equivalents of this chip:

• 74HC20 (High-speed CMOS)
• 74HCT20 (High-speed CMOS, TTL compatible)
• 74LS20 (High-speed TTL)
• 74LVC20 (Low Voltage TTL)
• 74AC20 (Advanced CMOS)
• 74ALS20 (Advanced Low-Power Schottky TTL)
• 74F20 (Very High Speed)
• 74C20 (CMOS, similar to the 4000-series)

Some manufacturers also add a prefix, such as the SN74HC20 and SN74LS20 by Texas Instruments.

Can’t find the 74×20 anywhere? Then try one of the following IC alternatives:

• 74×13 – Dual 4-input NAND gates (with Schmitt-trigger inputs).
• 74×18 – Dual 4-input NAND gates (with Schmitt-trigger inputs).
• 74×22 – Dual 4-input NAND gates (with open-collector outputs).
• 74×40 – Dual 4-input NAND gate buffers.
• CD4012 – Dual 4-input NAND gates

If you can’t find the 74×20 IC in your local electronics store, don’t worry, you’ll most likely find it in one of the stores listed on this page of online stores where you’ll find components and tools for all your electronics projects.

Datasheet for the 74LS20 and 74HC20 chips

Download the PDF datasheet for your version of the 74×20 here:

• SN74HC20 (Texas Instruments)
• SN74LS20 (Texas Instruments)
• 74HC20 (Futurlec)
• 74LS20 (Futurlec)