PIC12F1501T-I/MS - 8-Bit MCU, 1.75KB Flash, 8-MSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC12F1501T-I/MS β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.39 | $1.39 |
| 10 | $1.25 | $12.50 |
| 100 | $1.05 | $105.00 |
| 500 | $0.93 | $465.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.84 | $840.00 |
| 2,500 | $0.74 | $1,850.00 |
PIC12F1501T-I/MS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory (typically Flash), working RAM, and peripheral set onto one die. PIC microcontrollers from Microchip Technology sit within the broader taxonomy of microcontrollers -> microcomputer ICs -> embedded controllers -> integrated circuits, where the PIC12F sub-family targets the smallest-footprint, lowest-cost 8-pin and 14-pin designs.
Key features of the PIC12F1501 include 49 instructions across the enhanced mid-range core, 16 stack levels, internal oscillator accuracy of +/-1% typical, a wide operating temperature range of -40C to +85C (industrial, "I" suffix), and XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology enabling deep sleep currents below typical MCU class averages. The on-chip 10-bit ADC delivers up to 10 channels on larger variants and supports hardware Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) for touch sensing.
Architecturally, the device uses a Harvard RISC architecture with separate program and data buses, which accelerates instruction fetch and allows most instructions to execute in a single instruction cycle (4 clock periods). The CLC peripheral provides configurable combinational/sequential logic, while the NCO module offers fine-frequency pulse generation for cost-effective digital control loops. The internal oscillator and PLL combination provides accurate timing without external crystals for many applications.
Typical applications include LED lighting control with the CWG and PWM modules, battery chargers and power sequencing tasks that benefit from XLP, low-cost capacitive touch user interfaces using the ADC CVD, sensor signal conditioning with the 10-bit ADC, and small appliance white goods. The wide supply range and MSOP-8 footprint also suit industrial sensor nodes and consumer remote controls.
A key design consideration is operating voltage headroom: the device runs from 2.5V to 5.5V but ADC accuracy is best above 3.0V. For battery-powered designs, leverage the XLP sleep modes and use the internal LFINTOSC to keep active current low.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible Microchip same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes - an information gain that the manufacturer datasheet alone does not provide.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12F1501T-I/MS β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PIC12F1501T-I/MS (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Package, MSL Level, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F1501-I/MS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501-E/MS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1501T-I/MS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501T-E/SN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501T-I/MS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory | 1.75 KB (1K x 14) Flash |
| RAM | 64 bytes |
| EEPROM | None on this part |
| Number of I/O | 6 |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC | 10-bit, with computation |
| Number of ADC Channels | 4 (on 8-pin MSOP variant) |
| Peripherals | CLC, NCO, PWM, CWG, 10-bit ADC |
| Package | 8-pin MSOP |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life at <30C/85% RH) |
| Instruction Set | 49 instructions (enhanced mid-range) |
| Stack Levels | 16 |
PIC12F1501T-I/MS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (2.5V-5.5V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 β Digital I/O / GPIO with analog input capability |
| Pin 3 | RA4 β Digital I/O / GPIO with analog input capability |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR β Digital input only / Master Clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 5 | RA2 β Digital I/O / GPIO with analog input capability |
| Pin 6 | RA1/ICSPCLK β Digital I/O / Serial programming clock |
| Pin 7 | RA0/ICSPDAT β Digital I/O / Serial programming data |
| Pin 8 | VSS β Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12F1501T-I/MS is suitable for 7 applications: LED Lighting Control, Capacitive Touch User Interface, Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Small Appliance White Goods, Remote Control / IR Transmitter, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Toy and Hobby Electronics.
LED Lighting Control
The PIC12F1501T-I/MS fits LED lighting control applications because its 20 MHz core and on-chip CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) plus PWM modules drive high-efficiency LED strings without external logic. With 1.75 KB Flash it stores color-mixing profiles and dimming curves, while the 10-bit ADC reads ambient light sensor feedback to implement closed-loop brightness control. The 8-MSOP footprint allows integration into MR16 lamps and linear LED tubes where PCB area is constrained. Compared with discrete 555-based dimmers, the PIC12F1501 delivers software-configurable fade rates, NCO-precise color temperature shifting, and XLP sleep currents below 20 nA typical to extend battery life in portable fixtures. Designers can use the CLC peripheral to implement hardware safety interlocks (over-temperature, over-current) without adding external logic ICs.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC12F1501T-I/MS is well suited for capacitive touch button or slider implementations because its 10-bit ADC with computation supports hardware Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) scanning directly on GPIO pins. With 6 I/O available on the 8-MSOP package, the device can scan up to 4-5 touch electrodes while still leaving pins for LED feedback or UART TX. The 20 MHz instruction rate completes full CVD scans in microseconds, enabling low-latency response. Compared with dedicated touch ICs, the PIC12F1501 provides programmable threshold and hysteresis algorithms, plus NCO-based chirp excitation for noise-immune sensing. Power consumption is minimized via the XLP sleep mode between scans, making this part attractive for IoT user interfaces and white-goods front panels where BOM integration matters.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC12F1501T-I/MS fits battery-powered sensor node designs because its XLP technology delivers sleep current below 20 nA typical with full RAM retention, and the internal 16 MHz HFINTOSC eliminates external crystal power draw. With 1.75 KB Flash it fits firmware for periodic sensor reads, threshold filtering, and BLE/Sigfox wake-up signaling. The 10-bit ADC reads thermistor, photocell, or battery voltage with internal 1.024V reference for ratiometric measurements. Operating from 2.5V to 5.5V it works directly from a 3V CR2032 or two AA cells. The 8-MSOP package fits inside miniature sensor housings. Designers should use the LFINTOSC for sleep intervals and switch to HFINTOSC only during active measurement windows to extend battery life into multi-year ranges.
Recommended
Small Appliance White Goods
The PIC12F1501T-I/MS is ideal for small appliance white-goods control because its industrial -40C to +85C temperature range and 8-MSOP compact footprint suit space-constrained coffee makers, blenders, and humidifier boards. With 6 I/O it drives triac control, sense buttons, status LEDs, and reads NTC temperature sensors. The CWG peripheral generates dead-band-controlled waveforms for AC zero-cross switching. With 1.75 KB Flash it stores user presets, calibration tables, and fault logs. The 10-bit ADC with computation can average mains-zero-cross intervals for robust triac timing. Compared with older PIC12F615 designs, the PIC12F1501 delivers more accurate ADC readings and the CLC can implement hardware safety interlocks without extra glue logic.
Recommended
Remote Control / IR Transmitter
The PIC12F1501T-I/MS works well in low-cost remote control and IR transmitter designs because its PWM module drives a 38 kHz/56 kHz carrier directly, while the 6 GPIO can matrix-scan up to a 3x2 button grid. With 1.75 KB Flash it stores protocol templates for NEC, RC5, RC6, and SIRC encodings. The XLP sleep current below 20 nA typical enables multi-year battery life from a single CR2032 coin cell. Compared with dedicated IR encoder ICs, the PIC12F1501 allows custom button remapping via firmware updates. The 8-MSOP package fits inside slim remote enclosures. The internal HFINTOSC accuracy of +/-1% typical is sufficient for NEC/RC timing requirements without external crystal.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC12F1501T-I/MS is appropriate for industrial sensor signal conditioning because its 10-bit ADC with computation handles linearization, averaging, and threshold detection on transducer outputs such as strain gauges, thermistors, and 4-20 mA loop interfaces. With 64 bytes RAM and 1.75 KB Flash, it stores calibration constants for up to 8 sensors and outputs serial data via bit-banged UART. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature range suits factory-floor environments. The CLC peripheral implements window-comparator functions in hardware, freeing the CPU for higher-level tasks. Compared with discrete op-amp conditioning chains, the PIC12F1501 enables firmware-adjustable calibration and field-upgradable scaling factors without PCB rework.
Recommended
Toy and Hobby Electronics
The PIC12F1501T-I/MS suits toy and hobby electronics because its 1.75 KB Flash holds simple behavioral firmware, sound-timing tables, and motor-control profiles, while 6 GPIO drives servos, LEDs, and buzzer outputs. The CWG and PWM modules generate complementary motor-drive waveforms for small DC motors or solenoids in robotic toys. The 8-MSOP surface-mount package suits compact hobby boards and educational kits. At the LCSC starting price of $1.0477 per unit, it is cost-competitive with hobby-focused controllers. Designers can leverage the NCO for precise audio-tone generation or for hobby CNC pulse trains, while the ADC reads potentiometer or joystick inputs. The XLP sleep mode extends battery life in intermittent-use toys.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12F1501T-I/MS β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F1501-I/MS | PIC12F1501-E/MS | PIC12LF1501T-I/MS | PIC12F1501T-E/SN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-MSOP | 8-MSOP - same | 8-MSOP - same | 8-MSOP - same | 8-MSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5V to 5.5V | 2.5V to 5.5V | 2.5V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 2.5V to 5.5V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C |
| Program Memory | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash |
| CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Packaging Format | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel |
| Peripherals | CLC, NCO, PWM, CWG, 10-bit ADC | Same set | Same set | Same set | Same set |
Key Differentiators
- Same die, only carrier format differs (vs PIC12F1501-I/MS)
- Extended temperature grade option available in same package (vs PIC12F1501-E/MS)
- Lower-voltage variant for coin-cell designs (vs PIC12LF1501T-I/MS)
Design Notes
For battery-powered designs using the PIC12F1501T-I/MS, leverage XLP (eXtreme Low Power) sleep modes: setting the CPU to sleep with WDT disabled drops current below 1 uA typical, and full RAM retention sleep drops below 20 nA typical per Microchip datasheet. Use the LFINTOSC oscillator for periodic wake-up timing to avoid keeping the HFINTOSC running. Switch to HFINTOSC (16 MHz) only during active ADC or PWM operations. Add a 100 nF decoupling cap on VDD (pin 1) placed within 3 mm of the pin, and a 10 uF bulk cap if the supply rail is shared with motors or other noisy loads.
The 8-MSOP package requires careful PCB layout: route the VDD/VSS traces on inner layers and stitch ground vias around the exposed lead frame for thermal and EMI benefits. Keep the ICSP pins RA0/ICSPDAT and RA1/ICSPCLK accessible on test pads or a 6-pin header to allow in-circuit programming and debugging. Place the MCLR pull-up resistor (typically 10 kOhm) close to pin 4 to ensure clean reset behavior. Add a 100 nF cap on VDD within 3 mm and keep ADC traces away from PWM/switching traces to avoid digital-coupling into analog readings.
Common pitfalls when using the PIC12F1501T-I/MS include: (1) forgetting to configure the Configuration Word bits (FOSC, WDTE, MCLRE) in code - the device will not start reliably without proper CONFIG settings; (2) using RA3 as output - per the Microchip datasheet, RA3 is input-only on the 8-pin MSOP package, unlike the 14/20-pin variants; (3) leaving the MCLR pin floating - it must be tied to VDD via a pull-up; (4) expecting ADC readings below 2.5V supply to be accurate - for low-voltage operation, switch to the PIC12LF1501T-I/MS variant. Also note that the 8-MSOP variant does not include the MSSP peripheral of the larger pin-count variants, so I2C/SPI must be bit-banged on GPIO.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications, consider PIC12F1501T-I/SNVAO (automotive grade) or PIC16F variants with full automotive qualification.
