PIC12F510-E/SN - 8-Bit 8MHz Flash MCU, 1.5KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC12F510-E/SN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.78 | $0.78 |
| 10 | $0.7 | $7.00 |
| 100 | $0.62 | $62.00 |
| 500 | $0.55 | $275.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.48 | $480.00 |
PIC12F510-E/SN Overview
What is an 8-bit PIC microcontroller? A PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) is a RISC microcontroller family originally developed by General Instrument and now maintained by Microchip Technology. The PIC architecture uses a Harvard bus with separate program and data memory spaces and a small, fixed instruction set optimized for deterministic single-cycle execution. The PIC12F sub-family sits at the entry level of the PIC10/12/16 hierarchy, targeting the smallest 6- and 8-pin packages for compact, low-cost designs.
Key features include 1.5 KB Flash program memory (rated for 100K erase/write cycles), an internal 8 MHz precision oscillator, a wide operating voltage range of 2.0 V to 5.5 V, an analog comparator, an 8-bit ADC with up to 4 input channels, and ultra-low-power sleep modes drawing less than 1 uA. The on-chip debug (ICD) support enables in-circuit programming and debugging, eliminating the need for an external programmer in development workflows. A hardware Watchdog Timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator provides reliable system recovery.
The PIC12F510 uses a 14-bit instruction word within the PIC12/16 mid-range core, providing 33 single-word instructions and a hardware multiplier-free design that simplifies compiler targeting. With only 8 pins, the device multiplexes digital I/O, ADC inputs, comparator inputs, and ICSP programming onto the same pads, requiring careful pin assignment during firmware development. The device supports both internal and external oscillator modes, plus a power-on timer and brown-out reset for robust cold-start behavior.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, consumer appliance controllers, LED lighting drivers, simple motor control (small DC fans), automotive accessory modules, and hobbyist/maker projects. The combination of tiny footprint, low power, and proven PIC toolchain (MPLAB X + XC8 compiler) makes it a frequent choice for retrofit designs replacing older PIC12C508/PIC12C509 OTP parts.
When designing with this part, note that the 6 I/O pins are heavily multiplexed - the same pin that drives an LED may also serve as an ADC input or comparator reference. Plan pin allocation early and reserve GP3 for ICSP programming if in-circuit updates are required. The internal 8 MHz oscillator provides sufficient timing accuracy for UART bit-banging but is not suitable for protocols demanding tight clock tolerance such as CAN or USB.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in PIC alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers select the right 8-pin Flash MCU for cost-driven embedded designs.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12F510-E/SN — 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 PIC12F510-E/SN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Maximum CPU Speed, ADC, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F510-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F509-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.71 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F508-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.31 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1501-E/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.58 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1572-E/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F510-E/SN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC RISC 8-bit |
| Program Memory Type | Flash |
| Program Memory Size | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) |
| RAM Size | 38 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | 64 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 8 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Number of I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 8-bit, 4 channels |
| Comparators | 1 analog comparator |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit, 1 x Watchdog Timer |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) |
| Package | 8-pin SOIC (SN) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Oscillator | Internal 8 MHz precision oscillator |
| Instruction Set | 33 instructions, 14-bit word |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 |
PIC12F510-E/SN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 2 | GP5/T1CKI/OSC1 — General-purpose I/O / Timer1 clock input / external oscillator input |
| Pin 3 | GP4/AN3/CLKO/OSC2 — General-purpose I/O / ADC channel 3 / clock output / external oscillator output |
| Pin 4 | GP3/MCLR/VPP — General-purpose input only / Master Clear reset / ICSP programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | GP2/AN2/T0CKI/INT/COUT — General-purpose I/O / ADC channel 2 / Timer0 clock / external interrupt / comparator output |
| Pin 6 | GP1/AN1/CIN-/ICSPCLK — General-purpose I/O / ADC channel 1 / comparator inverting input / ICSP clock |
| Pin 7 | GP0/AN0/CIN+/ICSPDAT — General-purpose I/O / ADC channel 0 / comparator non-inverting input / ICSP data |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12F510-E/SN is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Node, LED Lighting Controller, Consumer Appliance Replacement Controller, Automotive Accessory Module, Small DC Fan Speed Controller, Hobby and Maker Project Platform.
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC12F510-E/SN suits battery-powered wireless sensor nodes thanks to its 2.0 V to 5.5 V operating range, sub-1 uA sleep current, and internal 8 MHz oscillator that eliminates the external crystal. Six I/O pins are sufficient for a single digital sensor, ADC front-end, status LED, and interrupt-driven wake on a single analog comparator. With 1.5 KB Flash and 38 bytes RAM, the part runs a simple periodic-measurement-and-transmit loop using a UART bit-banged protocol, drawing microamps average current from a CR2032 cell for months of operation.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC12F510-E/SN drives low-power LED lighting strips and decorative lighting with software PWM generated on its general-purpose I/O pins. Operating from 2.0 V to 5.5 V, it accepts USB or battery input directly, and the analog comparator enables light-level feedback for daylight harvesting without an external op-amp. The 8 MHz core supports smooth PWM dimming across 8-bit resolution, and the -40 to +125 C extended temperature range makes the part suitable for enclosed lighting fixtures.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Replacement Controller
The PIC12F510-E/SN is widely used as a cost-down replacement for legacy PIC12C508 and PIC12C509 OTP parts in small consumer appliances such as coffee makers, fans, and personal care devices. Its 1.5 KB Flash and 64-byte EEPROM support feature upgrades during product lifetime without a silicon mask change. The 8-pin SOIC package fits existing PCB footprints designed for OTP predecessors, and the PIC12 instruction set allows recompilation of legacy assembly code with minimal modification.
Recommended
Automotive Accessory Module
The PIC12F510-E/SN's extended -40 to +125 C temperature range and 8-pin SOIC footprint make it a fit for non-safety automotive accessory modules such as ambient lighting, USB charger controllers, and small body-electronics nodes. With hardware Watchdog Timer and Brown-out Reset, the part recovers from power disturbances in harsh vehicle electrical environments. AEC-Q100 qualification is NOT held on the -E/SN grade, so it is best suited to non-safety cabin accessory applications only.
Recommended
Small DC Fan Speed Controller
The PIC12F510-E/SN regulates small 5 V brushless or brushed DC fans using software PWM on a single I/O pin, with a tachometer feedback input on another pin for closed-loop speed control. The internal 8 MHz oscillator provides sufficient timing resolution for 25 kHz PWM operation above the audible band, and the wide 2.0-5.5 V supply range supports direct USB or 4-cell battery input. Its tiny 8-pin SOIC package fits inside the fan housing itself for fully integrated fan controller designs.
Recommended
Hobby and Maker Project Platform
The PIC12F510-E/SN is a popular teaching and hobby microcontroller because it combines the lowest-cost entry into the PIC Flash ecosystem with broad MPLAB X IDE support and the XC8 C compiler. Six I/O pins are enough to drive 3 LEDs and 3 buttons, or 1 servo and 1 sensor, while the 8-pin DIP and SOIC packages fit standard breadboards and through-hole adapters. Its deterministic single-cycle instruction execution also makes it an excellent teaching platform for assembly-language courses.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12F510-E/SN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F510-I/SN | PIC12F509-I/SN | PIC12F508-I/SN | PIC12F1501-E/SN | PIC12F1572-E/SN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOIC-8 (SN) | SOIC-8 - same | SOIC-8 - same | SOIC-8 - same | SOIC-8 - same | SOIC-8 - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.4 KB | 768 B | 1.75 KB | 3.5 KB |
| RAM | 38 bytes | 38 bytes | 41 bytes | 25 bytes | 64 bytes | 128 bytes |
| EEPROM | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | None | None (Data EEPROM via Flash) | None (Data EEPROM via Flash) |
| Max CPU Speed | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 20 MHz (internal 16 MHz, PLL 32 MHz) | 16 MHz (PLL to 32 MHz) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 to +125 C (Extended) | -40 to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 to +85 C | -40 to +85 C | -40 to +125 C (Extended) | -40 to +125 C (Extended) |
| Core Architecture | PIC12 mid-range | PIC12 mid-range | PIC12 mid-range | PIC12 mid-range | PIC12 enhanced mid-range | PIC12 enhanced mid-range |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density among PIC12 mid-range 8-pin parts (vs PIC12F508-I/SN)
- Includes EEPROM unlike enhanced mid-range successors (vs PIC12F1501-E/SN)
- Lower cost per unit in high volume (vs PIC12F1572-E/SN)
Design Notes
The PIC12F510-E/SN draws approximately 200 uA/MHz active current at 3.3 V and sub-1 uA in Sleep mode, making it suitable for battery-powered designs that spend most of their time in Sleep and wake on WDT timeout or external interrupt. Decouple VDD (pin 1) with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the pin, plus a bulk 10 uF electrolytic or tantalum capacitor on the supply rail. Brown-out Reset should be enabled in the configuration word with a threshold matched to the minimum supply voltage to prevent Flash corruption during slow power-down ramps.
The 8-pin SOIC package requires a minimum pad pitch of 1.27 mm (50 mil) and a recommended land pattern per IPC-7351 SOIC-8 standard. Place the decoupling capacitor on pin 1 with the ground return on pin 8 directly above a continuous ground pour to minimize supply-loop inductance. The exposed die on the SOIC underside is electrically floating and not connected to VSS, so no PCB thermal pad design is required - this differs from QFN-packaged PIC parts in the same family.
Pin 4 (GP3/MCLR/VPP) is input-only and serves double duty as the ICSP programming entry point - never configure it as an output in firmware. Always reserve GP0, GP1, and GP3 for the ICSP interface (ICSPDAT, ICSPCLK, MCLR respectively) if in-circuit programming is required post-assembly. Programming high-voltage VPP on MCLR is approximately 13 V, so any external pull-down circuit on pin 4 must be able to tolerate this voltage during programming without damage.
The internal 8 MHz oscillator has a factory-trimmed accuracy of +/- 1 percent across 2.0-5.5 V and -40 to +125 C, sufficient for bit-banged UART at 9600 baud and I2C at 100 kHz. For higher-accuracy timing (CAN, USB, high-speed UART above 115200 baud), switch to an external crystal or resonator on GP5/OSC1 and GP4/OSC2 by configuring the FOSC bits in the configuration word. The internal oscillator is shared with peripherals, so do not enter Sleep if a hardware peripheral is using LFINTOSC as a clock source.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - not recommended for automotive safety-critical applications. Halogen-free SOIC package per Microchip environmental compliance data.