PIC12F615-E/P - 8-bit 20MHz 1.75KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC12F615-E/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.25 | $1.25 |
| 10 | $1.12 | $11.20 |
| 100 | $0.98 | $98.00 |
| 500 | $0.86 | $430.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.74 | $740.00 |
PIC12F615-E/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, working RAM, and peripherals such as timers, ADC, and communication interfaces into one package. In the embedded system hierarchy, an 8-bit PIC MCU sits at the smallest, lowest-cost tier of microcontrollers -> microcontrollers -> integrated circuits -> semiconductors, optimized for deterministic real-time control rather than raw compute throughput.
Key features of the PIC12F615 include a 10-bit ADC with up to 4 input channels, two 8-bit timers plus one 16-bit timer, an enhanced PWM module with auto-shutdown, an analog comparator, and a wide 2.0V to 5.5V operating voltage range that simplifies battery-powered designs. Internal 8 MHz and 32 kHz oscillators are provided alongside an external oscillator option, enabling flexible clocking strategies for cost-sensitive applications.
Architecturally the PIC12F615 uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range 14-bit instruction set with a single accumulator-based ALU and a hardware stack, providing deterministic interrupt response. The nanoWatt technology adds multiple sleep modes with current draw below 1 µA typical, allowing battery lifetimes measured in years for low-duty-cycle sensor nodes.
Typical applications include LED drivers and lighting controllers, small appliance control boards, consumer remote controls, battery chargers, sensor interface modules, and low-end automotive body electronics. The combination of PWM, ADC, and comparator peripherals in an 8-pin package makes the part especially well-suited to driving a single power device while reading one or two analog signals.
When designing with the PIC12F615, leave at least 0.1 µF of VDD decoupling within 5 mm of the pin, and reserve the ICSP™ pins (GP0/GP1) for in-circuit serial programming access. For noise-sensitive analog reads, use the dedicated analog VREF or AVSS pin configuration rather than digital I/O sharing.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives from Microchip's mid-range 8-pin PIC family, and practical design notes not consolidated in any single manufacturer document.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12F615-E/P — 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 PIC12F615-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Timers, Package, MSL Level, Operating Temperature, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F615-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12HV615-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F617-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.14 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F609-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F519-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1501-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F615-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC (8-bit RISC) |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Instruction Set | 14-bit Enhanced Mid-Range PIC® (35 single-word instructions) |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns at 20 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.75 KB (1K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 64 bytes |
| EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 6 (GP0-GP5) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (industrial 4.5-5.5 V per DigiKey listing) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 4 channels |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| PWM Channels | Enhanced PWM with auto-shutdown |
| Comparators | 1 analog comparator |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (extended, -E suffix) |
| Package | 8-pin PDIP (through-hole, tube) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free) |
| MSL Level | 1 (not moisture sensitive for PDIP) |
PIC12F615-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | GP0/ICSPDAT/AN0/CIN+/PWM1 — GPIO GP0, ICSP data, ADC input AN0, comparator positive input, PWM output |
| Pin 2 | GP1/ICSPCLK/AN1/CIN-/VREF — GPIO GP1, ICSP clock, ADC input AN1, comparator negative input, ADC voltage reference |
| Pin 3 | GP2/AN2/T0CKI/PWM1 — GPIO GP2, ADC input AN2, Timer0 clock input, PWM output |
| Pin 4 | GP3/MCLR/VPP — Master Clear reset input (active low), programming voltage input, GPIO (input only) |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | GP4/AN3/OSC2/CLKOUT — GPIO GP4, ADC input AN3, external oscillator output, clock output |
| Pin 7 | GP5/AN4/OSC1/CLKIN — GPIO GP5, ADC input AN4, external oscillator input, external clock input |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage, 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
Typical Applications
PIC12F615-E/P is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting Drivers, Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Small Appliance Control, Consumer Remote Controls, Battery Chargers, Industrial Control Modules.
LED Lighting Drivers
The PIC12F615-E/P drives constant-current LED strings and dimmable lamps using its enhanced PWM module with auto-shutdown and 10-bit ADC. The 20 MHz core provides ample headroom for high-resolution PWM dimming at 16 kHz, well above the flicker fusion threshold. Its 2.0V to 5.5V supply range suits single-cell lithium or USB-powered fixtures, and the 8-pin PDIP footprint simplifies hand-soldered prototype boards for custom architectural lighting.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The PIC12F615-E/P is well-matched to battery-powered sensor nodes thanks to nanoWatt sleep currents below 1 µA typical and a wide 2.0V to 5.5V operating range covering 2xAA, CR2032, or single-cell Li-coin chemistries. The 10-bit ADC samples thermistor or photodiode outputs directly, while the analog comparator supports low-power threshold detection without waking the CPU. A 64-byte RAM is sufficient for short data bursts before transmitting over UART.
Recommended
Small Appliance Control
Coffee makers, blenders, and kitchen timers benefit from the PIC12F615-E/P's combination of enhanced PWM for motor or heater control, 10-bit ADC for temperature sensing, and a hardware comparator for over-current protection. The 1.75 KB Flash holds user-interface state machines and safety interlocks, while the 8-pin PDIP is friendly to through-hole manufacturing for low-volume appliance production. EEPROM retention enables last-setting memory across power cycles.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls
IR remote controls and wireless key fobs use the PIC12F615-E/P's 8-pin footprint and low-power modes to deliver multi-year battery life. The 10-bit ADC reads a single IR-LED current-sense resistor for battery monitoring, and the enhanced PWM generates 38 kHz carrier frequencies for standard IR protocols. The 1.75 KB Flash holds NEC, RC5, and SIRC encoding tables with capacity left for product-specific button mapping.
Recommended
Battery Chargers
Linear and switch-mode battery chargers leverage the PIC12F615-E/P's enhanced PWM for switching element control, 10-bit ADC for charge current and voltage monitoring, and analog comparator for end-of-charge detection. The 128-byte EEPROM stores charge profile parameters (CC/CV thresholds, timer values) and survives firmware updates. Wide 2.0V to 5.5V supply supports 1S Li-ion, NiMH, and lead-acid packs with appropriate external pass elements.
Recommended
Industrial Control Modules
Industrial sensor interfaces, opto-isolated signal conditioners, and discrete PLC expansion blocks use the PIC12F615-E/P for its deterministic 200 ns interrupt latency and wide -40 °C to +125 °C extended operating range. The 6 GPIO pins drive logic-level opto-isolators or read 4-20 mA loops through the ADC. Through-hole PDIP simplifies field-replacement in legacy industrial cabinets where surface-mount rework is impractical.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12F615-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F615-I/P | PIC12HV615-I/P | PIC12F617-I/P | PIC12F1501-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 8-pin PDIP | 8-pin PDIP - same | 8-pin PDIP - same | 8-pin PDIP - same | 8-pin PDIP - same |
| Flash Memory | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB |
| RAM | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes |
| EEPROM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit, 4 channels | 10-bit, 4 channels | 10-bit, 4 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 4 channels |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C |
| Internal Voltage Regulator | No (5.5 V VDD max) | No (5.5 V VDD max) | Yes, internal shunt up to 15 V VIN | No (5.5 V VDD max) | No (5.5 V VDD max) |
Key Differentiators
- Self-programmable Flash with EEPROM and 10-bit ADC in 8 pins (vs PIC12F509-I/P)
- Wide operating voltage down to 2.0 V without internal shunt regulator (vs PIC12HV615-I/P)
- Extended temperature range -40 to +125 °C (vs PIC12F615-I/P)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 µF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 8) on the PIC12F615-E/P, and add a 10 µF bulk capacitor on the PCB near the MCU to suppress voltage transients during PWM switching events. The device operates from 2.0 V to 5.5 V, but if the design sources power from a USB or 12 V rail, use an external LDO such as the MCP1700 rather than relying on the MCU's internal clamping. Estimated: assuming a 10 mA peak digital load and a 100 ns transient event, the 0.1 µF cap limits droop to roughly 10 mV, which is within the supply-noise tolerance for reliable Flash read.
Reserve the ICSP™ pins GP0 (pin 1, ICSPDAT) and GP1 (pin 2, ICSPCLK) for in-circuit serial programming access by adding a 2x3 or 1x6 header on the board and isolating them with series resistors or jumpers if they connect to external circuitry. The MCLR pin (pin 4) should be pulled up to VDD through a 10 kΩ resistor and decoupled with a 0.1 µF cap to ground to prevent spurious resets. Keep analog signal traces away from the PWM output trace on GP2 to minimize crosstalk during ADC sampling.
Do not omit the configuration word programming step - the PIC12F615-E/P will not execute code correctly without proper oscillator, watchdog, and code-protection settings, even if the Flash appears to load. When migrating from a PIC12F509 prototype, note that the PIC12F615's enhanced PWM registers are mapped differently than the PIC12F509's CCP module, requiring firmware changes beyond a simple binary swap. Always verify VDD rise time meets the brown-out reset specification (>0.05 V/ms) to avoid code-protection lockouts documented in the Microchip PIC12F615 datasheet DS41302E.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page; lead-free PDIP package. AEC-Q100 not formally qualified per Microchip catalog, though -E extended temperature variants are commonly used in non-safety-critical automotive body applications. Conflict-mineral statement available on Microchip corporate compliance page.
