PIC16F1516-E/SS - 14KB Flash 8-bit MCU, 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1516-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.56 | $25.60 |
| 100 | $2.28 | $228.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.82 | $1,820.00 |
PIC16F1516-E/SS Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller (MCU) is a Harvard-architecture CMOS processor that combines a RISC CPU, flash program memory, SRAM data memory, and on-chip peripherals (ADC, timers, communication modules) into a single IC. The PIC16F1516 belongs to the product hierarchy: MCU -> 8-bit microcontroller -> PIC16 family -> enhanced mid-range core, sitting between the baseline PIC10/12 line and the PIC18 high-performance line.
Key features include an internal 16 MHz high-precision oscillator (no external crystal needed for most designs), 17 channels of 10-bit ADC with voltage reference, two Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) modules, one Master I2C, one SPI, and one EUSART with auto-baud detect, two 8-bit timers (TMR0/TMR2) plus a 16-bit timer (TMR1), an extended watchdog timer (WDT), and 25 mA source/sink I/O for direct LED drive. Power management is provided by the eXtreme Low Power (XLP) family with multiple sleep modes.
The 28-pin SSOP package is the standard narrow-body 0.65 mm pitch outline, suiting both hand-solder prototypes and high-density SMT production. The part operates from 1.8 V to 5.5 V across the -40 °C to +125 °C extended temperature range, making it appropriate for industrial and automotive-adjacent applications that demand a wide supply envelope.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, low-cost motor control (small fans, pumps, and brushed DC drives), LED lighting controllers with PWM dimming, and consumer white goods where the 10-bit ADC is sufficient for temperature, light, or current sensing. The 14 KB flash size fits state machines plus a USB CDC/HID stack, while the 17-channel ADC covers multi-cell battery monitors.
Designers should plan for the 5.5 V absolute maximum on VDD and ensure MCLR is tied through a pull-up when not used in ICSP. The internal oscillator eliminates two GPIOs but reduces BOM cost; calibrate via the OSCTUNE register if precision UART baud rates are required.
This page consolidates distributor stock, AEC-Q100 alternatives, and practical design notes not collected in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1516-E/SS — 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 PIC16F1516-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1516-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.23 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1516-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1516-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1513-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1459-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1509-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.36 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1516-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 Enhanced Mid-Range (8-bit RISC) |
| Program Memory | 14 KB Flash (8K x 14 words) |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 512 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz (HFINTOSC, software tunable) |
| I/O Pins | 27 (with 25 mA source/sink) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 17 channels, with voltage reference |
| Timers | TMR0 (8-bit), TMR1 (16-bit), TMR2 (8-bit) |
| CCP Modules | 2 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Communication | 1x MI2C, 1x SPI, 1x EUSART (auto-baud) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (extended WDT) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (Extended, 'E' suffix) |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (0.65 mm pitch) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Instruction Set | 49 instructions, 16-level hardware stack |
PIC16F1516-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel AN2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel AN3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel AN4 |
| Pin 4 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel AN5 / MCLR (configuration dependent) |
| Pin 5 | RA6 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel AN6 / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 6 | RA7 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel AN7 / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 9 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O / INT / ECCP2 |
| Pin 10 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O / ECCP2 output |
| Pin 11 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O / ECCP2 output |
| Pin 12 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 13 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O / SDA1 (I2C data) |
| Pin 14 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O / SCL1 (I2C clock) |
| Pin 15 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O / PGC (ICSP clock) |
| Pin 16 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O / PGD (ICSP data) |
| Pin 17 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O / AN8 / T1OSO |
| Pin 18 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O / AN9 / T1OSI |
| Pin 19 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O / AN10 / CCP1 |
| Pin 20 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O / AN11 / SCL2 |
| Pin 21 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O / AN12 / SDA2 |
| Pin 22 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O / AN13 / SDO |
| Pin 23 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O / AN14 / TX/CK (EUSART) |
| Pin 24 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O / AN15 / RX/DT (EUSART) |
| Pin 25 | RD0 — Bidirectional I/O / AN16 / CCP3 |
| Pin 26 | RD1 — Bidirectional I/O / AN17 / CCP4 |
| Pin 27 | RE3 — Bidirectional I/O / MCLR (reset) |
| Pin 28 | VSS — Ground reference (second ground pin) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1516-E/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, LED Lighting Controllers with PWM Dimming, Small Brushed DC Motor and Fan Control, Industrial Sensor Hubs and Data Loggers, Consumer White Goods and Appliance UI, Automotive Body and Accessory Modules (non-safety), Educational and Hobby Electronics (PICkit targets).
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16F1516-E/SS's XLP family low-power sleep modes (down to sub-µA) and 1.8 V minimum VDD make it well-suited for coin-cell or 2x AA battery-powered wireless sensor nodes. Its 14 KB flash comfortably holds a state-machine plus a sensor compensation library while leaving room for over-the-air firmware updates; the 17-channel 10-bit ADC reads thermistor, photocell, and battery monitor channels without external multiplexing. Compared with PIC16F1503, this part adds 4x the program memory and 9 extra ADC channels, allowing a single chip to replace a multi-MCU sensor board.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers with PWM Dimming
The PIC16F1516-E/SS has two CCP (Capture/Compare/PWM) modules and three timers, providing three independent PWM channels at up to 20 MHz instruction rate, which is more than adequate for RGB color-mixing or warm-dimming CCT LED drivers. Its 25 mA source/sink I/O can directly drive small LEDs and logic-level MOSFETs, eliminating a driver stage in sub-1 A applications. The 1.8-5.5 V VDD range accepts USB-powered 5 V or battery 3.3 V inputs, while the 14 KB flash hosts lookup-table based gamma correction algorithms.
Recommended
Small Brushed DC Motor and Fan Control
Brushed DC motor and fan control requires deterministic PWM with fault feedback: the PIC16F1516-E/SS delivers this with its 10-bit ADC reading back-EMF or current-sense and the two CCP modules generating complementary PWM. The 20 MHz enhanced mid-range core allows 10 kHz PWM with closed-loop control in 200 ns per instruction, leaving cycles for speed PI control. Compared with PIC12/16 base-line parts, the PIC16F1516's 14 KB flash fits tuning tables and fault logging without external EEPROM in most applications.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hubs and Data Loggers
The PIC16F1516-E/SS's 17-channel 10-bit ADC and MI2C/SPI/EUSART communication stack let one MCU aggregate thermocouples, pressure sensors, and 4-20 mA loop signals in industrial data loggers. The -40 °C to +125 °C extended temperature grade ensures operation in unconditioned enclosures; the 14 KB flash stores CSV-format logging firmware plus a Modbus RTU slave stack. Designers migrating from PIC18F can reuse the same I/O pinout footprint in the 28-SSOP and drop the cost roughly 30 % per unit.
Recommended
Consumer White Goods and Appliance UI
The PIC16F1516-E/SS powers human-machine interface (HMI) panels in washing machines, dishwashers, and microwaves, where 14 KB flash fits the menu tree and the 27 GPIOs drive segmented LCDs, keypads, and LED indicators. The MI2C peripheral connects to sensor front-ends and EEPROM memory expansion, while the EUSART with auto-baud supports appliance busses. Compared with discrete logic-based panels, the integrated ADC reduces component count and BOM cost by up to 40 % per HMI board.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Accessory Modules (non-safety)
The PIC16F1516-E/SS's -40 °C to +125 °C extended temperature grade and 5.5 V VDD tolerance suit automotive body modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, and ambient lighting. The EUSART with LIN-compatible framing supports LIN bus nodes; the 17-channel ADC reads position feedback and current sense. Note that this part is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive applications, designers should select a Q-graded PIC16F variant or pair with an external watchdog.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Electronics (PICkit targets)
The PIC16F1516-E/SS is supported by the PICkit 3/4 and MPLAB Snap, making it a popular 28-SSOP target for hobbyists learning embedded C on the enhanced mid-range core. Its 14 KB flash accommodates full projects with bootloader; its 27 GPIOs expose enough peripherals (ADC, PWM, I2C, SPI, UART) to teach most microcontroller concepts in one chip. Compared with the older PIC16F877A, the PIC16F1516 draws less sleep current and integrates more ADC channels at roughly half the price.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1516-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1516-I/SS | PIC16F1516-E/SP | PIC16F1516-E/ML | PIC16F1513-I/SS | PIC16F1459-I/SS | PIC16F1509-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SPDIP (longer pin pitch 2.54 mm) | 28-QFN | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 8 KB Flash (-43%) | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash |
| RAM | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 256 bytes (-50%) | 1 KB (+100%) | 512 bytes |
| Max CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 48 MHz (USB clock domain) | 20 MHz |
| ADC Channels | 17 x 10-bit | 17 x 10-bit | 17 x 10-bit | 17 x 10-bit | 12 x 10-bit | 9 x 10-bit | 12 x 10-bit |
| USB Peripheral | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (USB 2.0 FS) | No |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (E grade) | -40 °C to +85 °C (I grade) | -40 °C to +125 °C (E grade) | -40 °C to +125 °C (E grade) | -40 °C to +85 °C (I grade) | -40 °C to +85 °C (I grade) | -40 °C to +85 °C (I grade) |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Unit Price (qty 1, USD) | 2.85 | 2.85 | 2.90 | 2.95 | 2.30 | 3.10 | 2.70 |
Key Differentiators
- Industry-leading ADC channel count in 28-SSOP PIC16 class (vs PIC16F1513-I/SS)
- Wide operating voltage for battery and 5 V mixed systems (vs PIC16F1459-I/SS)
- Pin-compatible alternative for cost-sensitive variants (vs PIC16F1509-I/SS)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 20 MHz / 5.5 V active, the PIC16F1516-E/SS typically draws 2.5 mA from VDD, dropping to sub-µA in Sleep. For battery designs, switch to 4 MHz or use HFINTOSC toggling between 500 kHz and 16 MHz based on workload; verify VDD brownout at the lowest expected battery voltage by setting the BOR threshold with the CONFIG2 register to avoid flash corruption during power-down.
Keep VDD/VSS traces short and place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of pin 8 (VDD) and pin 7/28 (VSS). For designs using ADC channels AN0-AN7, dedicate a separate analog VDD/VSS island with a ferrite bead to reduce digital switching noise coupling into the 10-bit ADC; per Microchip datasheet, the ADC reference can otherwise inject 1-2 LSBs of digital switching noise into the conversion.
The PIC16F1516-E/SS RA5/MCLR pin is a multiplexed I/O/reset pin - leaving MCLR disabled (RA5 function) is tempting to gain an extra GPIO, but doing so forfeits ICSP programming and WDT-driven resets. Estimate that disabling MCLR typically saves 5 µA in quiescent draw but eliminates the cleanest debug path; keep MCLR enabled on prototypes and final boards unless active-low reset logic is implemented externally.
The EUSART auto-baud feature depends on receiving a known sync character (0x55) at startup; if the connected host can send that character at any baud rate in the supported range (300-115200 baud), the calibration is automatic. For designs that wake up on UART edges, plan for a 50 ms calibration window before protocol traffic begins; failure to budget this delay causes first-byte corruption at low baud rates.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. The -E/SS extended temperature grade (-40 to +125 °C) is NOT an AEC-Q100 qualification; for AEC-Q100 automotive applications, select a Q-graded PIC16F variant. Lead-free and Pb-free terminal finish per Microchip packaging specs.
