PIC16F1518-I/SO - 28KB Flash 8-bit MCU | 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1518-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.78 | $1.78 |
| 10 | $1.55 | $15.50 |
| 100 | $1.32 | $132.00 |
| 500 | $1.12 | $560.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.97 | $970.00 |
PIC16F1518-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path, an ALU, program and data memory, and a rich set of peripheral IPs. In the broader taxonomy, this PIC16F1518 sits inside the PIC16 enhanced mid-range family, which itself belongs to Microchip's 8-bit PIC microcontroller portfolio. Typical use cases combine deterministic interrupt-driven control with low active and sleep currents, making the PIC16F family well-suited to cost- and power-sensitive embedded designs.
Key features of the PIC16F1518-I/SO include a 20 MHz CPU clock delivering up to 5 MIPS, 25 mA source/sink I/O drive, 12 I/O pins brought out to the package, an extended watchdog timer, ultra-low-power brown-out reset, and nanoWatt XLP sleep modes that drop quiescent current into the sub-microamp range. The wide 2.3V to 5.5V operating range lets a single part cover both 3.3V and 5V system rails. Internal peripherals are mapped through Microchip's standard peripheral pin select architecture so that digital functions can be remapped at runtime.
Architecturally, the device uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit core with a 14-bit instruction word and 200 ns instruction execution at 20 MHz, combined with a hardware multiplier, a 16-level hardware stack, and a self-programmable flash controller. The 10-bit successive-approximation ADC is paired with an internal voltage reference, supporting ratiometric or absolute measurements without external reference parts. Together these features give the PIC16F1518 substantially more compute and analog headroom than legacy baseline or mid-range PIC16 parts.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes and low-power IoT endpoints, white-goods and small-appliance motor control boards, LED lighting controllers and dimmers, consumer electronics user-interface boards, industrial sensor transmitters, and educational/hobbyist platforms that benefit from Microchip's MPLAB X toolchain and XC8 compiler. The wide VDD range makes the part straightforward to drop onto both 3.3V and 5V rails.
When designing with this part, allocate at least one decoupling capacitor pair (typically 100 nF plus 4.7-10 uF bulk) close to VDD, ensure the MCLR pin has the proper pull-up network for reliable reset, and verify the chosen programming/debug header pins do not conflict with PCB keep-out zones. For sleep-dominated designs, validate quiescent current in your specific configuration rather than trusting the headline number.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet to help engineers select, source, and design with the PIC16F1518-I/SO.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1518-I/SO — 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 PIC16F1518-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Operating Temperature, I/O Pins, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1518-E/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1518T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1516-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1509-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1508-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1518-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 1024 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Execution | 200 ns at 20 MHz |
| MIPS (peak) | 5 MIPS |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| I/O Source/Sink Current | 25 mA per pin |
| ADC | 10-bit, 17 channels |
| Timers | TMR0 (8-bit), TMR1 (16-bit), TMR2 (8-bit) |
| Watchdog Timer | Enhanced WDT (software-enabled) |
| Brown-Out Reset | Programmable Ultra Low-Power BOR |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (SO, 7.50 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, 'I' suffix) |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP + ICD |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F1518-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 — I/O / analog input (with peripheral pin select) |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/Vref+ — I/O / analog input / ADC reference positive |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN5 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — I/O / crystal oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — I/O / crystal oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 8 | RC0 — I/O (with peripheral pin select) |
| Pin 9 | RC1 — I/O (with peripheral pin select) |
| Pin 10 | RC2/AN6 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 11 | RC3/AN7 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 12 | RC4 — I/O (with peripheral pin select) |
| Pin 13 | RC5 — I/O (with peripheral pin select) |
| Pin 14 | RC6 — I/O (with peripheral pin select) |
| Pin 15 | RC7 — I/O (with peripheral pin select) |
| Pin 16 | VSS — Ground reference (secondary) |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 18 | VDD — Positive supply (secondary) |
| Pin 19 | RB0/AN12 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 20 | RB1/AN10 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 21 | RB2/AN8 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 22 | RB3/AN9 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 23 | RB4/AN11 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 25 | RB5/AN13 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 26 | RB6/ICSPCLK — I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 27 | RB7/ICSPDAT — I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 28 | RA0/AN0 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 24 | RA1/AN1 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 24 | MCLR/Vpp — Master clear reset / programming voltage (shared with RA1/AN1 function on some pinouts) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1518-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, White Goods and Small Appliance Control, LED Lighting Controller and Dimmer, Consumer Electronics User Interface Board, Industrial Sensor Transmitter, Educational and Hobbyist Development Platform.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16F1518-I/SO suits battery-powered IoT sensor endpoints where sleep current dominates total energy budget. Its nanoWatt XLP sleep modes push quiescent current into the sub-microamp range, while the 2.3V-5.5V VDD range lets designers pair the part directly with 2x AA alkaline or a single Li-coin cell plus boost converter. The 17-channel 10-bit ADC with internal voltage reference reads thermistors, photodiodes, or analog sensors without external reference parts, and 28 KB of flash accommodates OTA-friendly modular stacks on a small Cortex-M-class footprint. Versus a 32-bit MCU at the same price, the PIC16F1518 wins on quiescent current and BOM cost at the expense of raw compute.
Recommended
White Goods and Small Appliance Control
Consumer white-goods and small-appliance control boards benefit from the PIC16F1518-I/SO's 25 mA source/sink I/O drive, which directly powers relays, triac drivers, LED indicators, and small buzzers without external buffers. The 12 GPIO pins map onto switch matrices, encoder inputs, and PWM outputs for motor or valve control, while the 10-bit ADC monitors temperature sensors and current shunts. Microchip's nanoWatt XLP technology and proven 8-bit core deliver the long-term reliability expected in appliance markets. Pricing in the sub-$1.00 tier at qty-1000 keeps BOM cost competitive in this cost-sensitive segment, and the 28-SOIC wide-body package simplifies hand-soldering for low-volume runs.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller and Dimmer
The PIC16F1518-I/SO is a strong fit for LED drivers and dimmer modules where the MCU provides constant-current-loop regulation, color-temperature mixing, and DMX or 0-10 V dimming interfaces. The 20 MHz core and 5 MIPS throughput handle multiple PWM channels at audio-band frequencies above the audible range, avoiding flicker and whine. Hardware timers (TMR0, TMR1, TMR2) drive PWM generation independently of the CPU, freeing cycles for housekeeping and communication stacks. Compared with a small 32-bit MCU, the PIC16F1518 keeps dimmer BOM cost under a dollar while still delivering low-power standby modes for energy-star compliance.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics User Interface Board
Front-panel user-interface boards in consumer electronics - remote controls, wall controllers, appliance HMIs - are an ideal application for the PIC16F1518-I/SO. The 12 GPIO pins comfortably drive 7-segment displays, capacitive touch pads, button matrices, and piezo buzzers, while the 10-bit ADC reads potentiometers and ambient-light sensors. 28 KB of flash holds rich UI state machines, debouncing logic, and low-power wireless protocol stacks (e.g., simple BLE bridging with an external transceiver). The industrial -40C to +85C temperature range and 5V tolerance ensure reliable operation near motors and relay coils in mixed-voltage enclosures.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter
Loop-powered and low-power industrial sensor transmitters - pressure, temperature, flow, level - pair naturally with the PIC16F1518-I/SO. The 17-channel 10-bit ADC plus internal voltage reference handles 4-20 mA loop sensing, RTD/thermistor bridges, and digital sensor interfaces (UART/SPI/I2C brought out via peripheral pin select). The 2.3V-5.5V range lets a single MCU run from a 24V loop with an LDO, while nanoWatt XLP sleep modes stretch battery life on wirelessHART or LoRa sensor nodes. Compared with discrete analog signal chains, this part delivers a smaller PCB, lower calibration drift, and an MPLAB X firmware ecosystem with proven field reliability.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Development Platform
The PIC16F1518-I/SO is widely adopted in education and hobbyist communities thanks to Microchip's free MPLAB X IDE, free XC8 compiler, and PICkit programmers/debuggers. 28 KB of flash and 1024 bytes of RAM comfortably accommodate university coursework on embedded C, RTOS demos, and IoT prototypes, while the 17-channel ADC enables hands-on analog labs. The 28-SOIC wide-body package is easy to hand-solder on a breadboard-friendly breakout, and the industrial temperature grade tolerates student bench environments. Versus pricier 32-bit dev boards, this part keeps the per-student cost well below $5 with full toolchain support.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1518-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1518-E/SO | PIC16F1518T-I/SO | PIC16F1516-I/SO | PIC16F1509-I/SO | PIC16F1508-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOIC-28 (7.50 mm) | SOIC-28 (7.50 mm) | SOIC-28 (7.50 mm) | SOIC-28 (7.50 mm) | SOIC-28 (7.50 mm) | SOIC-28 (7.50 mm) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Flash | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB | 8 KB | 4 KB |
| Data RAM | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Max CPU Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC Channels | 17 x 10-bit | 17 x 10-bit | 17 x 10-bit | 17 x 10-bit | 12 x 10-bit | 10 x 10-bit |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Largest flash in the SOIC-28 PIC16F151x family (vs PIC16F1516-I/SO)
- Highest ADC channel count in the SOIC-28 PIC16F150x family (vs PIC16F1509-I/SO)
- Industrial -40 C to +85 C vs Extended -40 C to +125 C sibling (vs PIC16F1518-E/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD pin (pins 17 and 18 on the 28-SOIC) with a 4.7 uF to 10 uF bulk capacitor on the same net. For nanoWatt XLP sleep-current-sensitive designs, verify the leakage of your chosen bulk cap - some aluminum electrolytics can leak microamps and dominate the sleep budget. Estimated: at 32 kHz LFINTOSC and 25 C, the datasheet quotes <1 uA typical sleep current, but bulk cap leakage can double this in practice.
Keep the ICSPDAT (RB7) and ICSPCLK (RB6) traces short and bring them to a 1x2 or 2x5 header for PICkit in-circuit programming and debugging. Avoid routing high-current switching signals (relay coils, triac drivers, motor phases) directly under the ICSP header - induced noise can corrupt debug sessions. Place the MCLR pull-up (typically 10 kohm) and any reset capacitor (typically 100 nF) within a few millimetres of the MCLR pin to ensure a clean reset ramp.
Do not exceed 25 mA source or sink per I/O pin or 200 mA aggregate per port group - violated by some relay-driver designs. Always configure unused I/O as outputs driven low rather than inputs floating, to avoid shoot-through current and ADC channel crosstalk. The PIC16F1518's peripheral pin select lets you remap digital functions; verify that no two peripherals collide on the same pin in your configuration.
When using the 10-bit ADC, add a small hold capacitor (typically 100 pF to 10 nF depending on source impedance) on each analog input and respect the minimum acquisition time in the datasheet to avoid gain errors. For high-impedance sources (>10 kohm), use the lowest feasible ADC clock and increase the acquisition window. The internal voltage reference is fine for ratiometric measurements but adds ~+/- 5% absolute error - calibrate in firmware for precision applications.
Estimated: At 20 MHz, 5 V VDD, and all peripherals active, the PIC16F1518-I/SO consumes roughly 5-8 mA, yielding <50 mW dissipation - thermal management is not a concern for this part. Industrial -40 C to +85 C temperature range is the operating envelope. The SOIC-28 package's exposed plastic body dissipates heat primarily through PCB copper; a small copper pour under the package helps in enclosed, high-ambient-temperature installations but is rarely required for typical 8-bit designs.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial -40C to +85C grade; for AEC-Q100 automotive qualification, choose the PIC16F1518-E/SO extended-grade variant. Halogen-free status not explicitly published for this part.
