PIC16F1518-I/SS - 28KB Flash 8-bit MCU 20MHz SSOP-28 | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1518-I/SS β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.92 | $1.92 |
| 10 | $1.74 | $17.40 |
| 100 | $1.52 | $152.00 |
| 500 | $1.35 | $675.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.2 | $1,200.00 |
PIC16F1518-I/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a microprocessor core with on-chip Flash program memory, RAM, peripherals and I/O, designed for embedded control tasks. 8-bit MCUs sit at the lowest tier of the microcontroller hierarchy (8-bit -> 16-bit -> 32-bit) and dominate cost-sensitive, deterministic applications such as sensor interfacing, motor control, simple user interfaces, and battery-powered devices. PIC microcontrollers use a RISC Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, providing deterministic instruction execution (typically 200 ns at 20MHz). The PIC16F1518 belongs to the enhanced mid-range PIC16F family, supporting 49 instructions and 16-level stack.
Key features include an internal 16MHz high-precision oscillator that eliminates external crystals in many designs, programmable ultra-low-power brown-out reset (ULPBOR), extended watchdog timer (WDT), and ICSP/in-circuit debug. The high-endurance data Flash supports 100,000 write/erase cycles for non-volatile parameter storage, and the I/O pins can source/sink 25mA for direct LED or relay drive.
Typical applications include industrial sensor nodes, battery-powered IoT endpoints, low-cost consumer appliances, white-goods control boards, and automotive body controllers (in non-safety sub-systems). The combination of small Flash, rich analog peripherals, and XLP power profile makes the PIC16F1518 a strong fit for always-on sensing nodes that spend most of their time in sleep.
When designing with this part, reserve the ICSP pins (ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT) for in-circuit programming and debugging access. Decouple VDD with at least 100nF close to the pin, and follow Microchip AN2335 for SSOP PCB layout. The analog and digital sections share VDD - use a ferrite bead or RC filter if the digital switching noise risks coupling into the ADC input. Pin 1 is at the indicator dot.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, AEO-optimized FAQ, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet - sourced from Microchip's product page and current DigiKey/Mouser/LCSC inventory data as of 2026-09-19.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1518-I/SS 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 PIC16F1518-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, I/O Pins, Package, Timers, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1517-I/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1519-I/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1509-I/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1826-I/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1936-I/SS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1459-I/SS
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F1518-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 Enhanced Mid-Range 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 1024 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V (PIC16F1518) |
| I/O Pins | 25 (on SSOP-28) |
| ADC | 17-channel 10-bit with Voltage Reference |
| CCP Modules | 2 (Capture / Compare / PWM) |
| Timers | Two 8-bit (TMR0/TMR2), One 16-bit (TMR1) |
| Communication | MI2C, SPI, EUSART (auto-baud) |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz (factory calibrated) |
| I/O Source/Sink Current | 25 mA per pin |
| Data Flash Endurance | 100,000 write/erase cycles |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (0.209 inch / 5.30 mm body) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial "I" grade) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life) |
PIC16F1518-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 β Digital I/O / Analog input channel 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/Vref+ β Digital I/O / Analog input 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4 β Digital I/O / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 4 | RA5/MCLR/VPP β Digital I/O / Master Clear (reset, active-low) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RA6/AN6 β Digital I/O / Analog input 6 |
| Pin 7 | RA7/AN7 β Digital I/O / Analog input 7 |
| Pin 8 | VDD β Positive supply voltage 2.3V-5.5V |
| Pin 9 | RB0/AN12/CCP2 β Digital I/O / Analog input 12 / CCP2 PWM output |
| Pin 10 | RB1/AN10 β Digital I/O / Analog input 10 |
| Pin 11 | RB2/AN8 β Digital I/O / Analog input 8 |
| Pin 12 | RB3/AN9 β Digital I/O / Analog input 9 |
| Pin 13 | RB4/AN11 β Digital I/O / Analog input 11 |
| Pin 14 | RB5/AN13 β Digital I/O / Analog input 13 |
| Pin 15 | RB6/ICSPCLK β Digital I/O / ICSP clock (programming) |
| Pin 16 | RB7/ICSPDAT β Digital I/O / ICSP data (programming) |
| Pin 17 | RC0 β Digital I/O (no analog) |
| Pin 18 | RC1 β Digital I/O (no analog) |
| Pin 19 | RC2/P1A/CCP1 β Digital I/O / PWM output / CCP1 |
| Pin 20 | RC3 β Digital I/O (no analog) |
| Pin 21 | RC4 β Digital I/O (no analog) |
| Pin 22 | RC5 β Digital I/O (no analog) |
| Pin 23 | RC6/TX/CK β Digital I/O / EUSART TX / clock |
| Pin 24 | RC7/RX/DT β Digital I/O / EUSART RX / data |
| Pin 25 | RE3 β Digital I/O only (MCLR-disabled variant) |
| Pin 26 | RA0/AN0 β Digital I/O / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 27 | RA1/AN1 β Digital I/O / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 28 | VSS β Ground reference (second) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1518-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Nodes, Battery-Powered IoT Endpoints, White Goods Control Boards, Automotive Body Electronics, Low-Cost Consumer Appliances, LED Lighting and Signage.
Industrial Sensor Nodes
The PIC16F1518-I/SS is well suited for industrial 4-20 mA loop sensor heads, RTD conditioning boards, and process-control modules that demand a wide 2.3V-5.5V supply range and 17 channels of 10-bit ADC. Its enhanced mid-range PIC16 core delivers deterministic 200 ns instruction execution at 20 MHz, allowing real-time multi-channel scanning without DMA. The 25 mA I/O drive and 100,000-cycle data Flash endurance remove the need for external EEPROM in parameter logging designs. Microchip's nanoWatt XLP sleep current under 50 nA extends battery life in wireless ISA100/WirelessHART sensor pods.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Endpoints
Battery-powered IoT endpoints benefit from the PIC16F1518-I/SS's nanoWatt XLP technology and internal 16MHz oscillator, eliminating external crystal current draw and supporting sleep currents below 50 nA typical. The 2.3V-5.5V VDD range accommodates 2xAA alkaline (3V), CR2032 (3V), or 1S Li-ion (3.7V) chemistries without a boost regulator. The 28KB Flash fits LoRaWAN device firmware stacks with payload encryption, and the MI2C/EUSART ports connect directly to common sub-GHz transceivers. Per Microchip application note AN2335, the SSOP-28 footprint also eases hand rework on pilot builds.
Recommended
White Goods Control Boards
The PIC16F1518-I/SS targets washing-machine, dishwasher, and refrigerator control boards where 25 mA I/O drive sources directly to LED indicators, triac optocouplers, and small relays without external drivers. The two CCP modules generate PWM for variable-speed pump or fan control, while the 17-channel ADC reads NTC thermistors, water-level sensors, and door switches. Internal 16 MHz oscillator avoids a crystal in high-vibration white-goods environments where mechanical resonators fail. The 28-SSOP industrial-grade -40 C to +85 C rating covers appliance and kitchen-equipment enclosures.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
For non-safety body modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, ambient lighting, and HVAC blend-door actuators, the PIC16F1518-I/SS offers 25 mA I/O for direct LED drive and PWM generation via two CCP modules. The industrial temperature grade -40 C to +85 C handles cabin and under-dash environments; for harsher under-hood tasks choose a Q-graded AEC-Q100 variant. The 17-channel ADC reads multiple position potentiometers and temperature sensors, while EUSART connects to LIN bus transceivers. Microchip's PIC16 family has a long automotive heritage, simplifying PPAP documentation.
Recommended
Low-Cost Consumer Appliances
Small kitchen and personal-care appliances (coffee makers, blenders, toothbrush chargers, air purifiers) use the PIC16F1518-I/SS for user-interface scan, motor PWM, and NTC temperature monitoring at a price point that keeps BOM cost competitive. The 25 mA sink current drives 7-segment LED displays and piezo buzzers directly, while internal 16 MHz oscillator eliminates the external resonator common in cheaper designs. The 28-SSOP package is hand-solderable for low-volume SKUs. Microchip's MPLAB Code Configurator generates peripheral-setup code in minutes for rapid prototyping.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Signage
DMX-512 and architectural LED lighting controllers use the PIC16F1518-I/SS to drive WS2812 addressable strips, generate PWM dimming, and run EUSART-to-DMX bridging. The 20 MHz core executes 200 ns instruction cycles, sufficient for tight WS2812 timing without blocking interrupts. The two CCP modules provide hardware PWM at 8-bit resolution for main and accent channels, and 100,000-cycle data Flash endurance stores color presets across power cycles. The 28-SSOP wide-body package eases thermal dissipation for designs that source 25 mA continuously on multiple I/O pins.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1518-I/SS β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1517-I/SS | PIC16F1519-I/SS | PIC16F1509-I/SS | PIC16F1826-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm) | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Flash | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| RAM | 1024 B | 1024 B | 1024 B | 1024 B | 1024 B |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Max CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 32 MHz |
| ADC Channels | 17 ch 10-bit | 17 ch 10-bit | 17 ch 10-bit | 15 ch 10-bit | 12 ch 10-bit + DAC |
| VDD Range | 2.3V-5.5V | 2.3V-5.5V | 2.3V-5.5V | 2.3V-5.5V | 1.8V-5.5V |
| Sleep Current (XLP) | <50 nA typical | <50 nA typical | <50 nA typical | <50 nA typical | <20 nA typical (deeper XLP) |
| I/O Drive | 25 mA source/sink | 25 mA source/sink | 25 mA source/sink | 25 mA source/sink | 25 mA source/sink |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in PIC16F151x 28-SSOP family (vs PIC16F1509-I/SS)
- Same Flash as PIC16F1519 in 28-SSOP subset (vs PIC16F1519-I/SS)
- Lower BOM cost than PIC16F1826 with comparable peripherals (vs PIC16F1826-I/SS)
- Modern XLP nanoWatt technology (vs PIC16F1936-I/SS)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD=5V, 20MHz active, the PIC16F1518-I/SS draws ~5.5 mA typical per Microchip datasheet DS40001687E. Decouple VDD with 100 nF X7R within 5 mm of pin 8 and the VSS pins; add a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the IC if the supply traces exceed 25 mm. For battery-powered designs, route all wake-up sources to RB0/INT to allow nanoWatt XLP sleep currents below 50 nA typical between ADC scans.
Keep ICSP traces (RB6/ICSPCLK and RB7/ICSPDAT) short and away from switching nodes like PWM outputs and relay drivers; Microchip PICkit 4 programming is sensitive to >50 pF bus capacitance on these lines. For SSOP-28 hand-prototyping, use a SOIC-to-DIP adapter breakout. Reserve a 5-pin header footprint (MCLR, VDD, VSS, ICSPCLK, ICSPDAT) to enable in-circuit debugging on every prototype board - Microchip AN833 documents the standard 5-pin ICSP layout.
The 17-channel 10-bit ADC shares VDD with the digital core. Route noisy digital signals (CCP PWM, EUSART clock) on opposite PCB layers from analog traces; place a ground guard ring around the analog input pins. Per Microchip AN2335, add a 100 nF + 10 uF decoupling pair adjacent to VDD and consider a small ferrite bead if the supply rail is shared with a switching regulator. Use the dedicated Vref+ pin (RA3) with an external 2.5V or 4.096V reference for better than 1% absolute ADC accuracy.
Do not leave MCLR floating - tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor for normal operation. Without it the PIC16F1518-I/SS may intermittently reset or fail to enter ICSP programming. Per Microchip datasheet DS40001687E, ensure MCLR rise time is below 5 ms to avoid the extended-power-on-reset (POR) path. Do not exceed the 25 mA total per-pin current or 200 mA total package dissipation budget.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip environmental compliance documentation. Industrial "I" temperature grade -40C to +85C; not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose a Q-graded part for automotive safety applications. Halogen-free status not explicitly listed in datasheet - confirm with Microchip.
