PIC16F15256-E/SS - 8-bit MCU 32MHz 28KB Flash 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F15256-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.55 | $1.55 |
| 10 | $1.42 | $14.20 |
| 100 | $1.28 | $128.00 |
| 500 | $1.15 | $575.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.02 | $1,020.00 |
PIC16F15256-E/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data bus, optimized for deterministic real-time control in cost-sensitive embedded applications. Within the broader semiconductor hierarchy, an MCU sits under microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor device. The PIC16F152xx family is a streamlined PIC16 derivative, positioned between the PIC16F1xxx mid-range family and the lower-pin PIC10/12/16 baseline families, offering Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) and intelligent analog at low power.
Key features of the PIC16F15256-E/SS include a wide 1.8V to 5.5V supply range, 10-bit ADC with internal voltage reference, two PWM/CCP channels for motor and lighting control, hardware EUSART and SPI/I2C peripherals, on-chip 32kHz LFINTOSC and 16MHz HFINTOSC, and PPS for flexible signal routing. XLP technology delivers nanoWatt sleep currents, ideal for battery-operated sensors and IoT endpoints that spend most of their time in sleep.
The PIC16F15256-E/SS uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit CPU core with a hardware multiplier and a modified Harvard architecture. Program execution takes place from internal Flash through a 14-bit instruction word, and on-chip in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) allows field upgrades via the same two pins used for debugging, eliminating the need for a separate boot loader.
Typical applications include low-cost sensor nodes, LED lighting control, home appliances, battery-powered IoT devices, and industrial real-time control. The combination of 28KB Flash and 2KB RAM is well-suited to small protocol stacks such as Modbus RTU, sensor fusion libraries, and BLE/BEACON-style beacons when paired with an external radio.
When designing with this part, ensure that the ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK pins are not hard-wired to ground or Vcc if in-circuit programming is required; reserve a 4.7kOhm pull-up on MCLR as recommended by Microchip. The wide operating voltage range allows direct connection to single-cell Li-ion or 2xAA chemistries, but verify ADC reference selection for low-voltage rail sensing.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, datasheet cross-references, and drop-in SSOP alternatives not found on any single manufacturer page, giving embedded engineers a faster sourcing and design decision than navigating the PIC16F152xx datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F15256-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 PIC16F15256-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory (Flash), ADC, Core Architecture, Data RAM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F15256-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F15256-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.91 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F15255-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.86 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F15254-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1518-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.2 / 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 →PIC16F15256-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB |
| Data RAM | 2 KB |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (E = extended) |
| PWM Channels | 2 |
| CCP Modules | 2 |
| EUSART | 1 |
| SPI | 1 |
| I2C | 1 |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Internal Oscillator | 31 kHz LFINTOSC and 16 MHz HFINTOSC |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| eXtreme Low-Power (XLP) | Yes |
| ICSP / Debug | In-Circuit Serial Programming, 2-wire |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body, 1.0 mm pitch) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F15256-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/MCLR — I/O / analog input 3 / Master Clear reset |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 4 |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN5 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 5 |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | RB0/AN8 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 8 |
| Pin 8 | RB1/AN9 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 9 |
| Pin 9 | RB2/AN10 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 10 |
| Pin 10 | RB3/AN11 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 11 |
| Pin 11 | RB4/AN12 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 12 |
| Pin 12 | RB5/AN13 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 13 |
| Pin 13 | RB6/ICSPCLK — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 14 | RB7/ICSPDAT — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 15 | RA6/OSC2 — I/O / crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 16 | RA7/OSC1 — I/O / crystal oscillator input |
| Pin 17 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 18 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 19 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 20 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 21 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 22 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 23 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 24 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 25 | RA0/AN0 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 0 |
| Pin 26 | RA1/AN1 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 1 |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC16F15256-E/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, LED Lighting and Backlight Control, Home Appliance User Interface Boards, Industrial Real-Time Control, Automotive Body and Lighting Modules, Medical Monitoring Accessories, Communications Protocol Bridges.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16F15256-E/SS is well-suited for battery-powered IoT sensor endpoints because its eXtreme Low Power (XLP) Sleep mode holds RAM with sub-microamp currents while its 28 KB Flash accommodates small protocol stacks. A typical node wakes every 60 seconds, samples a temperature or humidity sensor through the 10-bit ADC, transmits via the EUSART to a low-power radio, and returns to Sleep. With a 2.7 V coin-cell battery the part sustains multi-year operation, and the wide 1.8 V to 5.5 V supply supports direct 2xAA and Li-ion chemistries without an external LDO.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Backlight Control
The PIC16F15256-E/SS drives LED strings and backlights through its two CCP/PWM channels operating at audio-above frequencies to avoid flicker. The 10-bit ADC reads a photodiode or current-sense resistor for closed-loop dimming, while PPS allows the designer to route PWM outputs to non-standard pads to ease PCB routing under a connector. In a typical smart-luminaire design, the part receives dimming commands over I2C from a host controller and applies gamma-corrected PWM duty cycles, achieving better than 0.5 percent dimming linearity across 1000:1 range.
Recommended
Home Appliance User Interface Boards
In washing machines, microwave ovens, and induction cooktops the PIC16F15256-E/SS handles keypads, rotary encoders, character or segment displays, and indicator LEDs through its CCP/PWM and digital I/O. The 32 MHz core runs user-interface state machines and debounce logic without offloading, and the 2 KB RAM buffers display frames for smooth updates. PPS re-routes the EUSART to an isolated communications channel when the appliance needs to participate in a smart-home network without PCB rework.
Recommended
Industrial Real-Time Control
The PIC16F15256-E/SS replaces discrete logic in industrial sensors, fan controllers, and small motor drivers because its 32 MHz core and CCP/PWM channels execute deterministic control loops with predictable timing. Hardware EUSART, SPI, and I2C peripherals communicate with industrial sensors and Modbus RTU masters. The extended -40 C to +125 C operating temperature range supports under-hood automotive and factory-floor deployment, while the 28 KB Flash holds IEC 61131-3-style function blocks and OEM calibration tables.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Lighting Modules
Automotive body controllers, rear-lighting, and HVAC flap actuators use the PIC16F15256-E/SS as a slave MCU because of its extended temperature grade and PWM-driven outputs. The 10-bit ADC reads thermistors and current shunts, and the EUSART links to a CAN or LIN gateway. Designers favor this part over the PIC16F1459-I/SS when they need more Flash for LIN conformance stacks and over the PIC16F1518-I/SS when they need XLP Sleep for parasitic-keyfob polling.
Recommended
Medical Monitoring Accessories
The PIC16F15256-E/SS fits medical monitoring peripherals such as pulse-oximeter finger probes, wearable thermometer cradles, and Bluetooth-enabled pillbox reminders. The XLP Sleep mode extends coin-cell life beyond a year, while the 10-bit ADC digitizes sensor analog outputs with sufficient resolution for heart-rate or temperature trending. The 28-SSOP package fits inside compact patient-facing enclosures, and PPS allows PCB miniaturization by moving SPI/I2C to any spare pin.
Recommended
Communications Protocol Bridges
The PIC16F15256-E/SS acts as a glue translator between sensor-side I2C peripherals and a host EUSART or SPI master because it can run as both I2C target and SPI target simultaneously. With 28 KB Flash it accommodates Modbus RTU, BLE sensor-frame marshalling, and DALI-2 application controller profiles. PPS lets the engineer place the bridge on any footprint without re-routing upstream sensor traces, which is critical in retrofit industrial gateways.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F15256-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F15256-I/SS | PIC16F15256-E/SP | PIC16F15255-I/SS | PIC16F15254-I/SS | PIC16F1518-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SPDIP - same pinout, larger body | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 16 KB | 14 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1.5 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Maximum Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| XLP Sleep Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash and RAM in the 28-SSOP PIC16F152xx tier (vs PIC16F15255-I/SS)
- XLP Sleep with full RAM retention (vs PIC16F1518-I/SS)
- Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) for flexible PCB routing (vs PIC16F1518-I/SS)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD with a 100 nF X7R ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of each VDD pin (pins 5 and 28) and a single 10 uF bulk capacitor at the package entry. According to the Microchip PIC16F15256 datasheet power-supply section, VDD rise time must be monotonic; if the upstream regulator ramps slower than 50 ms, add a 4.7 kOhm pull-up on MCLR (pin 3) to keep the part out of reset until the supply settles. The internal 16 MHz HFINTOSC starts within 2 us and is suitable for applications where crystal accuracy is not required.
Estimated: at the maximum supply of 5.5 V and 32 MHz with all peripherals enabled, active current is approximately 8 mA. Power dissipation is therefore approximately 44 mW, and the 28-SSOP thermal resistance theta_JA of ~85 C/W yields a junction temperature rise of only ~3.7 C above ambient. The extended -40 C to +125 C operating range gives ample margin for sealed industrial enclosures; however, in forced-air or high-ambient designs, derate CPU frequency above 4.5 V VDD if the package temperature approaches 100 C. Microchip does not specify a separate thermal shutdown threshold for this device.
Keep analog traces (ANx) short and surrounded by a ground pour to preserve 10-bit ADC accuracy. Place the ICSP connector (RB6/ICSPCLK, RB7/ICSPDAT, MCLR, VDD, VSS) on the board edge or a test-pad cluster so that the production programmer can clip directly without removing the part. PPS input and output remapping must be reconfigured after every reset, so initialize PPS in firmware before enabling the corresponding peripheral to avoid spurious pulses on remapped pins.
Do not connect analog inputs directly to signals exceeding VDD + 0.3 V; the absolute maximum ratings on RAx/ANx pins are -0.3 V to VDD + 0.3 V. The MCLR pin (pin 3) does not have internal pull-up on the PIC16F15256 family, so an external 4.7 kOhm to 10 kOhm pull-up to VDD is mandatory. When migrating from PIC16F1518 firmware, remember that PPS must be configured before peripherals are enabled; firmware that relied on default pin mapping will not work without PPS initialization code.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per Microchip material declaration. Lead-free matte-tin plating, MSL Level 1 per JEDEC J-STD-020. AEC-Q100 not applicable - Microchip does not market this part as automotive-qualified; for AEC-Q100 PIC16 alternates, use PIC16F15256-E/SS only in non-safety automotive subsystems or migrate to a Q1-grade part.
