PIC16F1579-E/SS - 8-bit MCU, 32MHz, 14KB Flash, 4x16b PWM | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1579-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.1 | $2.10 |
| 10 | $1.89 | $18.90 |
| 100 | $1.68 | $168.00 |
| 500 | $1.49 | $745.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.32 | $1,320.00 |
PIC16F1579-E/SS Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller (MCU) is a Harvard-architecture RISC processor family built around a small instruction set (approximately 35 instructions), most of which execute in a single clock cycle. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, a microcontroller is a sub-category of microcomputer that combines a CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and a rich peripheral set on a single die. PIC16 devices sit between 8-pin baseline parts (PIC10/12) and higher-pin-count enhanced mid-range devices (PIC18), and are commonly used when the application needs more peripherals than a PIC12 can offer but does not justify a PIC18.
Key features of the PIC16F1579 include four 16-bit PWMs with independent timers for high-resolution duty control, a 10-bit ADC with up to 12 input channels, two comparators, a 5-bit DAC, CWG for complementary outputs with dead-band control, and PPS that remaps most digital I/O to any pin. The device operates across 2.3 V to 5.5 V and supports up to 32 MHz internal or external clock, with a -40 °C to +125 °C extended operating temperature range.
The PIC16F1579 implements an enhanced mid-range 8-bit core with a hardware multiplier and CLC (Configurable Logic Cell), combined with the high-resolution 16-bit PWM and a 5-bit DAC, making it suitable for digital lighting, fan/PWM control and small motor drive applications where precise duty-cycle resolution is critical. PPS further simplifies PCB layout by allowing peripherals to be assigned to a wide range of pins without rewiring.
Typical applications include high-resolution LED dimming, complementary half-bridge drivers for fans and small motors, general-purpose 8-bit control boards, sensor interfacing with ADC and comparators, and consumer appliances requiring mixed-signal 8-bit processing. The wide VDD range and SSOP-20 footprint also make it a drop-in candidate on boards designed around the legacy PIC16F1829 and PIC16F1509 footprints.
When designing with the PIC16F1579-E/SS, ensure the MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler are selected to match the PIC16F157x device header; PPS assignments must be locked at startup to prevent accidental remapping of EUSART or PWM outputs.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives sourced from Microchip's own PIC16(L)F157x family, and practical design notes that are not aggregated on any single distributor or manufacturer page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1579-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 PIC16F1579-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Program Memory (Flash), I/O Pins, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1578-E/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F15354-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F15244-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F15254-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1513-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1518-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1579-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| CPU Core | PIC16 8-bit RISC (enhanced mid-range) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 1 KB |
| I/O Pins | 18 (max, in 20-pin SSOP) |
| 16-bit PWM Channels | 4 (with independent timers) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 12 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| Comparators | 2 |
| CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) | Yes |
| PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) | Yes |
| EUSART | 1 |
| Timers (8/16-bit) | 7 |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (extended, "E") |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16F1579-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — General purpose I/O / MCLR |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — General purpose I/O / OSC1 |
| Pin 9 | RA6 — General purpose I/O / OSC2 |
| Pin 10 | RC0 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC1 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC2 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 14 | RC4 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 15 | RC5 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 16 | RC6 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 18 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 19 | RB7 — General purpose I/O / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 20 | RB6 — General purpose I/O / ICSPCLK |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1579-E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: High-Resolution LED Lighting, DC Fan and Small Motor Control, Complementary Half-Bridge Drivers, General-Purpose 8-bit Control Boards, Battery-Operated Sensor Hubs, Consumer Appliance Keypads and HMIs.
High-Resolution LED Lighting
The PIC16F1579-E/SS fits high-resolution LED lighting applications because it provides four independent 16-bit PWM channels that can drive RGBW or tunable-white strings with sub-percent duty-cycle resolution, eliminating visible flicker at low brightness. The 5-bit DAC sets a reference for constant-current LED drivers, while the CWG produces complementary outputs to drive half-bridge FET stages with programmable dead-band. Compared to PIC16F1829 designs that only expose two 10-bit PWMs, the PIC16F1579 removes the need for software PWM tricks and runs at 32 MHz to keep color-mixing math fast. Designers typically pair this part with a DMX or DALI receive path via EUSART, then assign each PWM output through PPS to whichever pins route cleanly to the LED driver MOSFETs. The 20-pin SSOP footprint keeps the BOM compact for architectural downlights.
Recommended
DC Fan and Small Motor Control
The PIC16F1579-E/SS is well-suited to brushless DC (BLDC) fan and small motor control because the four 16-bit PWMs can be paired through CWG to generate the three-phase complementary drive signals needed for sensorless BLDC commutation, with hardware dead-band to prevent shoot-through. The 10-bit ADC samples back-EMF or current-sense signals on up to 12 channels, while the on-chip comparators handle zero-cross detection without CPU overhead. The 32 MHz instruction throughput gives the firmware enough cycles to close the speed loop in software, while PPS lets the engineer route the PWM outputs to the FET gate-driver pins that are easiest to lay out. The extended -40 °C to +125 °C temperature range suits under-hood automotive fans and appliance blower modules. A typical design uses the EUSART for UART-based RPM reporting to a host controller.
Recommended
Complementary Half-Bridge Drivers
The PIC16F1579-E/SS drives complementary half-bridge FET stages directly via the CWG peripheral, with programmable dead-band inserted between the high-side and low-side gate pulses. This makes it a strong fit for Class-D amplifier front-ends, synchronous buck pre-drivers, and piezo transducer excitation, where shoot-through protection is critical. The two on-chip comparators can be wired as cycle-by-cycle current-limit comparators that hardware-trim the PWM duty cycle, reducing firmware load. With 14 KB Flash and 1 KB RAM there is headroom for state-machine-style modulator code plus diagnostics over EUSART. PPS routing means the same SSOP-20 footprint can be reused across multiple half-bridge layouts without redesign.
Recommended
General-Purpose 8-bit Control Boards
The PIC16F1579-E/SS works as a general-purpose 8-bit MCU for industrial and consumer control boards thanks to its combination of 14 KB Flash, 1 KB RAM, two comparators and a 10-bit ADC with 12 channels. PPS lets the engineer remap EUSART, PWM and comparator I/O to whichever pins remain free after the analog and power sections are routed, which is a major advantage on dense 20-pin layouts. The 2.3 V to 5.5 V VDD range covers both battery and 5 V regulated rails without level shifters. Compared to legacy PIC16F1829 designs, the PIC16F1579 adds four 16-bit PWMs and a 5-bit DAC for the same SSOP-20 footprint and similar price band. It is widely used in sensor-interface boards, simple HMI controllers and consumer appliance sub-systems.
Recommended
Battery-Operated Sensor Hubs
Battery-operated sensor hubs benefit from the PIC16F1579-E/SS because the PIC16F157x family supports idle and sleep modes that drop the core current to the datasheet's low-uA range, while PPS keeps the wake-on-pin assignments flexible. The 10-bit ADC with 12 channels reads temperature, light and battery-sense signals directly, and the EUSART provides a path to a low-energy BLE or sub-GHz radio front-end. The 32 MHz HFINTOSC is gated automatically when the firmware idles, so duty-cycled sensing apps see very low average current. Designers using the PIC16F1579 for battery sensor hubs typically keep the four 16-bit PWMs unused and exploit the PPS pin select for any analog or digital signal the radio module requires. The 20-pin SSOP footprint fits inside coin-cell-powered wearables.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Keypads and HMIs
The PIC16F1579-E/SS is a strong fit for consumer appliance keypads and small human-machine interface (HMI) boards that need four PWM channels to drive status LEDs, a buzzer or a small backlight, plus EUSART to talk to a host appliance controller. The on-chip comparators handle cap-touch or matrix-keypad scanning, and the 5-bit DAC can generate analog reference levels for a small display or sensor bridge. PPS pin select means the same SSOP-20 layout can support several keypad geometries without PCB respins. Compared to PIC16F1509 designs, the PIC16F1579 doubles PWM resolution, which removes flicker on dimming LEDs and gives smoother buzzer tone sweeps. Extended -40 °C to +125 °C operation covers kitchen and laundry environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1579-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1578-E/SS | PIC16F15354-E/SS | PIC16F15244-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same |
| CPU Core | PIC16 8-bit, 32 MHz | PIC16 8-bit, 32 MHz | PIC16 8-bit, 32 MHz | PIC16 8-bit, 32 MHz |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 12 channels | 10-bit, up to 12 channels | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| PPS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Four independent 16-bit PWM channels (vs PIC16F15354-E/SS)
- On-chip 5-bit DAC (vs PIC16F1513-I/SS)
- CWG with programmable dead-band (vs PIC16F1829-I/SS)
Design Notes
PPS pin assignments are unlocked by default on reset. If the firmware does not write the PPS unlock sequence before configuring PWM, EUSART or comparator I/O, peripherals can silently end up on the wrong pins and the design appears non-functional. Always issue the PPS unlock macro at the start of initialization and lock the configuration registers at the end. Use the MPLAB X IDE configuration bits view to disable watchdog if not needed.
Estimated: at 32 MHz CPU clock and 5 V VDD the PIC16F1579 core current is in the single-digit mA range per the PIC16F157x datasheet, dropping to tens of microamps in sleep. For battery applications, gate HFINTOSC off in firmware before entering sleep and rely on the on-chip comparators or pin-change interrupts to wake the part. Add a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD/SSOP pin pair and a bulk 10 uF on the supply rail.
Place the ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK pins (RB7/RB6) on a 1x3 or 2x5 in-circuit serial programming header so the firmware can be updated without removing the chip. Keep analog ADC traces short and away from PWM outputs to avoid coupling; use the AGND-capable pin if available or a ground pour under the SSOP-20 footprint. If the design uses CWG complementary outputs, route the high-side and low-side gate traces as differential pairs to keep dead-band skew within the datasheet spec.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliance confirmed from Microchip product page and DigiKey listing. AEC-Q100 qualification not claimed for the PIC16F1579-E/SS standard grade; automotive designs should evaluate the PIC16F variant explicitly.
