PIC16F1708-I/SS - 8-Bit MCU, 32MHz, 7KB Flash, 20-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1708-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.1 | $2.10 |
| 10 | $1.87 | $18.70 |
| 100 | $1.55 | $155.00 |
| 500 | $1.32 | $660.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.18 | $1,180.00 |
PIC16F1708-I/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program and data memory, and programmable I/O peripherals. The PIC16 enhanced mid-range architecture uses a 14-bit wide instruction set and a Harvard bus structure (separate program and data paths), which keeps each instruction cycle to 200 ns at 32 MHz. Within the broader taxonomy, an MCU falls under Integrated Circuits > Microcontrollers, sitting below microprocessor and above SoC in design complexity, and the PIC16F1708 belongs specifically to the PIC16F1xxx enhanced mid-range family.
Key features include two on-chip operational amplifiers, a 10-bit ADC, an 8-bit DAC, high-speed comparator, two PWM modules with time-base, and Core Independent Peripherals (CLC, COG/NCO, Zero-Cross Detect). Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) provides signal routing flexibility, EUSART supports LIN, and I²C/SPI handle inter-IC communication. With XLP sleep current in the nA range and a wide 1.8V–5.5V supply range, the part is optimized for battery-powered and energy-harvesting designs.
The PIC16F1708 is fabricated on a low-power CMOS process and includes a programmable brown-out reset (BOR), watchdog timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator, and an in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) interface that allows field firmware upgrades without removing the chip from the board.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, handheld instrumentation, smart-home peripherals, low-cost motor control (small BLDC fans, brushed DC, and steppers via the COG), LED lighting controllers, and battery-powered medical/wearable devices. The on-chip op amps and DAC simplify signal conditioning, eliminating external analog components.
When designing with this MCU, allocate at least one I/O pin for ICSP programming (PGC/PGD), confirm the VDD/VSS decoupling network (typically 100 nF + bulk cap) is placed close to the pin, and verify that PPS mapping for the chosen EUSART/SPI lines does not conflict with the ICSP pins. Use the on-chip op amps in unity-gain or transimpedance configurations only after checking the input common-mode range against the supply rail.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing for the PIC16F1708-I/SS, same-package drop-in alternatives in the PIC16 family, and practical design notes not consolidated in any single distributor listing.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1708-I/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 PIC16F1708-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Core Independent Peripherals, Package, Comparators, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1708-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1708-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.69 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1709-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1713-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1769-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1708-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC16F170x, PIC16 enhanced mid-range |
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC (Harvard, 14-bit instruction word) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns at 32 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 0 bytes (not present) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 17 (with Peripheral Pin Select) |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body, 0.65 mm pitch) |
| Operating Temperature Range (I grade) | -40 C to +85 C |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 12 channels |
| DAC | 8-bit, 1 channel |
| Comparators | High-speed, with selectable reference |
| Operational Amplifiers | 2 on-chip op amps |
| PWM / CCP | 2 x 10-bit PWM, 2 CCP modules |
| Core Independent Peripherals | CLC, COG/NCO, Zero-Cross Detect (ZCD) |
| Communication | EUSART (LIN), I²C/SPI |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP (2-wire) |
| XLP Sleep Current | nA range (XLP eXtreme Low Power) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F1708-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — General-purpose I/O / ADC / op-amp output |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — General-purpose I/O / ADC |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — General-purpose I/O / VPP (ICSP programming voltage) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — General-purpose I/O / ADC / ZCD / op-amp inverting input |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — General-purpose I/O / ICSPCLK / ADC / op-amp output |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — General-purpose I/O / ICSPDAT / ADC |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/RA7 — Crystal input / general-purpose I/O |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/RA6 — Crystal output / general-purpose I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — General-purpose I/O / ADC |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — General-purpose I/O / ADC / DAC output |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — General-purpose I/O / ADC / op-amp non-inverting input |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — General-purpose I/O / ADC / op-amp output |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — General-purpose I/O / ADC / COG |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — General-purpose I/O / ADC |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — General-purpose I/O / EUSART TX |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — General-purpose I/O / EUSART RX |
| Pin 19 | RB7 — General-purpose I/O / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 20 | RB6 — General-purpose I/O / ICSPCLK |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1708-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: IoT Sensor Node / Wireless Endpoint, Battery-Powered Wearable / Health Patch, Smart-Home Peripheral (Thermostat / Switch / Sensor Hub), LED Lighting and Signage Controller, Small Motor Control (BLDC Fan, Brushed DC, Solenoid), Low-Cost Handheld Test & Measurement.
IoT Sensor Node / Wireless Endpoint
The PIC16F1708-I/SS is well-matched to IoT sensor endpoints where the XLP nA-range sleep current and 1.8–5.5 V VDD directly extend battery life, and the on-chip 10-bit ADC plus two op amps eliminate external signal-conditioning components. In a typical design the MCU wakes from an RTCC alarm, performs a sensor read via ADC, packages data, and transmits over an external SPI/EUSART-connected radio (sub-GHz or BLE module). The COG/NCO peripheral handles any local low-frequency PWM signaling needed during transmission. Compared with a Cortex-M0+ at similar MHz, the PIC16F1708's deterministic 200 ns instruction cycle and low active current (~150 µA at 1 MHz) yield competitive battery life on coin cells.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Wearable / Health Patch
For wearable health patches the PIC16F1708-I/SS provides sufficient processing to run heart-rate, SpO2, or temperature signal conditioning while sleeping most of the day in XLP mode. The two on-chip op amps drive photodiode transimpedance amplification for SpO2 or PPG, and the 10-bit ADC digitises the signal. Wide 1.8–5.5 V VDD lets the design use a single CR2032 (3 V) without boost circuitry, and the SSOP-20 0.65 mm pitch allows PCB placement on flexible thin substrates. Compared with bigger ARM Cortex parts the 32 MHz PIC16 core keeps active power well below 1 mW at typical duty cycles.
Recommended
Smart-Home Peripheral (Thermostat / Switch / Sensor Hub)
The PIC16F1708-I/SS suits smart-home wall switches and thermostat controls because its 1.8–5.5 V range accepts 24 V AC-derived half-wave supplies and its CLC and ZCD peripherals enable zero-crossing detection for triac-driven loads. The PWM and COG modules generate smooth dimming or heating control signals, while EUSART (LIN-capable) supports inter-device networking. Designers can drop the device into existing PIC16 SSOP-20 sockets and benefit from the same XC8 tool chain and MPLAB Code Configurator peripheral-init code generation.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Signage Controller
The PIC16F1708-I/SS is widely used in LED drivers and signage because the COG peripheral produces precise complementary PWM outputs with dead-band insertion, essential for buck/boost LED converter power stages. The on-chip 8-bit DAC sets programmable LED current via an op-amp transconductance stage, while CLC cells implement zero-cross and fault handling in hardware without CPU intervention. Wide VDD and small SSOP-20 footprint simplify the thermal design inside sealed luminaires. Compare: against an LED-driver-only IC like the HV9910, the PIC16F1708 adds scripting, BLE/Wi-Fi host connectivity and diagnostic telemetry.
Recommended
Small Motor Control (BLDC Fan, Brushed DC, Solenoid)
In small brushless DC fans and brushed DC motors, the PIC16F1708-I/SS uses its COG/NCO and 10-bit PWM channels to drive a half-bridge MOSFET driver with programmable dead-time, and the comparator implements hardware overcurrent shutdown via the COG auto-shutdown feature. This hardware-driven loop means the CPU is not in the critical path, reducing latency to <500 ns. Compared with dedicated motor-controller ICs the PIC16F1708 keeps flexibility for protocol stacks (LIN, RS-485, or simple tachometer feedback).
Recommended
Low-Cost Handheld Test & Measurement
Handheld DMMs, cable testers, and logic probes leverage the PIC16F1708-I/SS to perform analog acquisition (10-bit ADC, 50 ksps), drive LCD segments via PWM-driven charge pumps, and run LIN/RS-485 interfaces. The 7 KB Flash accommodates calibration constants and user-menu firmware, and the SSOP-20 0.65 mm pitch suits slim probe housings. The on-chip op amp can be configured as a high-impedance front-end buffer for voltmeter or thermocouple measurement channels.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1708-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1708-I/SO | PIC16F1708-E/SS | PIC16F1709-I/SS | PIC16F1713-I/SS | PIC16F1769-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP (SS) | 20-pin SOIC - same die, different body | 20-pin SSOP - identical footprint | 20-pin SSOP - identical footprint | 20-pin SSOP - identical footprint | 20-pin SSOP - identical footprint |
| Flash Memory | 7 KB (4K x 14) | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB (2x) |
| RAM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 1 KB (2x) |
| Data EEPROM | 0 B | 0 B | 0 B | 128 B (added) | 0 B | 0 B |
| 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 |
| Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (I grade) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C (E grade) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| On-chip Op Amps | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 + upgraded CWG |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 12 channels | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit, additional channels |
| DAC | 8-bit, 1 channel | 8-bit | 8-bit | 8-bit | 8-bit | 10-bit, multiple channels |
Key Differentiators
- On-chip dual operational amplifiers with 8-bit DAC (vs PIC16F1708-I/SO (same die, but SOIC-20 footprint))
- Extended temperature option (E grade) at same SSOP-20 footprint (vs PIC16F1708-I/SS (industrial grade, -40 C to +85 C))
- Larger memory option for forward firmware growth (vs PIC16F1708-I/SS (7 KB Flash, 512 B RAM))
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of the VDD pin (pin 8) on the PIC16F1708-I/SS, plus a bulk 4.7–10 µF tantalum or ceramic on the same supply trace. For XLP battery applications add a small (1 kΩ) series resistor to the ICSP VPP/RA3 pin to limit programming current and reduce leakage in sleep. BOR is recommended in firmware to be left enabled (default) with VDD-relative trip points set to BORV<1:0>=11 (2.5 V) for 3.3 V systems or BORV<1:0>=00 (1.8 V) for single-cell Li-ion operation.
The SSOP-20 (5.30 mm body, 0.65 mm pitch) package demands a clean reflow profile with peak temperature below 245 C and land patterns per IPC-7351 nominal-density (N) conventions. Route the ICSP lines PGC (RB6) and PGD (RB7) as a 3-wire signal group with the MCLR/VPP line in parallel and the VSS line as the return reference; keep the trace length below 50 mm to avoid programming failures with long ICSP cables. Use a continuous ground plane on the bottom layer and avoid vias-in-pad on the thermal pad-less SSOP-20 footprint.
Avoid leaving the floating I/O pins unconfigured; set unused pins to outputs low via firmware (not just disabled) to prevent shoot-through current of up to 200 µA per pin. Do not remap ICSP pins (PGC/PGD) via PPS in production firmware - this prevents in-circuit debugging. When using the on-chip op amps in unity-gain follower mode, ensure the input common-mode voltage stays inside VDD ±0.3 V; for rail-to-rail use a gain-of-10 buffer with input divider. Estimated: input bias current on the on-chip op amps is approximately 50 nA typical, so high-impedance sensors should add a 100 kΩ input bias return resistor.
Estimated: the PIC16F1708-I/SS at full active 32 MHz and 5.5 V VDD draws approximately 6 mA (~33 mW). With a SSOP-20 theta_JA of approximately 100 C/W on a standard 2-layer JEDEC test board, the junction temperature rise is only 3 C above ambient - well within the -40 C to +85 C industrial range. No heatsink or thermal copper pour is required for typical applications, but sealed enclosures should be validated at worst-case ambient temperature.
When using the on-chip ADC for high-impedance sensor inputs (e.g., 100 kΩ thermistor divider), add a 100 nF + 10 nF capacitor stack at the ADC pin to form a low-pass filter; the ADC acquisition time of approximately 1 µs at 32 MHz FOSC requires source impedance below 10 kΩ for 10-bit accuracy. For EUSART connections above 115.2 kbaud, add a 22 Ω series resistor at the TX pin to damp reflections on long cables.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. Lead-free SSOP-20 package. Halogen-free per Microchip environmental certification. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC16F1708-E/SS for higher-temperature grades; AEC-Q100 automotive variants are listed as PIC16F1708T-I/SSVAO with separate qualification.
