PIC16F1778T-I/SS - 28KB Flash 8-bit MCU 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1778T-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.84 | $2.84 |
| 10 | $2.55 | $25.50 |
| 100 | $2.27 | $227.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.85 | $1,850.00 |
PIC16F1778T-I/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, memory, and programmable I/O peripherals. The 8-bit PIC architecture executes one instruction per cycle (except branches), delivering deterministic real-time performance with low power consumption. PIC microcontrollers sit within the broader hierarchy of embedded processors -> microcontrollers -> 8-bit microcontrollers -> PIC family -> PIC16F sub-family, and they are widely used in cost-sensitive, low-power, and safety-oriented applications such as lighting, power supplies, and motor control.
Key features of the PIC16F1778 include a 10-bit ADC, multiple 10-bit and 16-bit PWMs, operational amplifiers, high-speed comparators, zero-cross detection, a programmable ramp generator, and peripheral pin select (PPS) for flexible signal routing. The 100 mA high-current I/O drivers can directly drive LEDs, relays, and FET gates without external buffers, reducing BOM cost. The integrated op-amps, comparators, and DAC remove the need for many external analog components.
Technically, the device uses a Harvard RISC core with a 14-bit instruction word, 16-level hardware stack, and nanoWatt XLP extreme-low-power technology for battery-powered applications. Communication is supported through SPI, I2C, and EUSART (enhanced USART with auto-baud and LIN support), enabling connection to sensors, displays, RF modules, and host processors.
Typical applications include LED lighting and color-mixing drivers, switched-mode power supplies with PFC, battery chargers, BLDC and stepper motor control, and general-purpose embedded control. The combination of analog peripherals and high-current I/O makes it especially attractive for closed-loop power conversion and lighting ballast designs where a single chip replaces multiple discrete controllers.
When designing with this part, pay attention to the SSOP package thermal limits under high I/O current loads, and use Microchip's MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler for development. For drop-in alternatives within the same 28-SSOP footprint and feature set, consult the alternatives listed below; several PIC16F1778 variants and PIC16F1769/1768 derivatives in 28-SSOP provide compatible pinouts.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the 28-SSOP family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1778T-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 PIC16F1778T-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, DAC, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1778-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1769-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1709-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1778T-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC 8-bit RISC (14-bit instruction word) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC | 10-bit, multiple channels |
| DAC | 10-bit |
| PWM | 10/16-bit, multiple channels |
| High-Speed Comparators | Yes |
| Operational Amplifiers | Yes (on-chip) |
| Zero-Cross Detection | Yes |
| Programmable Ramp Generator | Yes |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| I/O Drive Strength | 100 mA high-current capable |
| Communication | SPI, I2C, EUSART (LIN-capable) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16F1778T-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/RE3 — Master Clear (Reset) input or digital input-only RE3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Port A bit 2 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — Port A bit 3 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, input-only on some PICs) |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Port A bit 4 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — Port A bit 5 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, OSC1 on some configs) |
| Pin 10 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, OSC2 on some configs) |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 (analog/digital/PPS-capable) |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, TX/CK) |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, RX/DT) |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference (secondary) |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0 — Port B bit 0 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, interrupt-on-change, ICSP PG) |
| Pin 27 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, ICSP PGC, ICD clock) |
| Pin 28 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 (analog/digital/PPS-capable, ICSP PGD, ICD data) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1778T-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting and Color-Mixing Drivers, Switched-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) with PFC, Battery Chargers and Battery Management, BLDC and Stepper Motor Control, General-Purpose Embedded Control, Industrial Sensor Conditioning and Signal Acquisition.
LED Lighting and Color-Mixing Drivers
The PIC16F1778T-I/SS fits LED lighting drivers because its integrated 16-bit PWMs, op-amps, comparators, and 100 mA high-current I/O can directly drive multi-channel LED strings without external gate drivers. With 28 KB of Flash and 2 KB of RAM, the MCU can host DALI, DMX, or Bluetooth Mesh stacks alongside closed-loop current regulation firmware. The 10-bit DAC and zero-cross detection enable phase-controlled dimming and analog color-temperature tuning.
Recommended
Switched-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) with PFC
For SMPS designs with power factor correction, the PIC16F1778T-I/SS offers the on-chip op-amps for current sensing, high-speed comparators for cycle-by-cycle current limit, programmable ramp generator for slope compensation, and 16-bit PWMs for digital PFC control loops. Its 32 MHz clock and 10-bit ADC support 100 kHz+ switching frequencies, and the 1.8-5.5 V supply range lets the MCU share the auxiliary rail without extra regulators.
Recommended
Battery Chargers and Battery Management
In battery charger applications, the PIC16F1778T-I/SS provides the 10-bit ADC for precise voltage and current telemetry, op-amps for sense-amplifier integration, and PWMs for synchronous buck converter control. The nanoWatt XLP low-power modes extend standby time when the charger is idle, and the EUSART (with LIN) simplifies telemetry to a master BMS. The 28 KB Flash supports multi-chemistry charge profiles (Li-ion, NiMH, lead-acid) in one firmware image.
Recommended
BLDC and Stepper Motor Control
The PIC16F1778T-I/SS supports sensorless BLDC and stepper motor control via its 16-bit PWMs (with complementary outputs and dead-band control), high-speed comparators for back-EMF zero-cross detection, and on-chip op-amps for current sensing. The peripheral pin select (PPS) reassigns PWM outputs at runtime, simplifying PCB routing on multi-motor boards. At 32 MHz, the MCU can close 20 kHz current loops with margin for housekeeping tasks.
Recommended
General-Purpose Embedded Control
For general embedded control, the PIC16F1778T-I/SS brings 28 KB Flash, 2 KB RAM, SPI/I2C/EUSART, and PPS routing to drive sensor hubs, HVAC dampers, and small appliances. The industrial temperature range and 5.5 V tolerance allow direct connection to 5 V sensors and actuators. Combined with on-chip op-amps and comparators, the MCU often replaces 2-3 discrete analog ICs, reducing BOM cost and PCB area in compact products.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning and Signal Acquisition
Industrial sensor conditioning leverages the PIC16F1778T-I/SS integrated op-amps, 10-bit ADC, and 10-bit DAC to amplify, filter, and digitize signals from thermocouples, RTDs, and bridge pressure sensors. The on-chip comparators provide fast threshold detection for safety shutoff, while the EUSART streams telemetry to a host PLC. The 28-SSOP package is suitable for both hand-soldered prototypes and SMT production runs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1778T-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1778-I/SS | PIC16F1769-I/SS | PIC16F1709-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB (-50%) | 14 KB (-50%) |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB (-50%) | 1 KB (-50%) |
| Maximum Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| On-chip Op-Amps | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| High-Speed Comparators | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PWM Resolution | 10/16-bit | 10/16-bit | 10/16-bit | 10-bit |
| I/O Drive Strength | 100 mA | 100 mA | 100 mA | 100 mA |
| Unit Price (qty 1) | $2.84 | ~$2.84 | ~$2.10 (estimated lower) | ~$1.85 (estimated lower) |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in the 28-SSOP PIC16F177x family (vs PIC16F1769-I/SS)
- Includes on-chip operational amplifiers (vs PIC16F1709-I/SS)
- Higher PWM resolution on selected channels (vs PIC16F1709-I/SS)
Design Notes
The 28-SSOP package has a typical theta_JA of approximately 80-100 C/W on a standard 4-layer JEDEC test board. When driving high-current I/O pins at 100 mA continuously, total package dissipation can exceed 800 mW and push the junction temperature toward the 150 C absolute maximum. Provide at least 100 mm^2 of top-layer copper pour around the SSOP body, and avoid sustained simultaneous high-current drive on adjacent pins to keep junction temperature within safe limits.
Decouple VDD (pin 20) with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of the pin, plus a bulk 1-10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor on the same node. Use a separate analog supply (AVDD) if your design references the ADC and route the analog ground (AVSS/VSS) as a star connection back to the main ground. Keep switching signals (PWM, ICSP clock) away from the analog op-amp inputs to minimize coupled noise.
Do not assume that PIC16F1778, F1776, and F1769 are interchangeable in firmware - the Flash sizes differ (28 KB vs 14 KB vs 14 KB) and link errors will appear if code exceeds the target's memory map. Also, the F1778 in 28-SSOP is NOT pin-compatible with the 28-SPDIP (-/SP) or 28-SOIC (-/SO) variants; those have different physical footprints even though the pin numbering looks similar.
Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) lets you remap digital peripherals to any digital-capable pin, but analog functions are NOT remappable. If your firmware expects a PWM output on RC1 but your PCB routes it to RA2, use PPS to remap - the alternative is to spin a new PCB. Document the PPS assignments in your code header so firmware updates do not silently break pin mappings.
Compliance Information
Industrial temperature grade (-40 C to +85 C). Standard Microchip RoHS/REACH compliance applies. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; choose AEC-Q100 screened variants for automotive. MSL level not confirmed in verified data - see [DATA_NEEDED] in specs.
