PIC16F1789-E/ML - 8-Bit 32MHz 28KB Flash MCU 44-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1789-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.55 | $25.50 |
| 100 | $2.18 | $218.00 |
| 500 | $1.92 | $960.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.7 | $1,700.00 |
PIC16F1789-E/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), working memory (RAM), non-volatile data storage (EEPROM), and a rich set of peripheral interfaces. Within the broader semiconductor hierarchy, an MCU sits under embedded controllers, which themselves belong to the power management and digital logic categories of integrated circuits. The PIC16F1789 belongs to Microchip's PIC16 enhanced mid-range family, known for 49 instructions, 16 stack levels, and deterministic interrupt handling using automatic shadow registers for fast context save/restore.
Key differentiating features of the PIC16F1789 include its 12-bit ADC with up to 14 channels, dual DAC outputs (5-bit and 8-bit resolution), four PSMC channels for advanced PWM and switch-mode control, on-chip operational amplifiers, fast comparators with programmable reference, and mTouch capacitive touch support. The XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology delivers sleep currents in the nanoampere range, making the device attractive for battery-powered sensor applications.
The 32MHz internal oscillator (8MHz with 4x PLL) eliminates the need for external clocking components in many designs. The 44-QFN package with exposed thermal pad provides a low-thermal-resistance footprint (theta-JA around 28-32 C/W typical) suitable for industrial and consumer designs. The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) and debugging via Microchip's MPLAB X IDE with PICkit, ICD, or REAL ICE tools.
Typical applications include industrial sensor signal conditioning using the integrated op-amps and 12-bit ADC, LED lighting control using PSMC channels, switched-mode power supply control loops, motor control with advanced PWM, battery-powered IoT sensor nodes leveraging XLP, and consumer devices requiring capacitive touch via mTouch. The integrated analog front-end (op-amp + ADC + DAC) is a strong fit for closed-loop control systems.
When designing with this MCU, reserve adequate PCB copper area beneath the exposed pad for thermal dissipation, place decoupling capacitors within 3mm of each VDD pin, and configure the CONFIG words to select the desired oscillator source and brown-out voltage. The PSMC peripheral requires careful timer configuration for reliable switch-mode operation.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, including parametric comparisons against the PIC16F1788, PIC16F1779, and PIC16F1825 family members.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1789-E/ML — 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 PIC16F1789-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, DAC, Instruction Set, Operating Temperature, Operational Amplifiers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1789-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.81 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1788-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1779-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1719-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1769-E/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1789-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 Enhanced Mid-Range 8-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 Bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (8 MHz x 4 PLL) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Industrial, -E suffix) |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 14 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit DAC + 8-bit DAC |
| PSMC Channels | 4 (Programmable Switch Mode Controller) |
| Operational Amplifiers | On-chip (2 or 3, datasheet dependent) |
| Comparators | Fast comparators with programmable reference |
| Communication Peripherals | I2C, SPI, EUSART (RS-232/RS-485), CCP |
| Package | 44-pin QFN (8x8 mm) with Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Instruction Set | 49 Instructions, 16 Stack Levels |
| Capacitive Touch | mTouch supported |
| Low Power Technology | XLP (eXtreme Low Power) |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP via MPLAB X IDE, PICkit, ICD, REAL ICE |
PIC16F1789-E/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/C1IN+/DAC5OUT — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 / Comparator 1 positive input / 5-bit DAC output |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/C1IN-/DACREF — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 / Comparator 1 negative input / DAC reference |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/DAC5OUT — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 / 5-bit DAC output |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / Positive voltage reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4/T1G — PORTA bit 4 / Analog input 4 / Timer1 gate |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5/VCAP — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input 5 / Voltage regulator capacitor |
| Pin 7 | RA6/AN6/OPA1IN+ — PORTA bit 6 / Analog input 6 / Op-amp 1 positive input |
| Pin 8 | RA7/AN7/OPA1IN- — PORTA bit 7 / Analog input 7 / Op-amp 1 negative input |
| Pin 9 | VDD — Positive power supply |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | RB0/AN12/C2IN+ — PORTB bit 0 / Analog input 12 / Comparator 2 positive input |
| Pin 12 | RB1/AN10/C1IN3-/PSMC1IN — PORTB bit 1 / Analog input 10 / Comparator input / PSMC1 input |
| Pin 13 | RB2/AN8/C2IN3-/PSMC2IN — PORTB bit 2 / Analog input 8 / Comparator input / PSMC2 input |
| Pin 14 | RB3/AN9/C3IN3-/PSMC3IN — PORTB bit 3 / Analog input 9 / Comparator input / PSMC3 input |
| Pin 15 | RB4/AN11/C3IN2-/PSMC4IN — PORTB bit 4 / Analog input 11 / Comparator input / PSMC4 input |
| Pin 16 | RB5/AN13/CCP3 — PORTB bit 5 / Analog input 13 / CCP3 capture/compare/PWM |
| Pin 17 | RB6/PGC/ICSPDAT — PORTB bit 6 / Programming clock / ICSP data |
| Pin 18 | RB7/PGD/ICSPCLK — PORTB bit 7 / Programming data / ICSP clock |
| Pin 19 | RC0/SOSCO — PORTC bit 0 / Secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 20 | RC1/SOSCI — PORTC bit 1 / Secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 21 | RC2/CCP1/OPA1OUT — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 / Op-amp 1 output |
| Pin 22 | RC3/CCP2/OPA2OUT — PORTC bit 3 / CCP2 / Op-amp 2 output |
| Pin 23 | RC4/OPA2IN- — PORTC bit 4 / Op-amp 2 negative input |
| Pin 24 | RC5/OPA2IN+ — PORTC bit 5 / Op-amp 2 positive input |
| Pin 25 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / EUSART TX / Clock |
| Pin 26 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / EUSART RX / Data |
| Pin 27 | RD0/PSP0 — PORTD bit 0 / Parallel Slave Port bit 0 |
| Pin 28 | RD1/PSP1 — PORTD bit 1 / Parallel Slave Port bit 1 |
| Pin 29 | RD2/PSP2 — PORTD bit 2 / Parallel Slave Port bit 2 |
| Pin 30 | RD3/PSP3 — PORTD bit 3 / Parallel Slave Port bit 3 |
| Pin 31 | RD4/PSP4 — PORTD bit 4 / Parallel Slave Port bit 4 |
| Pin 32 | RD5/PSP5 — PORTD bit 5 / Parallel Slave Port bit 5 |
| Pin 33 | RD6/PSP6 — PORTD bit 6 / Parallel Slave Port bit 6 |
| Pin 34 | RD7/PSP7 — PORTD bit 7 / Parallel Slave Port bit 7 |
| Pin 35 | RE0/AN14 — PORTE bit 0 / Analog input 14 |
| Pin 36 | RE1/AN15 — PORTE bit 1 / Analog input 15 |
| Pin 37 | RE2/AN16 — PORTE bit 2 / Analog input 16 |
| Pin 38 | RE3/MCLR/VPP — PORTE bit 3 / Master Clear (Reset) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 39 | RF0 — PORTF bit 0 (digital only) |
| Pin 40 | RF1 — PORTF bit 1 (digital only) |
| Pin 41 | RF2 — PORTF bit 2 (digital only) |
| Pin 42 | RF3 — PORTF bit 3 (digital only) |
| Pin 43 | RF4 — PORTF bit 4 (digital only) |
| Pin 44 | RF5 — PORTF bit 5 (digital only) |
| Pin EP | EP (Exposed Pad) — Must be soldered to PCB ground plane for thermal dissipation |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1789-E/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Control, LED Lighting and Color-Mixing Controllers, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Capacitive Touch (mTouch) Human-Machine Interfaces, Closed-Loop Motor Control (BLDC, Stepper).
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16F1789-E/ML is well-suited for industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered sensor transmitters and bridge sensor conditioning because it integrates on-chip operational amplifiers, a 12-bit ADC with up to 14 channels, and 8-bit DAC for offset trimming. The on-chip op-amp can amplify a small bridge signal (e.g., 10 mV full-scale from a load cell) directly to the ADC input range, eliminating external instrumentation amplifiers. The 32MHz core processes linearization and temperature compensation algorithms in real time, while XLP sleep currents below 50 nA typical enable multi-year battery operation on loop-powered field instruments.
Recommended
Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Control
The PIC16F1789-E/ML's four PSMC (Programmable Switch Mode Controller) channels and 32MHz CPU make it ideal for digital control of buck, boost, flyback, and SEPIC converters. Each PSMC channel provides programmable dead-band control, fault inputs, and 16-bit resolution for high-frequency PWM up to several hundred kHz, enabling digital compensation loops for voltage-mode or peak-current-mode control. The 12-bit ADC samples the output voltage and inductor current, while the 8-bit DAC sets reference thresholds for primary-side regulation. This integration reduces the SMPS bill of materials by replacing several analog controller ICs with a single MCU.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Color-Mixing Controllers
The PIC16F1789-E/ML drives RGBW LED strips, architectural lighting, and horticultural LED fixtures by combining multiple PSMC channels for high-resolution PWM dimming (>16-bit effective via dithering) with the 12-bit ADC for ambient light and temperature feedback. The CCP and PSMC peripherals can generate phase-shifted PWM signals for multi-channel LED drivers, while the 5-bit and 8-bit DACs provide analog reference voltages to current-driver ICs. XLP low-power modes enable standby lighting controllers that draw <1 uA in sleep, waking on capacitive touch (mTouch) events to deliver instant-on response.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16F1789-E/ML's XLP technology delivers sleep currents under 50 nA typical with RTC running, making it ideal for coin-cell or 2xAA battery-powered IoT sensor endpoints. The integrated 12-bit ADC directly digitizes temperature, humidity, and gas-sensor analog signals, while the on-chip op-amp interfaces with low-output electrochemical gas sensors. The EUSART supports RS-485 wired connectivity, and the SPI/I2C peripherals connect to wireless modules like LoRa or BLE transceivers for hybrid wired/wireless sensor networks. The -40C to +125C extended temperature range covers outdoor and industrial deployments.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch (mTouch) Human-Machine Interfaces
The PIC16F1789-E/ML supports Microchip's mTouch capacitive touch sensing via the on-chip ADC and dedicated CVD (Capacitive Voltage Divider) hardware, enabling robust touch buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors without external touch ICs. The 32MHz CPU executes mTouch decoding algorithms with sub-100 ms response, while the integrated op-amps and fast comparators provide hardware-level noise immunity against conducted EMI from switching power supplies. The device drives LED indicators via CCP/PWM while concurrently scanning up to 16 touch channels, reducing BOM for kitchen appliances, white goods, and consumer interfaces.
Recommended
Closed-Loop Motor Control (BLDC, Stepper)
The PIC16F1789-E/ML provides cost-effective closed-loop control for small BLDC and stepper motors used in fans, pumps, and small appliances by combining four PSMC channels for complementary PWM with dead-band control, fast comparators for back-EMF sensing, and the 12-bit ADC for current/voltage feedback. The 32MHz core executes field-oriented control (FOC) algorithms within acceptable loop bandwidths for sub-100W motors. The integrated op-amps condition Hall-sensor or shunt-current signals directly, eliminating external signal-chain ICs and reducing PCB area by up to 40 percent versus discrete motor-control designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1789-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1789-I/ML | PIC16F1788-E/ML | PIC16F1779-E/ML | PIC16F1719-I/ML | PIC16F1769-E/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB |
| RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| PSMC Channels | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 (no PSMC) | 0 (no PSMC) |
| On-Chip Op-Amps | Yes (2-3) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Reduced | Reduced |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 5.5V |
| Approx. Qty-1 Price (USD) | $2.85 | ~$2.80 | ~$2.70 | ~$3.00 | ~$2.40 | ~$2.30 |
Key Differentiators
- Four integrated PSMC channels plus 12-bit ADC (vs PIC16F1719-I/ML)
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature range (E suffix) (vs PIC16F1789-I/ML)
- 28KB Flash plus dual DAC outputs (vs PIC16F1825-I/ML)
- On-chip op-amps eliminate external signal chain (vs PIC16F1719-I/ML)
Design Notes
The 44-QFN exposed pad (EP) is the primary thermal path for the PIC16F1789-E/ML and must be soldered to a PCB ground copper plane of at least 1 square inch (645 mm^2) to keep junction temperature within safe limits. Without adequate copper, the thermal resistance can exceed 60 C/W, leading to thermal shutdown during sustained heavy peripheral activity (e.g., continuous PSMC switching at high frequency). For designs operating above 60C ambient, add thermal vias under the EP to the opposite PCB layer ground pour to improve heat spreading.
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of each VDD/VDDCORE pin and a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the package EP ground connection. The PIC16F1789-E/ML has multiple VDD pins (main + analog + core regulator) - all must be properly decoupled to prevent ADC noise coupling into measurement channels. Use a star-ground topology connecting analog ground (VSS_AV) and digital ground (VSS_DIG) at a single point near the EP.
The VCAP pin (pin 6 in this 44-QFN package) requires a low-ESR 1 uF to 10 uF ceramic capacitor to ground for the internal core voltage regulator - omitting this capacitor or using a value outside the datasheet-specified range causes erratic MCU behavior, brown-out resets, or flash corruption during programming. Also, the MCLR/VPP pin (pin 38) must be pulled up to VDD via a 10 kOhm resistor; leaving MCLR floating or driving it with a weak pull-up can cause spurious resets in noisy environments.
When using the on-chip 12-bit ADC for precision measurements, route analog signals (ANx pins) away from digital switching traces (PWM outputs, clock lines) by at least 3x the trace width. Keep analog traces short and surround them with a ground guard ring connected to the analog ground plane. The PSMC outputs can inject switching noise into the ADC through shared supply - place a ferrite bead or pi-filter on the analog VDD pin if the ADC SNR falls below 70 dB in your prototype measurements.
For battery-powered designs, configure the PIC16F1789-E/ML's sleep mode carefully: disable all unused peripherals before WFI/WFI instruction, switch to the low-power internal LFINTOSC (31 kHz) for periodic wake-ups, and disable the ADC and op-amps in the peripheral disable registers. According to Microchip XLP datasheet DC characteristics, typical sleep current at 25C with RTC running from SOSC is approximately 0.7 uA - well below 50 nA specified for full sleep, but 10-50x better than running the main 32 MHz oscillator.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product specifications. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive AEC-Q100 designs, refer to Microchip's automotive-grade PIC16F1789 variants (different ordering suffix). Lead-free (Pb-free) termination, halogen-free mold compound per Microchip environmental compliance data.
