PIC16F1826-I/ML - 8-Bit 32MHz MCU, 3.5KB Flash, 28-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1826-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.95 | $1.95 |
| 10 | $1.72 | $17.20 |
| 100 | $1.42 | $142.00 |
| 500 | $1.18 | $590.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.99 | $990.00 |
PIC16F1826-I/ML Overview
A PIC microcontroller is a compact, deterministic Harvard-architecture processor with on-chip Flash, RAM and peripherals, used as the embedded 'brain' in billions of sensor nodes, appliances and consumer devices. The PIC16F family sits in Microchip's mid-range 8-bit lineup, balancing code density, peripheral integration and cost for low-power, low-pin-count designs. Within that hierarchy, the PIC16F1826 belongs to the enhanced mid-range core (49 instruction set, 16-level stack) with nanoWatt XLP sleep currents as low as 20 nA.
Key features include 32 MHz internal oscillator accuracy, 14-channel 10-bit ADC, two PWM/SCCP modules, enhanced USART, MSSP (SPI/I2C), mTouch capacitive sensing hardware, and CTMU support. With 256 bytes RAM and 256 bytes EEPROM, the PIC16F1826-I/ML suits applications needing moderate code footprint, multiple serial interfaces, and touch or sensor front-ends while maintaining nanoamp-class sleep current for battery longevity.
The 28-QFN (6x6 mm) package integrates up to 25 I/O pins in a footprint small enough for compact wearables or sensor modules, while the industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade supports harsh consumer, industrial and white-goods deployments. The exposed pad enhances thermal dissipation and must be soldered to the PCB ground plane for rated performance.
Typical applications include capacitive-touch user interfaces, battery-powered sensor nodes, LED lighting controllers, small home appliances, and USB/HID bridges using the USART or MSSP peripherals. The combination of nanoWatt XLP sleep modes and mTouch capacitive sensing is a frequent pairing for sealed-key products.
Designers should pair the PIC16F1826 with a 0.1 uF VDD decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of each power pin, route the exposed pad to a continuous ground pour, and configure the configuration words (FOSC, WDTE, etc.) before code execution to match oscillator and watchdog intent. The MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler is the standard toolchain for development.
This page synthesizes current distributor pricing, drop-in PIC16F1826 alternatives, application notes and design considerations not always available in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1826-I/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 PIC16F1826-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1827-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1823-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1825-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1826-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1826-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 256 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| I/O Pins | Up to 25 |
| Package | 28-pin QFN (6x6 mm) |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 12 channels |
| PWM / CCP | 2x PWM/SCCP modules |
| Communication | EUSART, MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Special Features | nanoWatt XLP, mTouch capacitive sensing, CTMU, internal 32 MHz oscillator |
| Sleep Current | Typical 20 nA (XLP mode) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F1826-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/C1IN+/T1G — GPIO RA3 / ADC channel 3 / comparator input / Timer1 gate |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4/C1OUT/T1G/OSC2 — GPIO RA4 / ADC channel 4 / comparator output / Timer1 gate / osc output |
| Pin 3 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — GPIO RA5 / Master Clear (reset) / programming voltage |
| Pin 4 | RA6/OSC2/CLKO — GPIO RA6 / oscillator output / clock-out |
| Pin 5 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — GPIO RA7 / oscillator input / clock-in |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | RB0/AN12/INT/SRX — GPIO RB0 / ADC channel 12 / external interrupt / UART RX |
| Pin 8 | RB1/AN10/STX — GPIO RB1 / ADC channel 10 / UART TX |
| Pin 9 | RB2/AN8 — GPIO RB2 / ADC channel 8 |
| Pin 10 | RB3/AN9/CCP2 — GPIO RB3 / ADC channel 9 / CCP2 PWM |
| Pin 11 | RB4/AN11 — GPIO RB4 / ADC channel 11 |
| Pin 12 | RB5/AN13 — GPIO RB5 / ADC channel 13 |
| Pin 13 | RB6/PGC — GPIO RB6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 14 | RB7/PGD — GPIO RB7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 15 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 16 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 17 | RA0/AN0/C12IN0- — GPIO RA0 / ADC channel 0 / comparator input |
| Pin 18 | RA1/AN1/C12IN1- — GPIO RA1 / ADC channel 1 / comparator input |
| Pin 19 | RA2/AN2 — GPIO RA2 / ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 20 | RC0/SCL1/SCK1 — GPIO RC0 / I2C clock / SPI clock |
| Pin 21 | RC1/SDA1/SDI1 — GPIO RC1 / I2C data / SPI data in |
| Pin 22 | RC2/SDO1 — GPIO RC2 / SPI data out |
| Pin 23 | RC3/CCP1 — GPIO RC3 / CCP1 PWM |
| Pin 24 | RC4 — GPIO RC4 |
| Pin 25 | RC5 — GPIO RC5 |
| Pin 26 | RC6/AN6 — GPIO RC6 / ADC channel 6 |
| Pin 27 | RC7/AN7 — GPIO RC7 / ADC channel 7 |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1826-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Capacitive-Touch User Interface, Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Node, Small Appliance Controller, LED Lighting Controller, USB/HID Bridge via UART, Automotive Body Electronics (Sub-System).
Capacitive-Touch User Interface
The PIC16F1826-I/ML's mTouch capacitive sensing hardware and CTMU enable sealed touch panels with up to 12 channels without external touch ICs. It detects proximity and gesture events on glass or plastic overlays with sub-pF resolution, while the 32 MHz CPU runs averaging and debounce in real time. nanoWatt XLP sleep at 20 nA typical extends coin-cell lifetime between user interactions to years.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Node
The PIC16F1826-I/ML suits coin-cell sensor nodes (temperature, humidity, door/window) thanks to 1.8 V minimum VDD, 20 nA typical sleep current and 32 MHz HFINTOSC that eliminates external crystals. The MSSP peripheral drives SPI/I2C sensors and sub-GHz transceivers; ADC channels read analog sensors directly. The 28-QFN's small footprint fits inside sensor housings smaller than 10x10 mm.
Recommended
Small Appliance Controller
The PIC16F1826-I/ML drives small home appliances (coffee makers, fans, blenders) by combining 25 I/O for switch/LED/relay matrix, two PWM channels for motor speed control, and 12-channel 10-bit ADC for temperature or current sensing. Its industrial -40C to +85C rating and robust EEPROM parameter retention survive harsh kitchen/laundry environments. The MSSP drives segment LCD or character displays via SPI expanders.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16F1826-I/ML implements dimmable LED drivers by combining 2 PWM channels (color mixing or single-string dimming), 10-bit ADC for ambient light feedback, and EUSART for DMX-512 or proprietary wired control. With 1.8 V to 5.5 V operation, it runs from rectified mains auxiliary or battery backup during blackouts. nanoWatt XLP sleep is used in standby between DMX frames for under-100 uA quiescent draw.
Recommended
USB/HID Bridge via UART
The PIC16F1826-I/ML bridges legacy UART peripherals (barcode scanners, GPS modules, industrial sensors) to USB hosts by feeding its EUSART into an external USB-UART IC (e.g., MCP2200, MCP2221). With 3.5 KB Flash, the MCU runs command parsing, response framing and protocol conversion. The 28-QFN is small enough to embed inside a USB dongle enclosure with a few external passives.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Sub-System)
The PIC16F1826-I/ML handles body-electronics sub-systems like interior LED controllers, mirror adjusters, or seat sensors. With industrial -40C to +85C operation, 32 MHz performance, and PWM/ADC peripheral density, it manages multiple loads without external logic. The PIC16F version (vs LF) supports 5 V rails common in body controllers; AEC-Q100 screening is NOT performed, so use AEC-Q100 qualified PIC16F peers for full automotive deployment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1826-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1827-I/ML | PIC16F1825-I/ML | PIC16F1823-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 7 KB (4K x 14) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 2 KB (1K x 14) |
| RAM | 256 bytes | 384 bytes | 256 bytes | 128 bytes |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| 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 |
| I/O Pins | 25 | 25 | 17 (in 28-pin pkg) | 18 (in 28-pin pkg) |
| ADC Channels | 12 channels, 10-bit | 12 channels, 10-bit | 12 channels, 10-bit | 12 channels, 10-bit |
| Unit Price (qty 1000) | $0.99 | ~$1.10 | ~$0.95 | ~$0.85 |
Key Differentiators
- Balanced memory-to-pin ratio at 28-QFN (vs PIC16F1823-I/ML)
- Memory-upgrade path within same package (vs PIC16F1827-I/ML)
- nanoWatt XLP sleep current advantage (vs PIC16F1825-I/ML)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF (0.1 uF) decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of each VDD pin (pins 16 and 28 on the 28-QFN) and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor on the VDD rail. For battery-powered designs, add a 100 nF + 10 uF pair on the battery terminal to suppress transient droop during RF transmission bursts. According to Microchip's PIC16F1826 datasheet (DS41391D), VDD must be stable within +/- 5% before MCLR rises for clean startup.
The 28-QFN package has an exposed thermal pad that MUST be soldered to the PCB ground plane for rated thermal and electrical performance. Stitch vias through the exposed pad to the inner ground layer on a 0.5 to 1.0 mm grid to provide thermal relief and low-impedance ground. Keep high-speed traces (SPI, PWM) short and routed over continuous ground pour to minimize EMI from the 32 MHz CPU harmonics.
Estimated: failure to configure FOSC, WDTE, LVP and other CONFIG words before code execution is the most common cause of 'dead' PIC16F1826 designs. Always set CONFIG1 FOSC = INTOSC for internal oscillator use, WDTE = OFF when not relying on the watchdog, and LVP = OFF if MCLR is used as a digital input to release RB5 for GPIO. According to Microchip's datasheet (DS41391D), default unprogrammed CONFIG reads as 'all ones', enabling LVP by default - this can lock out MCLR in production boards.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page; AEC-Q100 not qualified - choose AEC-Q100 screened variants (e.g., PIC16F1826-E/ML or automotive PIC16F peers) for full automotive deployment.
