PIC16F1829-E/P - 8-Bit 32MHz 14KB Flash MCU 20-PDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1829-E/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.34 | $2.34 |
| 10 | $2.1 | $21.00 |
| 100 | $1.85 | $185.00 |
| 500 | $1.62 | $810.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.41 | $1,410.00 |
PIC16F1829-E/P Overview
A PIC microcontroller (MCU) is a compact, self-contained computer-on-a-chip built around a Harvard RISC architecture that separates program and data memory for deterministic real-time response. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, the PIC16F1829 belongs to the PIC16 enhanced mid-range family, which itself sits inside the 8-bit MCU category, beneath 16-bit and 32-bit MCU classes, and ultimately within the microcontroller > microprocessor > semiconductor hierarchy. XLP technology extends battery life by reducing active current, sleep current, and wake-up latency.
Key features of the PIC16F1829-E/P include integrated mTouch capacitive-touch sensing, an on-chip 32 MHz internal oscillator that eliminates external crystal cost, a 10-bit ADC with up to 17 channels, multiple PWM modules, enhanced USART, MSSP (I2C/SPI), and up to 18 digital I/O. The XLP core supports deep sleep currents in the nanoampere range, enabling years of operation from a single coin cell. Compared with the PIC16F1827 family, the PIC16F1829 doubles program memory and adds more ADC channels.
Architecturally, the PIC16F1829 uses a 14-bit instruction word and a hardware multiplier, providing roughly 4x the performance of baseline PIC16 parts at the same clock. The device supports ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) using either high-voltage or low-voltage methods, plus integrated debug via PICkit 3 and MPLAB ICD 3 - no separate debug header is required for the -E/P variant. Internal peripherals include comparators, a configurable logic cell (CLC), and a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO).
Typical applications span consumer white goods, low-cost IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered remote controls, capacitive-touch user interfaces, LED lighting controllers, and hobby/education platforms where 20-pin PDIP is preferred over QFN or SSOP. Engineers choose this part when they need a familiar, well-documented 8-bit core with generous Flash and EEPROM.
When designing with the PIC16F1829-E/P, note that pin 1 (RA5/CLKIN/VCAP) requires an external capacitor on VDDCORE, and unused I/O must be configured as outputs low to minimize sleep current. Breadboard-friendly PDIP enables rapid prototyping but consumes more PCB area than QFN equivalents.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and design considerations that the manufacturer datasheet alone does not surface in a single view.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1829-E/P — 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 PIC16F1829-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1829-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1829-E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1825-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1789-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.07 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1829-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 Enhanced Mid-Range (8-bit, 14-bit instruction word) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 1 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP (P) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended, "E" suffix) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 17 channels |
| PWM Modules | Multiple (CCP/ECCP) - per datasheet |
| Communication Peripherals | Enhanced USART, MSSP (I2C/SPI) |
| On-Chip Oscillator | 32 MHz internal (no external crystal required) |
| XLP Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP with deep sleep in nA range |
| mTouch Capacitive Sensing | Integrated |
| In-Circuit Programming | ICSP (high-voltage or low-voltage) |
| Debug Support | Integrated on-die (no debug header required); PICkit 3, MPLAB ICD 3 |
PIC16F1829-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5/CLKIN/VCAP/SS1/HLVDIN — Digital I/O / external clock input / core voltage decoupling cap / slave select 1 / high-low voltage detect input |
| Pin 2 | RA0/ICSPDAT — Digital I/O / ICSP data line |
| Pin 3 | RA1/ICSPCLK — Digital I/O / ICSP clock line |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 5 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — Digital I/O / Master Clear (reset) / programming voltage |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 7 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — Digital I/O / crystal oscillator input |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / clock output / digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | RC0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 14 | RC4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 15 | RC5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | RC6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 18 | RB7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 19 | RB5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5 V to 5.5 V) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1829-E/P is suitable for 6 applications: Consumer White Goods Control Board, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Capacitive Touch User Interface, Hobby and Education Development Platform, LED Lighting Controller, Remote Control and IR Transmitter.
Consumer White Goods Control Board
The PIC16F1829-E/P fits consumer white-goods control boards (washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens) because its 14 KB Flash, 18 I/O, and extended -40 to +125 C temperature grade cover keypad scanning, LED drive, sensor readout, and triac control firmware. Its integrated 32 MHz internal oscillator eliminates the external crystal typically required for motor-control timing, and the XLP nanoampere sleep mode lets the appliance enter standby without a separate low-power MCU. At 3.3 V supply with an average 5 mA active current, the 14-bit enhanced core sustains closed-loop PID loops for motor speed and temperature regulation without an external DSP.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16F1829-E/P suits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes that transmit telemetry every few minutes via UART to an external radio. The XLP nanoWatt technology drops sleep current into the nA range, so two AA batteries deliver multi-year life when the MCU wakes only for a few ms to read a sensor and push a packet. The 10-bit ADC with up to 17 channels handles temperature, light, and analog sensor inputs directly, while the mTouch peripheral adds capacitive button or proximity wake-up without extra hardware. Compared with a 32-bit MCU at the same price, the 8-bit core keeps firmware size and complexity low for off-grid deployments.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC16F1829-E/P's integrated mTouch capacitive-sensing peripheral and 18 I/O let it scan up to 12 touch electrodes plus a slide or wheel without an external touch controller, cutting BOM cost in appliances and consumer products. Its 32 MHz core resolves touch measurements in microseconds, supporting both button and proximity sensing with the same firmware. Extended -40 to +125 C operating range lets the same firmware serve both kitchen and outdoor installations. Use the internal FVR (Fixed Voltage Reference) for stable touch baselines across temperature, and route touch pads with proper guard rings per the mTouch design guide.
Recommended
Hobby and Education Development Platform
The PIC16F1829-E/P is widely adopted in hobbyist and university curricula because the 20-pin PDIP format fits standard breadboards and perfboards, eliminating soldering during experimentation. Its 14 KB Flash is large enough to teach real applications (timers, PWM, UART, ADC) and the free MPLAB X IDE plus XC8 compiler allow students to begin without license fees. The integrated on-die debug via PICkit 3 / MPLAB ICD 3 means there is no need for a separate debug header IC, simplifying lab kits. Compared with QFN-only 8-bit MCUs, the PDIP package lets the same board be reworked and reused semester after semester.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16F1829-E/P drives LED lighting controllers that require multiple PWM channels for color mixing or dimming. Its 32 MHz core and enhanced CCP/ECCP peripherals produce high-resolution PWM outputs at audio-noise-free frequencies above 20 kHz. The 10-bit ADC samples ambient light sensors and potentiometers for adaptive brightness, while the XLP mode keeps standby under 1 uA when the lights are off, important for ENERGY STAR-rated fixtures. The 20-pin PDIP format fits legacy through-hole LED driver boards that small lighting OEMs still manufacture.
Recommended
Remote Control and IR Transmitter
The PIC16F1829-E/P fits IR remote-control handsets because its 14 KB Flash stores multiple protocol libraries (RC5, NEC, SIRC) and the XLP sleep current in the nA range lets a coin-cell-powered remote operate for years. The integrated mTouch peripheral adds touch-sensitive buttons alongside traditional elastomer keys without extra cost, while the 32 MHz internal oscillator provides the accurate carrier frequency required for IR transmission. The 20-pin PDIP is easy to mount on the slim PCB layouts typical of remote-control hardware, and the extended temperature range handles storage conditions across geographies.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1829-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1829-I/P | PIC16F1829-E/ML | PIC16LF1829-E/P | PIC16F1825-E/P | PIC16F1789-E/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-PDIP (P) | 20-PDIP - same | 20-QFN (different footprint) | 20-PDIP - same | 20-PDIP - same | 20-PDIP - same |
| Flash Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 28 KB |
| RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 2 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +125 C (E) |
| I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
| Unit Price (qty 1, USD, as of 2026-09-20) | 2.34 | approximately 2.20 | approximately 2.10 | approximately 2.40 | approximately 2.20 | approximately 2.70 |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature grade up to +125 C (vs PIC16F1829-I/P)
- On-chip 32 MHz internal oscillator with mTouch sensing (vs PIC16F1828-I/P)
- Standard VDD range versus low-voltage LF variant (vs PIC16LF1829-E/P)
- 20-pin PDIP through-hole format versus QFN-only siblings (vs PIC16F1829-E/ML)
Design Notes
The PIC16F1829-E/P integrates a 1.8 V core LDO that requires an external 0.1 uF capacitor on the VCAP pin (pin 1) to provide internal regulation. Without this capacitor the device fails to start or exhibits erratic reset behavior. Place the VCAP cap as close to pin 1 as practical with a short trace to ground. For sleep-current-sensitive designs (XLP mode), use a low-leakage X7R or NP0 ceramic capacitor rather than Y5V to avoid leakage-induced Iq degradation.
Always configure unused I/O pins as outputs and drive them low to prevent floating inputs that can source current and degrade sleep current by tens of microamps. The MCLR pin (pin 5) should be tied to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up if not used as a reset input, and a 100 nF decoupling cap should be placed close to VDD (pin 20). Failure to disable the watchdog timer in software for low-power designs causes periodic wake-ups that defeat XLP sleep targets.
For 20-pin PDIP through-hole layouts, place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD (pin 20) and a bulk 10 uF capacitor near the supply entry point. ICSP connector traces from RA0/ICSPDAT (pin 2) and RA1/ICSPCLK (pin 3) should be kept short and routed away from switching nodes; many users add a 4.7 kohm pull-up on ICSPCLK to keep the line defined during programming. If the board uses an external crystal on OSC1/OSC2, place the crystal within 5 mm of the pins and guard the traces with a ground pour to minimize EMI pickup.
For mTouch capacitive-sensing layouts, route touch pad traces with width < 0.25 mm and surround them with a ground pour with a 0.5 mm gap to form a guard ring. Avoid routing digital signals (PWM, USART) parallel to touch traces because capacitive coupling causes false touches. The datasheet's mTouch design guide provides reference layouts and stackup recommendations for 2-layer and 4-layer boards; following these keeps sensitivity consistent across temperature.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free status inferred from Microchip product page; AEC-Q100 not applicable (consumer/industrial grade). RoHS compliance verified per Microchip product page; REACH status per Microchip corporate compliance statement.