PIC16F18346-I/SO - 8-bit XLP MCU, 28KB Flash, 32MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F18346-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.05 | $2.05 |
| 10 | $1.85 | $18.50 |
| 100 | $1.62 | $162.00 |
| 500 | $1.45 | $725.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.28 | $1,280.00 |
PIC16F18346-I/SO Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (RAM), non-volatile EEPROM, and a rich set of peripherals. The PIC16F18346 sits in Microchip's mid-range 8-bit PIC16 hierarchy: 8-bit MCU -> PIC16 family -> PIC16F18xxx enhanced mid-range core -> XLP low-power subset. XLP technology minimizes active and sleep current, enabling multi-year battery life on coin cells, while still exposing the analog and digital peripherals engineers need.
Key features include Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) for remapping digital peripherals to any I/O, Core Independent Peripherals (CLC, CWG, CCP, NCO, PWM) that run without CPU intervention, and an integrated 10-bit ADC with computation, a 5-bit DAC, two I2C/SPI interfaces, and a 10-bit PWM with complementary outputs. The device supports eXtreme Low-Power modes (Sleep currents in the nA range, active currents in the uA/MHz range), making it well suited for energy harvesting and always-on sensor nodes.
Architecturally, the PIC16F18346 uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit core with a single-cycle instruction set at 32MHz (8 MIPS throughput), a hardware multiplier, and a 14-bit instruction word. On-chip voltage regulation, brown-out reset, and a watchdog timer with a separate on-chip oscillator provide robust field reliability. The CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) and NCO (Numerically Controlled Oscillator) are particularly useful for driving power-conversion or motor control loops without burdening the core.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered wearables, consumer remote controls, LED lighting controllers with smooth dimming, small motor and fan control (PMSM stepper with CWG), and automotive body electronics sub-modules. Industrial use cases span HVAC sensor conditioning, smart meters, and human-machine interface (HMI) front panels where PPS simplifies PCB routing.
Designers should note that the 20-SOIC package omits several I/O present on larger 28- and 40-pin siblings; pin count planning is therefore critical. The PPS feature partially offsets this by allowing peripheral remap, but each peripheral function still consumes a physical pin for its assigned I/O. Decoupling, ICD/ICSP header placement, and MCLR pull-up should follow Microchip's midline layout recommendations in the data sheet.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in SOIC-20 alternatives, and practical design notes beyond what the manufacturer datasheet provides, helping engineers evaluate the PIC16F18346-I/SO against PIC16F18345, PIC16F18344, and PIC16F18313 family members for both new designs and field retrofits.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F18346-I/SO — 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 PIC16F18346-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core Independent Peripherals, Family, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F18345-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18344-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.83 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18346-E/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18345-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18326-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18346-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC 8-bit enhanced mid-range |
| Family | PIC16F18326/18346 XLP |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| ADC | 10-bit, with computation (ADC2) |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| PWM Channels | 10-bit, with complementary outputs |
| Communication Interfaces | 2x (SPI / I2C), UART |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Core Independent Peripherals | CLC, CWG, CCP, NCO, PWM |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Package | 20-SOIC (7.50 mm body width) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life) |
PIC16F18346-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/VREF+/T1G/SS2 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input; voltage reference +; Timer1 gate; SPI2 slave select |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4/T1G/OSC2 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input; Timer1 gate; oscillator output |
| Pin 3 | RA5/AN5/CLKOUT/OSC1 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input; clockout; oscillator input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR/VPP/RA2 — Master clear / programming voltage / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 7 | RB7/ICSPDAT/AN7 — Bidirectional I/O; ICSP data; analog input |
| Pin 8 | RB6/ICSPCLK/AN6 — Bidirectional I/O; ICSP clock; analog input |
| Pin 9 | RB5/AN5 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input |
| Pin 10 | RB4/AN4 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input |
| Pin 11 | RC3/AN9 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input |
| Pin 12 | RC4/AN8 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input |
| Pin 13 | RC5/AN7 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input |
| Pin 14 | RC6/AN6/SS — Bidirectional I/O; analog input; SPI slave select |
| Pin 15 | RC7/AN5/SDO — Bidirectional I/O; analog input; SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RB0/AN12/INT — Bidirectional I/O; analog input; external interrupt |
| Pin 17 | RB1/AN10 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input |
| Pin 18 | RB2/AN8 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input |
| Pin 19 | RB3/AN9 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input |
| Pin 20 | RA0/AN0 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input |
Typical Applications
PIC16F18346-I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Consumer Remote Controls and HMI Front Panels, LED Lighting and Dimming Controllers, Small Motor and Fan Control, Industrial Sensor Conditioning and Smart Metering, Automotive Body Electronics Sub-Modules, Wearable Health and Fitness Devices.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16F18346-I/SO is engineered for low-power IoT sensor nodes that must run for years on a coin cell or two AA batteries. Its XLP architecture delivers Sleep currents in the nA range and active current well under 1 mA at 32 MHz, while 28 KB Flash comfortably hosts a wireless stack plus application logic. PPS lets the UART, I2C sensor bus, and interrupt-driven wake-up source be remapped to whichever pins the PCB happens to expose. The 10-bit ADC with computation performs averages and threshold checks without waking the CPU, while CWG and NCO drive low-power pulse signaling. In a typical deployment the part spends 99%+ of its time in Sleep, woken only by an interrupt from a sensor or a CLC edge detect.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls and HMI Front Panels
Consumer IR remote controls and HMI front panels benefit from the PIC16F18346-I/SO's eXtreme Low Power draw, integrated 5-bit DAC for tone/indicator biasing, and PWM channels for LED backlight dimming. PPS lets the IR transmitter, keypad matrix, and LED drivers share a flexible pinout that survives mechanical redesigns. The 10-bit ADC with computation reads multi-key resistive keypads or capacitive touch electrodes with hardware averaging, offloading the CPU. A typical AAA-powered remote achieves multi-year battery life because the part idles in nA Sleep between button presses and wakes on a port-change interrupt. The 20-SOIC package is small enough for slim handhelds yet hand-solderable for low-volume SKUs.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Dimming Controllers
The PIC16F18346-I/SO is a strong fit for LED drivers and smooth-dimming lighting controllers because it integrates 10-bit PWM with complementary outputs, a CWG for dead-band generation, and a 5-bit DAC for analog setpoint references. Designers can implement logarithmic dimming curves in firmware using the CLC and 28 KB Flash, achieving flicker-free transitions down to 0.1% duty cycle. The wide 2.3-5.5 V supply range accepts both 3.3 V logic rails and direct Li-ion operation. PPS remaps PWM outputs to any pin, simplifying multi-channel LED PCB layouts. The hardware CWG and NCO can synthesize frequencies for resonant converters without CPU overhead.
Recommended
Small Motor and Fan Control
For small brushed DC, stepper, or BLDC fan control, the PIC16F18346-I/SO provides the on-chip peripherals needed to drive power stages without a dedicated motor-control IC. CWG generates complementary PWM with programmable dead-band, CCP captures Hall-sensor edges for RPM measurement, and NCO synthesizes precise reference frequencies for current control loops. The 10-bit ADC with computation samples back-EMF or shunt current with hardware oversampling, while PPS routes PWM and feedback signals to convenient pins. The 32 MHz core closes current loops at multi-kHz rates, and the XLP sleep modes let the controller enter standby when the motor is off, drawing nA-level current.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning and Smart Metering
Industrial sensor conditioning modules and smart-meter sub-assemblies value the PIC16F18346-I/SO's 10-bit ADC with computation, hardware CRC, and robust 2.3-5.5 V supply tolerance across -40 C to +85 C. The MCU can digitize temperature, pressure, or flow sensors, run moving averages and threshold logic in hardware, and wake only on meaningful events. Two independent I2C/SPI ports let the part talk to a metering front-end and a communication module simultaneously, while UART supports wired or wireless modem links. PPS isolates analog and digital routing on the PCB, reducing crosstalk on dense sensor boards. The 256 B EEPROM stores calibration constants that survive battery-backup loss.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics Sub-Modules
Within automotive body electronics - lighting controllers, seat modules, HVAC sensors, and accessory hubs - the PIC16F18346-I/SO delivers industrial-grade -40 C to +85 C operation, 28 KB Flash for CAN-LIN gateway stacks, and AEC-Q100-style ruggedness when paired with the automotive-qualified PIC16F18346-E/SO sibling. The CWG and 10-bit PWM with complementary outputs drive FET bridges for lighting or small motors, while the 10-bit ADC reads multiple analog sensors. PPS keeps PCB routing flexible across SKU variants. Two SPI/I2C ports simultaneously interface to sensor front-ends and a LIN transceiver, and the hardware CRC engine verifies message integrity on the bus.
Recommended
Wearable Health and Fitness Devices
Wearables such as fitness bands, heart-rate straps, and smart watches benefit from the PIC16F18346-I/SO's nA Sleep current, integrated 10-bit ADC with computation for biosensor front-ends, and 5-bit DAC for sensor biasing. PPS remaps I2C to whichever accelerometer or optical sensor shares the small wearable PCB. The 20-SOIC package fits inside sub-30 mm enclosures, and the 2.3-5.5 V supply works directly with rechargeable Li-ion cells and coin cells. CLC blocks implement gesture-detection logic in hardware, freeing the core for BLE stack housekeeping during the rare active periods. Battery life typically exceeds several weeks with always-on heart-rate monitoring.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F18346-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F18345-I/SO | PIC16F18344-I/SO | PIC16F18346-E/SO | PIC16F18345-E/SO | PIC16F18326-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-SOIC | 20-SOIC - same | 20-SOIC - same | 20-SOIC - same | 20-SOIC - same | 20-SOIC - same |
| Flash (KB) | 28 | 32 | 16 | 28 | 32 | 16 |
| RAM (KB) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| EEPROM (B) | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 |
| Maximum Clock (MHz) | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Operating Voltage (V) | 2.3 to 5.5 | 2.3 to 5.5 | 2.3 to 5.5 | 2.3 to 5.5 | 2.3 to 5.5 | 2.3 to 5.5 |
| Operating Temperature (C) | -40 to +85 | -40 to +85 | -40 to +85 | -40 to +125 | -40 to +125 | -40 to +85 |
| Core Independent Peripherals | CLC, CWG, CCP, NCO, PWM | CLC, CWG, CCP, NCO, PWM | CLC, CWG, CCP, NCO, PWM | CLC, CWG, CCP, NCO, PWM | CLC, CWG, CCP, NCO, PWM | CLC, CWG, CCP, NCO, PWM |
Key Differentiators
- Best balance of 28 KB Flash and 20-SOIC footprint in the PIC16F18326/18346 family (vs PIC16F18326-I/SO)
- PPS-enabled flexible pinout vs fixed-function lower-end PIC MCUs (vs PIC16F1827-I/SO)
- Industrial temperature grade and 32 MHz operation vs older PIC16F1xxx families (vs PIC16F1829-I/SO)
Design Notes
Estimated: typical active current at 32 MHz and 3.3 V supply is around 1 mA (0.03 mA/MHz for XLP), so average draw in a Sleep-heavy sensor node depends almost entirely on duty cycle. Add a 100 nF decoupling cap within 5 mm of VDD and a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the supply rail; place an additional ferrite bead if the rail is shared with RF or motor drivers to keep digital switching noise out of the analog VREF.
The 20-SOIC package has a thermal resistance around 70-80 C/W (theta_JA) per Microchip midline guidelines, so self-heating is negligible at 32 MHz. The real thermal concern is the surrounding circuitry: keep analog traces away from the SOIC's exposed lead frame edges, and ensure the PCB ground plane is unbroken under the IC to act as a heat spreader and a low-impedance return for high-speed I/O.
Place a 4.7 kohm pull-up on MCLR (pin 4) to VDD, route ICSPCLK and ICSPDAT (RB6/RB7) to a 5-pin header compatible with Microchip's PICkit or MPLAB SNAP programmer, and keep the ICSP traces short. PPS lets the designer remap peripherals away from the ICSP pins later, but the factory-default pin mapping will use RB6/RB7 for ICSP, so any rework that reassigns these pins must also move the programming header.
Use a star-ground topology tying VSS, analog ground, and digital ground at a single point near the VDD bypass cap. Place the analog AVREF / VREF+ traces away from PWM outputs and high-current switching nodes; the integrated 10-bit ADC is sensitive to digital crosstalk above 5 mV. When using the 5-bit DAC, buffer its output with an external op-amp if driving more than a few hundred kilohms of load.
Common pitfalls: (1) configuring PPS for a peripheral without disabling the analog function on the same pin - this can short the analog input to a digital output; (2) forgetting to set the ADC channel in the ADPCH register when using ADC2 with computation; (3) using the internal HFINTOSC at 32 MHz without first tuning via the OSCTUNE register, which can yield off-by-1% UART baud errors; (4) entering Sleep without clearing the PPS lock bits, which can leave peripherals driving outputs at unintended logic levels during wakeup.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page; lead-free and halogen-free finish; AEC-Q100 not applicable for the -I industrial grade but the -E extended temperature grade is offered for harsher environments. Conflict-minerals declaration available from Microchip.
