PIC16F18456-E/SS - 8-bit MCU, 32MHz, 28KB Flash, 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F18456-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.86 | $1.86 |
| 10 | $1.62 | $16.20 |
| 100 | $1.38 | $138.00 |
| 500 | $1.18 | $590.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.02 | $1,020.00 |
PIC16F18456-E/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (RAM), and programmable peripherals. The PIC16F18456 belongs to the 8-bit MCU category (8-bit CPU data path -> microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor IC), positioned for general-purpose and low-power embedded designs. The 16F184xx family specifically targets applications that combine analog signal conditioning with serial communication, replacing multi-chip discrete solutions.
Key features include a 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter with Computation (ADCC), a 5-bit and 8-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), two PWMs, a Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), a Comparator, EUSART, and two SPI/I2C interfaces. These CIPs allow hardware-based signal generation and conditioning without CPU intervention, freeing the core for application logic and reducing firmware complexity.
The PIC16F18456 uses a RISC architecture with a modified Harvard memory layout, providing deterministic interrupt response and predictable instruction timing. The XLP technology delivers deep-sleep currents below 1uA in sleep mode with retention, making it suitable for battery-powered sensor nodes. The 32MHz internal oscillator removes the need for an external crystal in most designs.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, low-power wireless sensor interfaces, battery-powered home automation, industrial control, automotive body electronics, and consumer appliances. The combination of 12-bit ADC, DAC, and PWM makes it well-suited for closed-loop motor control and LED lighting. The EUSART and dual SPI/I2C enable bridging to sensor, display, or wireless modules.
When designing with this device, allocate sufficient decoupling (100nF + 1uF) close to VDD, route the ICSP programming pins to a debug header, and configure the configuration bits (FOSC, WDTE, etc.) in your project settings. The 28-SSOP package is hand-solderable for prototyping but is best assembled in volume via reflow.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from DigiKey, Mouser, and LCSC, plus drop-in alternatives from the PIC16F184xx family and pin-compatible variants, plus practical design notes not aggregated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F18456-E/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 PIC16F18456-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, DAC, Package, Core Architecture, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F18455-E/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18455T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18346-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18444-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18446-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18456-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC16F184xx |
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC RISC (modified Harvard) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 2 KB |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz |
| Package | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm body width, 0.65 mm pitch) |
| Temperature Grade | Extended (-40C to +125C) |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC (Analog-to-Digital Converter with Computation) |
| DAC | 5-bit and 8-bit DAC |
| PWM Channels | 2 x 10-bit PWM |
| Waveform Generator | Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) |
| Comparator | Yes |
| Communication Interfaces | EUSART, 2x SPI/I2C |
| eXtreme Low-Power (XLP) | Yes (deep-sleep < 1 uA typical) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free / Halogen-Free | Yes (per Microchip product page) |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming), supports PICkit, ICD, Snap |
PIC16F18456-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 — Port A bit 2 / Analog input 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3 — Port A bit 3 / Analog input 3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4 — Port A bit 4 / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 4 | RA5/MCLR — Port A bit 5 / Master Clear (reset, active low) |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RA7/OSC1 — Port A bit 7 / Crystal oscillator input 1 |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2 — Port A bit 6 / Crystal oscillator output 2 |
| Pin 8 | RB0/INT — Port B bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 9 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 10 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 11 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 12 | |
| Pin 13 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 14 | RB6/ICSPCLK — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 15 | RB7/ICSPDAT — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 16 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8V-5.5V) |
| Pin 17 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 |
| Pin 21 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 |
| Pin 22 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 23 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 24 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 |
| Pin 25 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 26 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground reference (second pin) |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply (second pin) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F18456-E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Closed-Loop LED Lighting Controller, Automotive Body Electronics Module, Industrial Process Sensor Transmitter, Consumer Appliance Control Board, Smart Home Edge / Hub Sensor Concentrator.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16F18456-E/SS is an excellent fit for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because of its eXtreme Low-Power (XLP) technology delivering deep-sleep currents below 1uA while retaining RAM. The 32MHz HFINTOSC eliminates the external crystal for most sensor sampling applications, and the 12-bit ADCC with hardware oversampling directly digitizes temperature, humidity, or battery voltage with no CPU intervention. Engineers typically wake the MCU via RTCC every 1-30 seconds to take a sample and transmit over an attached SPI/I2C radio. The 28-SSOP package keeps board area under 5x8mm even with decoupling caps.
Recommended
Closed-Loop LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16F18456-E/SS drives closed-loop LED lighting controllers by combining its 10-bit PWM module with the 12-bit ADCC and 8-bit DAC to implement constant-current analog dimming plus digital brightness control. The Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) produces dead-band-controlled complementary outputs for half-bridge LED driver stages, avoiding cross-conduction without software delay loops. The CWG can also generate programmable dead time and blanking to coordinate with the ADC sample point. With 28KB Flash, complex breathing and color-mixing algorithms fit without external memory.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics Module
The PIC16F18456-E/SS fits automotive body electronics such as lighting controllers, seat controllers, and HVAC flaps because its Extended temperature grade (-40C to +125C) survives the under-dash thermal environment and the 12-bit ADCC handles sensor conditioning with hardware averaging. The EUSART and dual SPI/I2C enable simultaneous connection to a LIN bus transceiver and to local motor-driver ICs. The 28-SSOP package accepts the same reflow profile as other SMD body-electronics components. For full automotive qualification, request the automotive Q-grade variant (PIC16F18456-E/SSVAO equivalent).
Recommended
Industrial Process Sensor Transmitter
The PIC16F18456-E/SS is well-suited for 4-20mA industrial process sensor transmitters: its 12-bit ADCC with hardware oversampling supports 16-bit effective resolution for accurate pressure, level, and flow measurements, while the 5-bit and 8-bit DACs generate the precise loop current. The Extended temperature grade meets -40C to +125C harsh-environment specs. The 32MHz CPU runs PID loops at kHz rates without taxing the instruction budget. The EUSART drives RS-485 half-duplex for configuration and diagnostics.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Board
The PIC16F18456-E/SS powers consumer appliance control boards (coffee machines, washing machines, microwave ovens, air purifiers) by combining PWMs for motor/valve control, the 12-bit ADCC for temperature and humidity sensing, and the EUSART plus SPI/I2C for display and keypad interfaces. The 28KB Flash accommodates complex state-machine firmware plus touchscreen UI strings. The CWG produces complementary drive signals for synchronous-rectification motor stages. Cost-effective at $1.02 per 1K, it undercuts Cortex-M0 alternatives while retaining 5V tolerance on digital inputs.
Recommended
Smart Home Edge / Hub Sensor Concentrator
The PIC16F18456-E/SS serves as a sensor concentrator for smart-home edge nodes, aggregating inputs from multiple I2C/SPI sensors and forwarding data over EUSART (RS-485) or a connected radio module. The dual I2C interfaces support simultaneous connections to two different sensor buses at different addresses; the EUSART provides a wired backhaul. The deep-sleep XLP mode (sub-1uA) with RTCC wake-up enables battery-backed operation for years. The 28KB Flash supports firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) staging with dual-bank A/B storage.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F18456-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F18455-E/SS | PIC16F18455T-I/SS | PIC16F18346-E/SS | PIC16F18444-I/SO | PIC16F18446-E/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP (5.30mm body) | 28-SSOP (5.30mm) - same | 28-SSOP (5.30mm) - same | 28-SSOP (5.30mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50mm) - wider | 28-SOIC (7.50mm) - wider |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 14 KB (-50%) | 14 KB (-50%) | 28 KB | 7 KB (-75%) | 28 KB |
| RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB (-50%) | 2 KB |
| Max CPU Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 10-bit ADC (older) | 10-bit ADC | 12-bit ADCC |
| DAC | 5-bit + 8-bit | 5-bit + 8-bit | 5-bit + 8-bit | 5-bit (no 8-bit) | 5-bit | 5-bit + 8-bit |
| Temperature Grade | Extended -40C to +125C | Extended -40C to +125C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Extended -40C to +125C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Extended -40C to +125C |
| CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Unit Price @ 1000 | $1.02 | $0.92 (est.) | $0.92 (est.) | $1.05 (est.) | $0.85 (est.) | $1.00 (est.) |
Key Differentiators
- 12-bit ADCC with hardware oversampling (vs PIC16F18346-E/SS)
- Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) (vs PIC16F18444-I/SO)
- 28KB Flash with same 28-SSOP footprint (vs PIC16F18455-E/SS)
- Both 5-bit and 8-bit DAC modules (vs PIC16F18444-I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100nF (0.1uF) decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD pin (pin 16 and pin 28) and a bulk 1uF-10uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor on the same VDD net. For battery-powered designs using the deep-sleep XLP mode, route the decoupling cap ground return directly to the VSS pin to minimize leakage paths. The PIC16F18456's POR/BOR circuit will hold reset until VDD reaches the BOR threshold (typically 1.8V); add a 10k pull-up on MCLR (pin 4) for stable reset behavior.
For the 28-SSOP package (0.65mm pitch), use 0.40mm-wide copper pads with 0.20mm solder-mask expansion to ensure reliable reflow. Route ICSP signals (PGC/PGD) directly to a 6-pin 0.1-inch header or edge finger, keeping traces under 50mm and adding 4.7k pull-up resistors on PGD per Microchip ICSP recommendations. The RA6/OSC2 and RA7/OSC1 pins can be reassigned as GPIO if the internal HFINTOSC is used - configure FOSC configuration bits accordingly.
Estimated: when migrating firmware from PIC16F18346-E/SS to PIC16F18456-E/SS, the ADC module registers moved from ADC to ADCC; legacy SFR bit names such as ADCON0/ADCON1 are now ADCCON0/ADCCON1 with new computation-mode bits. Re-read the datasheet's ADCC chapter rather than copying 18346 register maps. Also note that the 12-bit ADCC supports hardware oversampling only on specific channels - verify channel mapping in the datasheet's IO_MAP table.
The PIC16F18456-E/SS in 28-SSOP at 32MHz and 5V supply draws approximately 5-7mA active. At deep-sleep, the XLP core drops to sub-1uA, enabling years of operation from a CR2032 coin cell. For high-temperature (105C+) industrial environments, derate the CPU clock by selecting a lower HFINTOSC frequency or use the LFINTOSC at 31kHz to reduce self-heating. The thermal resistance theta_JA of the 28-SSOP is approximately 100C/W.
When using the 12-bit ADCC, keep analog traces (ANx inputs on PORTA) away from digital switching lines; cross only at right angles if necessary. Add a small RC filter (10-100 ohm + 100pF) on analog inputs to limit bandwidth to the Nyquist rate of the sampling clock. Enable the ADCC's hardware oversampling mode for sensor signals to improve SNR by 4x (effective 14-bit). Use the dedicated AVdd rail pin when present, or route VDD with a ferrite bead to isolate analog supply noise.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. The -E temperature grade is extended-industrial; for AEC-Q100 automotive qualification, request the automotive VAO-suffix variant. Halogen-free packaging confirmed in Microchip MDDS.
