PIC16F72-E/SP - 8-Bit 20MHz 3.5KB Flash MCU | Microchip | SPDIP-28
MPN: PIC16F72-E/SP ✓ 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 | $1.74 | $1,740.00 |
PIC16F72-E/SP Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, working RAM, and peripheral interfaces. The 8-bit class executes one byte per instruction and remains dominant in cost-sensitive, deterministic embedded designs. Within the PIC16 family, the PIC16F72 sits in the mid-range "F" line-up, balancing program memory, peripherals (A/D, PWM, USART, MSSP for SPI/I2C), and power consumption. It is upwards code-compatible with the legacy PIC16C5X, PIC12Cxxx, and PIC16C7X devices, simplifying migration from older designs.
Key features include 35 single-word instructions, two 8-bit timers with 1×16-bit option, a CCP (Capture/Compare/PWM) module, synchronous serial port configurable as 3-wire SPI or 2-wire I2C, and a programmable Watchdog Timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator. The integrated A/D converter supports 5 channels at 8-bit resolution, and the device operates from 2.5 V to 5.5 V across the extended temperature range.
The architecture is Harvard-style with separate program Flash and data SRAM buses, allowing instruction fetch and operand read in a single cycle. NanoWatt power management features (sleep mode, oscillator switching) suit battery-backed applications. Robust ESD and latch-up performance is characteristic of the PIC16 mid-range family.
Typical applications include industrial control, appliance control, sensor signal conditioning, low-end motor control (DC brushed, small stepper via the CCP/PWM module), instrument panels, and consumer devices needing A/D input plus serial communication. It is also widely used in educational environments for embedded systems curricula.
When designing with this part, plan I/O assignments carefully: the 28-pin SPDIP exposes 22 I/O but several share analog/digital functions, requiring register configuration. The CCP pin and the A/D inputs are multiplexed with general-purpose I/O, so the application code must configure ANSEL/ADCON1 before using the affected pins as digital I/O.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found on the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F72-E/SP — 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 PIC16F72-E/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in I/O Pins, Package, Timers, Instruction Set, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F72-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F722-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F726-E/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F727-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F72-E/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 8-bit RISC |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns (5 MHz oscillator) / 20 MHz clock |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 128 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| Operating Voltage (Vdd) | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| A/D Converter | 5 channels, 8-bit resolution |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit (TMR0, TMR2) + 1 x 16-bit (TMR1) |
| CCP Module | 1 (Capture / Compare / PWM) |
| Serial Communication | MSSP (SPI / I2C), USART |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (SP), through-hole |
| Operating Temperature (E grade) | -40 C to +125 C |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F72-E/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RA5 — Master Clear (Reset) input / Programming voltage / PORTA bit 5 |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/CVREF — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input channel 2 / Comparator voltage reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input channel 3 / A/D voltage reference positive |
| Pin 6 | RA4/AN4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Analog input channel 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/SS/AN5 — PORTA bit 5 / SPI Slave Select / Analog input channel 5 |
| Pin 8 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 9 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 output |
| Pin 10 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 (PWM) output |
| Pin 11 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 12 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 13 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 14 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 15 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 16 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 17 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 18 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 19 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 20 | RB3/PGM — PORTB bit 3 / Low-voltage ICSP programming |
| Pin 21 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 22 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 23 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 24 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 25 | RE0/RD — PORTE bit 0 / Parallel slave port read |
| Pin 26 | RE1/WR — PORTE bit 1 / Parallel slave port write |
| Pin 27 | RE2/CS — PORTE bit 2 / Parallel slave port chip select |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5V to 5.5V) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F72-E/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control & Automation, Appliance Control (White Goods), Sensor Signal Conditioning & Data Acquisition, Small Motor Control (DC Brushed & Stepper), Consumer Electronics & Educational Embedded, Automotive Under-Dash & Body Electronics.
Industrial Control & Automation
The PIC16F72-E/SP is widely used in industrial control and automation because its 5-channel 8-bit A/D converter handles multiple sensor inputs simultaneously. The 22 I/O pins allow direct interfacing with relays, optocouplers, and digital sensors without external mux. The 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range tolerates noisy 24 V industrial rails after regulation. The extended -40C to +125C temperature range is mandatory for outdoor cabinets and unconditioned factory environments where the -I grade would fail. Typical circuits include process monitors, level controllers, and HVAC damper drivers.
Recommended
Appliance Control (White Goods)
The PIC16F72-E/SP is a strong fit for washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, and refrigerator control boards. Its CCP module drives triac-gate pulses for AC load switching, while the 5 A/D channels read temperature, water level, and motor current. The 3.5 KB Flash accommodates typical state-machine firmware with room for product-line variants. Its 35-instruction RISC core is easy to certify against IEC 60730 Class B for household appliance safety, and the long-term Microchip product support suits 7-10 year production runs typical in white goods.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning & Data Acquisition
The PIC16F72-E/SP's 5-channel 8-bit A/D converter with internal sample-and-hold handles multi-sensor signal conditioning at up to 20 MHz instruction throughput. The MSSP peripheral streams A/D samples over SPI to a host processor or local EEPROM at megabit rates. The 128-byte RAM is the limiting factor for high-rate acquisition, so for >1 kHz sampling rates designers typically add an external buffer. The CCP module generates precise sample-timing interrupts. The PIC's deterministic 200 ns instruction cycle simplifies math for linearization and averaging in firmware.
Recommended
Small Motor Control (DC Brushed & Stepper)
The PIC16F72-E/SP drives small DC brushed motors and unipolar stepper motors via its CCP module, which generates PWM at up to 20 kHz with 10-bit resolution through software. The two 8-bit timers provide a commutation timebase for stepper acceleration/deceleration ramps. The 22 I/O pins handle H-bridge enable, current-sense A/D input, and end-stop switches. For bipolar steppers, designers add an external H-bridge (e.g. L293D or DRV8871) and use the PIC's PWM to modulate torque. The extended temperature grade supports under-hood automotive or industrial motor applications.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics & Educational Embedded
The PIC16F72-E/SP is a classic teaching platform for embedded systems curricula because of its simple 35-instruction set, transparent register architecture, and free MPLAB X IDE + XC8 compiler toolchain. Hobbyists and students use it for LED cubes, line-following robots, and digital thermometer projects where 3.5 KB Flash is more than enough. The 28-pin SPDIP package fits standard 0.6 inch wide breadboards and through-hole prototype boards, eliminating the need for SMD soldering. Commercial consumer products like e-bike controllers, toy robots, and audio mixers continue to use the PIC16F72 for its cost-effectiveness and reliable supply.
Recommended
Automotive Under-Dash & Body Electronics
The PIC16F72-E/SP with its Extended -40C to +125C temperature range is suitable for under-dash automotive modules where the engine bay's heat-soak is not a concern. It reads sensor inputs (light, rain, position) via its 8-bit A/D, drives relays and small solenoids via PWM, and communicates with the body control module over LIN via software UART. The 12V automotive battery is regulated to 5V by an external LDO. Note that the PIC16F72 is not AEC-Q100 qualified, so for safety-critical systems (airbag, ABS) designers must choose a part from Microchip's automotive-grade portfolio.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F72-E/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F72-I/SP | PIC16F722-E/SP | PIC16F726-E/SP | PIC16F727-I/P | PIC16F722A-E/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SPDIP-28 (through-hole) | SPDIP-28 - same | SPDIP-28 - same | SPDIP-28 - same | SPDIP-28 - same | QFN-28 - cross_package |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Flash | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB - same | 3.5 KB - same | 14 KB (+300%) | 14 KB (+300%) | 3.5 KB - same |
| Data RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes - same | 128 bytes - same | 368 bytes (+188%) | 368 bytes (+188%) | 128 bytes - same |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes - same | 128 bytes - same | 256 bytes (+100%) | 256 bytes (+100%) | 128 bytes - same |
| A/D Converter | 5 ch x 8-bit | 5 ch x 8-bit - same | 11 ch x 8-bit (+120%) | 11 ch x 8-bit | 14 ch x 8-bit (+180%) | 11 ch x 8-bit |
| PWM Channels | 1 (CCP1) | 1 - same | 2 (+100%) | 4 (+300%) | 4 (+300%) | 2 (+100%) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5V to 5.5V | 2.5V to 5.5V - same | 1.8V to 5.5V (wider) | 1.8V to 5.5V (wider) | 1.8V to 5.5V (wider) | 1.8V to 5.5V (wider) |
| Temperature Grade | Extended -40C to +125C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Extended -40C to +125C | Extended -40C to +125C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Extended -40C to +125C |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature range available in identical 28-pin SPDIP package (vs PIC16F72-I/SP)
- Backward-compatible upgrade path to PIC16F722/PIC16F726 without PCB redesign (vs PIC16F722-E/SP / PIC16F726-E/SP)
- Single 5V supply with 5-channel 8-bit A/D plus on-chip EEPROM for parameter storage (vs PIC16F727-I/P)
Design Notes
The PIC16F72-E/SP must be powered from a clean 2.5 V to 5.5 V source. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as physically possible to the VDD pin (pin 28), with a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the same rail within 25 mm. The MCU has separate analog and digital supply pins internally, but only one VDD/VSS pair is exposed on the SPDIP-28; keep analog and digital ground returns joined at a single point (star ground) to avoid injecting digital switching noise into the A/D readings.
Pins RA0-RA5 and PORTE bits default to ANALOG mode after power-up. Code that uses these pins as digital I/O without first clearing the appropriate ANSEL/ADCON1 bits will read 0 forever, which is the #1 cause of "dead I/O" on the PIC16F72. Similarly, the MCLR pin (pin 1) is enabled by default in configuration words; if you do not wire an external pull-up, the device will reset continuously. For ICSP programming, ensure the PGC (RB6) and PGD (RB7) lines are not loaded with heavy capacitance that prevents in-circuit programming.
Route the 20 MHz crystal traces (pin 9/10 T1OSI/T1OSO) and the main oscillator traces as short and symmetrical as possible, with the load capacitors within 5 mm of the MCU pins. Keep the A/D input traces away from the PWM output traces (CCP1 on RC2) to prevent capacitive coupling of switching noise into the analog readings. If the design uses the I2C bus, add 4.7 kohm pull-ups on SDA/SCL because the PIC16F72's internal weak pull-ups are too weak for reliable communication above 100 kHz.
The PIC16F72-E/SP's SPDIP-28 package has a thermal resistance of approximately 85 C/W junction-to-ambient in still air. At 20 MHz clock with 5 V VDD, typical current consumption is 13 mA, giving a power dissipation of 65 mW - well within thermal limits. The Extended -40C to +125C temperature range refers to the junction; in a closed enclosure with no air flow, ensure the ambient stays below 100 C. For continuous high-duty-cycle PWM with the CCP module, current may peak at 20 mA, so leave thermal margin.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. PIC16F72 is not AEC-Q100 qualified - for safety-critical automotive systems, choose AEC-Q100-qualified parts from Microchip's PIC16F1xxx automotive portfolio.
