PIC16F818-E/P - 8-Bit 20MHz PIC MCU 1.75KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F818-E/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.78 | $37.80 |
| 100 | $3.36 | $336.00 |
| 500 | $2.99 | $1,495.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.65 | $2,650.00 |
PIC16F818-E/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, program and data memory, programmable I/O, and one or more peripherals such as timers, ADC, and serial interfaces. PIC microcontrollers use a RISC Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, where each instruction executes in one instruction cycle, giving deterministic timing. The PIC16F818 sits in Microchip's mid-range PIC16F family, between the smaller PIC12/PIC14 series and the larger PIC18 family. It is one of the earliest "enhanced" 18/20-pin mid-range Flash MCUs from Microchip, succeeding the older PIC16C7x and PIC16C62xA OTP parts.
Key features of the PIC16F818-E/P include: 8MHz internal oscillator with calibration, on-board EEPROM with 1 million erase/write cycles typical, nanoWatt technology for low-power operation with several idle/sleep modes, one Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module, a Synchronous Serial Port (SSP) configurable as SPI or I2C, an Enhanced Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (EUSART), and in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) via two pins. The 10-bit ADC with 5 channels allows direct interfacing with analog sensors such as temperature, light, and voltage signals.
Typical applications include consumer appliance control, sensor signal conditioning, low-cost data acquisition, battery-powered remote controls, automotive interior modules, and hobby/educational embedded designs. The 18-pin PDIP form factor is breadboard-friendly and widely used in development boards and prototyping.
When designing with the PIC16F818-E/P, pay attention to the 5V supply requirement and the 20MHz maximum clock. For applications above 5.5V supply or harsh environments, the PIC16F818-I/P (industrial -40C to +85C) or PIC16F818-H versions may be required. The internal oscillator can replace external crystals in many cost-sensitive applications, freeing the two oscillator pins as general-purpose I/O. Power consumption is dominated by clock speed and active peripherals; nanoWatt sleep modes can reduce quiescent current to microampere levels.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F818-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 PIC16F818-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Internal Oscillator, Operating Temperature, Package, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F818-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F88-E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F88-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F819-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F819-E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F818-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 (8-bit RISC, Harvard) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.75 KB (1K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 128 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Internal Oscillator | 8 MHz (factory calibrated, software tunable) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E = Extended) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2 with PWM support |
| CCP Modules | 1 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Serial Interfaces | 1x SSP (SPI / I2C), 1x EUSART (RS-485 capable) |
| I/O Pins | 16 (bidirectional) |
| Package | 18-Pin PDIP (P) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Programming | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt (multiple idle/sleep modes) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F818-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2/CVREF/VREF- — GPIO RA2, ADC input AN2, comparator Vref |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — GPIO RA3, ADC input AN3, ADC Vref+ |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4/T0CKI — GPIO RA4, ADC input AN4, Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — GPIO RA5, Master Clear reset (input), programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — GPIO RB0, external interrupt input |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — GPIO RB1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — GPIO RB2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3/PGM — GPIO RB3, LVP programming entry |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — GPIO RB4 |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — GPIO RB5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6/PGC — GPIO RB6, ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB7/PGD — GPIO RB7, ICSP data |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 15 | RA6/OSC2/CLKO — GPIO RA6, oscillator output, clock output |
| Pin 16 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — GPIO RA7, oscillator input, clock input |
| Pin 17 | RA0/AN0 — GPIO RA0, ADC input AN0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1/AN1 — GPIO RA1, ADC input AN1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16F818-E/P is suitable for 6 applications: Consumer Appliance Control, Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Educational Embedded Development, Industrial Sensor Conditioning, Automotive Interior Modules, LED Lighting Control.
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16F818-E/P fits consumer appliance control boards where its 20MHz 8-bit RISC core delivers 5 MIPS peak throughput to manage user inputs, drive triac-controlled loads, and read temperature/pressure sensors. With 16 GPIO pins, one CCP PWM channel, and a 10-bit 5-channel ADC, it can directly interface with NTC thermistors, mechanical keypads, and seven-segment LED displays. Its 1.75KB Flash fits typical washing machine or microwave firmware including state machines, fault logging into the 128-byte EEPROM, and UART diagnostic output to factory testers.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The PIC16F818-E/P is well-suited for battery-powered sensor nodes thanks to its nanoWatt low-power architecture. Sleep current drops to microampere levels per the Microchip datasheet 39598e, enabling multi-year battery life in duty-cycled remote sensors. The internal 8MHz calibrated oscillator eliminates external crystals, reducing BOM cost and PCB area. With its 10-bit ADC reading thermistors or photodiodes and 128-byte EEPROM for calibration constants, it can transmit sensor data via SPI/I2C to a companion wireless module and wake on interrupt.
Recommended
Educational Embedded Development
The PIC16F818-E/P in 18-pin PDIP is widely used in university curricula and hobbyist training kits due to its breadboard-friendly through-hole form factor and simple PIC instruction set. With only 35 single-word instructions, students learn register-level programming without the abstraction layers of ARM Cortex-M. MPLAB X IDE and the free XC8 compiler provide a complete toolchain at zero cost, and the ICSP programming interface allows re-flashing the device in-circuit without removal. The 1.75KB Flash is sufficient for textbook exercises on timers, ADC, PWM, and I2C peripheral use.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning
The PIC16F818-E/P serves in industrial sensor signal conditioning modules where its 10-bit ADC with 5 channels can read multiple 4-20mA loop sensors, and the on-board EUSART outputs RS-485 to a PLC. The Extended temperature grade (-40C to +125C) supports factory floor deployment. The PIC's hardware CCP module generates accurate PWM for valve or proportional control, and the MSSP handles I2C communication with digital sensor ICs. The 128-byte EEPROM stores calibration coefficients and unit serial numbers.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Modules
The PIC16F818-E/P is found in non-safety automotive interior applications such as HVAC blend-door actuators, mirror controls, and lighting dimmers where its Extended temperature grade (-40C to +125C) survives under-dash thermal stress. The 16 GPIO pins drive multiple LEDs via PWM through the CCP module and read multiple mechanical switches with internal pull-ups. The internal 8MHz oscillator reduces EMI susceptibility compared to external crystal designs, important in automotive environments with high radiated noise.
Recommended
LED Lighting Control
The PIC16F818-E/P can drive RGB LED strips and DMX-controlled fixtures using its 10-bit ADC for ambient light sensing and the CCP PWM module for color mixing. With 16 GPIO, it can drive multiple MOSFETs for high-current LED strings. The 128-byte EEPROM stores user-preset scenes, and the EUSART receives DMX512 commands in architectural lighting installations. The nanoWatt sleep mode enables battery-backed emergency lighting that lasts years on a single Li-ion cell.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F818-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F818-I/P | PIC16F88-E/P | PIC16F88-I/P | PIC16F819-I/P | PIC16F819-E/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 18-PDIP (P) | 18-PDIP (P) - same | 18-PDIP (P) - same | 18-PDIP (P) - same | 18-PDIP (P) - same | 18-PDIP (P) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Program Memory | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB |
| Data SRAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 368 bytes | 368 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 7 channels | 10-bit, 7 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
Key Differentiators
- Internal 8MHz oscillator with factory calibration (vs PIC16F818 in 18-SOIC/Surface Mount packages)
- Extended temperature grade (-40C to +125C) (vs PIC16F818-I/P (Industrial -40C to +85C))
- Through-hole PDIP for breadboard-friendly prototyping (vs PIC16F818-E/SO (SOIC-18 surface-mount))
Design Notes
Estimated: At VDD=5V and 20MHz clock, active current is approximately 10-15mA depending on peripheral usage. Sleep mode reduces current to <1uA. Decouple VDD (pin 14) with a 100nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5mm of the pin, and add a 10uF bulk capacitor at the board power entry. The internal 8MHz oscillator eliminates the need for an external crystal in most cost-sensitive designs, reducing BOM cost by $0.10-0.20 per board.
For reliable ICSP programming, place a 10kohm pull-up on MCLR (pin 4) and keep the ICSP connector traces short (<50mm). Pin 4 serves dual functions: MCLR reset input and VPP programming voltage. Add a Schottky diode (e.g., BAT54S) from VDD to MCLR to prevent the MCLR input from exceeding VDD during ICSP. Keep analog traces (RA0-RA5) short and away from switching nodes to minimize ADC noise coupling.
Avoid these common PIC16F818-E/P design mistakes: (1) Forgetting that pin 4 is MCLR/VPP and cannot be used as a general output without disabling MCLR function via configuration bits. (2) Using the internal oscillator without verifying the OSCCAL register value - factory calibration may drift. (3) Exceeding the absolute maximum voltage of 7V on any pin. (4) Driving LED loads directly without current-limiting resistors. (5) Forgetting to set the configuration bits for LVP (low-voltage programming) disabled to free RB3/PGM as a normal GPIO.
The PIC16F818-E/P in 18-PDIP has theta_JA of approximately 70 C/W. At maximum operating current of 15mA and 5V supply, power dissipation is 75mW, producing a junction temperature rise of only 5C above ambient - well within the 125C maximum. No heatsinking is required for any application of this MCU. The PDIP package is the preferred choice for thermally demanding environments due to its larger lead-frame.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this MCU is not intended for safety-critical automotive applications. For automotive safety systems, use dsPIC33 or PIC18 K-series AEC-Q100 qualified parts.
