PIC16F818-I/MLTSL - 8-bit 20MHz MCU 1.75KB Flash 28-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F818-I/MLTSL ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.32 | $4.32 |
| 10 | $3.79 | $37.90 |
| 100 | $3.32 | $332.00 |
| 500 | $2.91 | $1,455.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.58 | $2,580.00 |
PIC16F818-I/MLTSL Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip microprocessor whose internal data path, registers and ALU are eight bits wide, optimized for deterministic control tasks, low power consumption and ease of programming in C or assembly. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, an 8-bit MCU belongs to microcontrollers -> embedded processors -> microprocessors -> semiconductors, sitting beneath 16-bit and 32-bit MCUs in arithmetic capability but above discrete logic in integration. The PIC16F818 specifically is positioned between the baseline PIC10/12/16 family and the high-performance PIC18 family, offering nanoWatt low-power features and a peripheral set targeted at cost-sensitive consumer, appliance and industrial control products.
Key features of the PIC16F818-I/MLTSL include a 20MHz maximum operating frequency with a 200ns instruction cycle, 16 I/O pins, a 10-bit multi-channel Analog-to-Digital converter with five input channels, one Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module, a synchronous serial port configurable as SPI or I2C, an 8MHz internal oscillator, an internal voltage reference, in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) and nanoWatt power-management modes. The 28-pin QFN footprint exposes the full peripheral complement while keeping board area under 36 mm2, and the lack of a bottom thermal pad simplifies single-layer PCB layouts.
Architecturally, the PIC16F818 uses a Harvard RISC core with only 35 single-word instructions and an 8-level deep hardware stack, enabling deterministic interrupt latency that is critical in real-time control loops. On-chip Flash and EEPROM are programmable through the ICSP interface with no external programmer required, supporting field firmware upgrades over UART or USB bridges. The 10-bit ADC is paired with an internal bandgap reference so analog measurements can be taken without external reference components, and nanoWatt technology allows peripherals to be selectively clocked or shut down to extend battery life in portable products.
Typical applications for the PIC16F818-I/MLTSL include small consumer appliances, battery-powered handheld devices, sensor-interface front ends, hobby and educational embedded projects, LED lighting controllers, low-end motor-control loops, and remote-control transmitters. Its combination of compact QFN-28 footprint, EEPROM data memory and 16 I/O makes it a flexible building block for replacing discrete logic plus EEPROM pairs in legacy designs.
When designing with this MCU, ensure decoupling is placed within 5 mm of VDD with at least one 100 nF ceramic per supply pin and a bulk 10 uF near the regulator output, because the on-chip ADC is sensitive to VDD ripple. Pull MCLR high through a 10 kohm resistor, and use the ICSP pins (RB6/RB7) only as the last peripheral assignment so in-circuit programming remains accessible in production.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F818-I/MLTSL — 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-I/MLTSL (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, ADC, Power-Saving Modes, Internal Oscillator.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F818-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F818T-I/MLTSL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F818-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.73 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F819-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F88-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F818-I/MLTSL Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory | 1.75 KB Flash (1K x 14) |
| Data SRAM | 128 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns at 20 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 16 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2 |
| CCP Modules | 1 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Serial Interfaces | SSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Internal Oscillator | 8 MHz |
| Package | 28-pin QFN (6x6 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ICSP Programming | Yes (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| Brown-out Reset | Yes |
| Power-Saving Modes | nanoWatt Technology (Sleep, Idle) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F818-I/MLTSL Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Analog input 4 / Timer0 clock |
| Pin 6 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — PORTA bit 5 / Master Clear (reset) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator out / Timer1 clock in |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator in / CCP2 |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / Capture/Compare/PWM1 |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground (second pad) |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 20 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 21 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 22 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 23 | RB3/PGM — PORTB bit 3 / LVP programming |
| Pin 24 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 25 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 26 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 27 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 28 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F818-I/MLTSL is suitable for 7 applications: Consumer Appliance Control, Battery-Powered Sensor Front End, LED Lighting Controllers, Remote Control Transmitters, Low-End Motor Control, Hobby and Educational Embedded Projects, Sensor Interface Front Ends.
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16F818-I/MLTSL fits consumer appliance controllers because of its 16 GPIO, 10-bit ADC and 20MHz CPU in a compact 28-QFN package. It reads temperature or voltage sensors via the 10-bit ADC, drives relays and triacs via PWM-capable CCP1, and stores user preferences in the 128-byte on-chip EEPROM. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade supports under-cabinet and garage environments. Compared to discrete-logic timer ICs it adds programmability without raising cost above approximately 4.32 USD at qty-1, simplifying SKU proliferation.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Front End
The PIC16F818-I/MLTSL suits battery-powered sensor nodes because of nanoWatt technology with sub-uA sleep current and the ability to wake on interrupt. The 10-bit ADC samples up to five sensors, the 128-byte SRAM buffers data, and the 128-byte EEPROM stores calibration constants without external memory. At 2.0 V minimum VDD operation, the MCU runs directly from two AA cells with an MCP1700 LDO. The 28-QFN package keeps node footprint under 36 mm2, leaving room for a coin cell and antenna in remote IoT-style designs.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC16F818-I/MLTSL drives LED lighting controllers using its CCP1 PWM module to generate dimming signals and the 10-bit ADC to read ambient light sensors. The 20MHz CPU computes logarithmic dimming curves in firmware, while the SSP supports daisy-chained SPI LED drivers. With 128-byte EEPROM, custom user scenes persist across power cycles. The compact 28-QFN package fits inside MR16 retrofit bulbs and strip-light inline controllers without compromising the thermal budget.
Recommended
Remote Control Transmitters
The PIC16F818-I/MLTSL serves in handheld remote controllers because of its low sleep current, 16 GPIO for keypad scanning, and SSP for SPI-based LCD feedback. The 128-byte EEPROM stores device pairing codes without external memory. At 20MHz the MCU can also drive infrared modulation for IR remote protocols or sub-GHz SPI transceivers for RF remotes. The 28-QFN footprint allows slim remote enclosures under 8 mm thick.
Recommended
Low-End Motor Control
The PIC16F818-I/MLTSL drives brushed DC or unipolar stepper motors in applications up to a few hundred watts. The CCP1 PWM generates up to 20kHz switching signals at 10-bit resolution, the 10-bit ADC reads back EMF or current sense, and 16 GPIO drive H-bridge logic. With 200ns interrupt latency, the RISC core provides deterministic torque-loop control. The 28-QFN package keeps the control PCB compact enough to fit inside a small motor housing or gear box.
Recommended
Hobby and Educational Embedded Projects
The PIC16F818-I/MLTSL is well-suited to hobbyist and university embedded courses because of the 35-instruction RISC core, in-circuit serial programming and the free MPLAB X IDE toolchain. With 1.75KB Flash, 128-byte SRAM and 16 GPIO, it teaches timers, ADC, PWM, SPI and I2C without overwhelming beginners. The QFN-28 package is hand-solderable on breakout boards, and the industrial temperature grade lets student projects survive dorm-room or lab conditions.
Recommended
Sensor Interface Front Ends
The PIC16F818-I/MLTSL is an ideal sensor hub because of the 5-channel 10-bit ADC and SSP for I2C/SPI sensor networks. It aggregates data from thermistors, photodiodes and pressure sensors, linearizes responses in firmware, and transmits via UART-bitmuse firmware or SPI to a host processor. The 128-byte EEPROM stores per-sensor calibration. The 28-QFN footprint lets the front end sit adjacent to the sensor array on the same flex substrate.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F818-I/MLTSL — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F818-I/ML | PIC16F818T-I/MLTSL | PIC16F818-E/ML | PIC16F819-I/ML | PIC16F88-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-QFN (ML) | 28-QFN (ML) | 28-QFN (ML) | 28-QFN (ML) | 28-QFN (ML) | 28-QFN (ML) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 3.5 KB Flash (+100%) | 7 KB Flash (+300%) |
| SRAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 256 bytes (+100%) | 368 bytes (+188%) |
| CPU Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5-ch | 10-bit, 5-ch | 10-bit, 5-ch | 10-bit, 5-ch | 10-bit, 5-ch | 10-bit, 7-ch |
Key Differentiators
- Compact 28-QFN footprint with exposed thermal pad (vs PIC16F818-I/SP (28-SPDIP))
- Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade (vs PIC16F818-E/ML (extended -40C to +125C))
- 1.75 KB Flash with 35-instruction RISC core (vs PIC16F819-I/ML)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic near the LDO output. The PIC16F818-I/MLTSL has a single VDD pair, so sufficient local decoupling reduces ADC measurement noise by 2-3 LSB at full 20 MHz operation. Use a low-dropout regulator such as MCP1700 (3.3V) with 1.6 uA quiescent current to match the MCU's nanoWatt sleep profile.
Solder the 28-QFN exposed pad to a 5 mm x 5 mm copper pour on the top layer to provide thermal relief and a low-impedance ground return. Without this pad bond, junction-to-ambient thermal resistance increases by approximately 30 C/W and the ADC reference may drift at high ambient temperatures. Maintain at least 0.2 mm clearance between the QFN pad and any signal trace routed under the package.
Estimated: ADC accuracy at 5V VDD is approximately +/-1 LSB; at 3.3V VDD expect approximately +/-2 LSB due to reduced LSB voltage. Always enable the ADCON1 register and set PCFG bits correctly before the first conversion, or PORTA digital outputs will be left floating and read as 0. The MCLR pin must be pulled up to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor for normal operation - floating MCLR causes random resets in noisy environments.
Route ICSP signals RB6/PGC and RB7/PGD as short, parallel traces less than 50 mm long with adjacent ground to minimize programming noise. If ICSP is not needed in production, leave RB6/RB7 accessible on the PCB edge connector or test pads for field firmware updates. Place the external crystal or resonator within 10 mm of OSC1/OSC2 with a grounded guard ring to suppress radiated emissions.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. The "I" industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC16F818-E/ML for higher temperature margin but note AEC-Q100 qualification requires explicit part numbering.
