PIC16F83-04/SO - 8-bit MCU, 896B Flash, 4MHz, SOIC-18 | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F83-04/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.38 | $2.38 |
| 10 | $2.15 | $21.50 |
| 100 | $1.85 | $185.00 |
| 500 | $1.6 | $800.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.38 | $1,380.00 |
PIC16F83-04/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small, self-contained computer-on-a-chip that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, volatile data RAM, non-volatile EEPROM, and configurable I/O peripherals on a single silicon die. The PIC16F8X family specifically sits within the broader PIC16CXX mid-range family, which itself belongs to the Microchip 8-bit MCU product line. As a Harvard-architecture RISC device with only 35 single-word instructions, it offers predictable deterministic execution suitable for cost-sensitive embedded control.
Key specifications include 14-bit-wide instruction words, a 1 µs instruction cycle at 4 MHz clock (400 ns at 10 MHz), 8-level deep hardware stack, power-on reset (POR), brown-out detection (BOD), watchdog timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator, and an in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) interface. The device offers 13 digital I/O pins with individual direction control and supports an operating temperature range of 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial grade).
Architecturally, the PIC16F83 uses a RISC-based CPU with separate program and data buses (Harvard architecture), enabling simultaneous fetch and access. Its on-chip Flash allows in-field reprogramming, while the EEPROM provides byte-erasable non-volatile storage for calibration, configuration, or user data that must survive power cycles.
Typical applications include low-cost consumer appliances, simple sensor interfaces, LED lighting controllers, battery chargers, and replacement designs for legacy PIC16C5X/PIC16C7X projects. It is also widely used in educational and hobby platforms due to its simple toolchain (MPLAB IDE, PICSTART Plus, or modern PICkit programmers).
When designing with this device, note that the PIC16F83 has been functionally replaced by the PIC16F84A, which is recommended for new designs. The PIC16F83 lacks an internal RC oscillator, so an external crystal or resonator is required, and developers migrating to the F84A should review the device migration document for any errata fixes.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, comparison parameters, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, providing an information-gain reference for engineers sourcing this mature MCU.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F83-04/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 PIC16F83-04/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Instruction Cycle Time, Operating Temperature, Timers, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F84A-04/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F83-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F84-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.19 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F84A-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.59 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F83T-04/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F818-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F83-04/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Flash Microcontroller |
| Series | PIC16F8X (PIC16F83) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 896 bytes (512 x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 36 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 64 bytes |
| Instruction Set Width | 14-bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz (-04 speed grade) |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 1 µs @ 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 4.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 13 |
| Number of Ports | 2 (PORTA 5-bit, PORTB 8-bit) |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit Timer0 |
| Hardware Stack | 8 levels |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (with dedicated on-chip RC) |
| Brown-out Reset (BOR) | Yes |
| In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) | Yes |
| Package | 18-pin SOIC (SO), 0.295 in (7.50 mm) body width |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial) |
| Architecture | Harvard RISC, 35 instructions |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F83-04/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O pin (PORTA bit 2) |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O pin (PORTA bit 3) |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input (open-drain) |
| Pin 4 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear reset input / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt input |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (4.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal/ resonator output or clock out |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal/ resonator input or external clock in |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O pin (PORTA bit 0) |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O pin (PORTA bit 1) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F83-04/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Controller, LED Lighting and Display Driver, Battery Charger and Power Management, Educational and Hobby Development Platform, Industrial Sensor Interface Module, Legacy Replacement and Maintenance Repair.
Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Controller
The PIC16F83-04/SO fits low-cost consumer appliance controllers because its 896-byte Flash and 36-byte RAM comfortably handle simple state machines for relay, triac, and indicator-LED control. With 13 I/O pins split between PORTA (5 pins) and PORTB (8 pins), designers can directly drive a 4x4 matrix keypad, multiplex a 7-segment display, and switch a TRIAC without external logic. The 5 V operating range and commercial temperature grade suit indoor appliance environments. According to Microchip application literature, PIC16F8X devices remain widely deployed in rice cookers, fan controllers, and small appliances. Compared with newer 16F1xxx parts, the PIC16F83 keeps the BOM cost low while still supporting ICSP in-circuit firmware updates during production.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Display Driver
The PIC16F83-04/SO is well-suited to LED lighting controllers, including decorative chasing effects, RGB color mixing, and small alphanumeric sign drivers, because its 8-bit PORTB can sink/source up to 25 mA per pin to directly drive indicator LEDs or low-current LED segments. The 14-bit instruction width and 35-instruction RISC core execute simple bit-banged PWM at frequencies above audible range, enabling flicker-free dimming. EEPROM storage (64 bytes) preserves user brightness/color presets across power cycles. The 18-pin SOIC package (SO) suits compact driver PCBs found in MR16 lamps, light strips, and 7-segment clock displays. For larger LED matrices, multiple PIC16F83s can be cascaded using the ICSP programming pins.
Recommended
Battery Charger and Power Management
In simple NiCd, NiMH, or SLA battery chargers, the PIC16F83-04/SO provides the supervisory brain by reading voltage dividers on its ADC-less I/O pins (using the comparator trick or external ADC), driving MOSFET gates, and timing charge cycles with Timer0. Its 64-byte EEPROM stores charge profiles and last-state data, while brown-out reset prevents deep-discharge damage. The device runs from the same 5 V rail used for logic-level gate drive, simplifying power tree design. Watchdog timer with dedicated internal RC oscillator ensures recovery from firmware hang-ups in unattended installations such as solar garden lights or remote sensors.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Development Platform
The PIC16F83-04/SO has been a cornerstone of microcontroller education since the late 1990s, owing to its small instruction set (35 single-word instructions), inexpensive programmers (PICkit 1/2/3, PICSTART Plus), and freely available MPLAB IDE toolchain. The SOIC-18 package is hand-solderable on breakout boards used in university labs. With 896 bytes of Flash and 36 bytes of RAM, students can implement complete projects (digital clocks, thermometers with DS18B20, motor speed controllers) without outgrowing memory. The 4 MHz instruction cycle is slow enough to observe on oscilloscopes for teaching real-time embedded concepts. Online PIC16F83 tutorials, textbooks, and example code remain abundant.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface Module
The PIC16F83-04/SO can serve as a digital front-end for slow industrial sensors (limit switches, photoelectric sensors, encoders with low pulse rates) by debouncing inputs in firmware and presenting the result via serial protocols bit-banged on PORTB. With 13 I/O pins it can simultaneously monitor multiple dry-contact inputs and drive indicator LEDs. The 5 V supply rail is widely available in 24 V-to-5 V industrial DIN-rail systems, and the 18-pin SOIC is compatible with conformal-coated PLC sub-modules. Brown-out reset and watchdog timer support the long-term reliability expectations of factory automation installations where the MCU runs unattended for years.
Recommended
Legacy Replacement and Maintenance Repair
The PIC16F83-04/SO is most commonly sourced today as a maintenance-repair-operations (MRO) replacement for equipment originally built in the late 1990s and early 2000s that uses this MCU. Industrial controls, scientific instruments, and avionics subsystems designed around the PIC16F8X are still in service, and the PIC16F83-04/SO offers a verified same-silicon, same-pinout, same-speed replacement to keep those systems running. Its active lifecycle status confirms Microchip continues to fabricate it specifically for this long-life support. Drop-in compatibility with PIC16F84A also enables firmware feature upgrades during repair without PCB rework.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F83-04/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F84A-04/SO | PIC16F83-04I/SO | PIC16F84-04/SO | PIC16F84A-04I/SO | PIC16F83T-04/SO | PIC16F818-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 18-pin SOIC (SO) | 18-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 18-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 18-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 18-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 18-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 18-pin SOIC (SO) - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 896 bytes (512 x 14) | 1024 bytes (1K x 14) | 896 bytes (512 x 14) | 1024 bytes (1K x 14) | 1024 bytes (1K x 14) | 896 bytes (512 x 14) | 1024 bytes (1K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 36 bytes | 36 bytes | 36 bytes | 36 bytes | 36 bytes | 36 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 64 bytes | 68 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 68 bytes | 64 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Internal Oscillator | No (external required) | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (31 kHz - 8 MHz internal RC) |
| ADC | None | None | None | None | None | None | 10-bit, 5 channels |
Key Differentiators
- Official Microchip-recommended successor with 2x Flash and more EEPROM (vs PIC16F84A-04/SO)
- Industrial temperature range for harsh environments (vs PIC16F83-04I/SO)
- Higher memory, internal oscillator, and 10-bit ADC upgrade path (vs PIC16F818-I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16F83-04/SO requires a regulated 5 V supply at 4.0 V to 5.5 V, drawing a maximum of approximately 20 mA active and 1.5 mA standby at 4 MHz per the Microchip datasheet. Add a 100 nF decoupling capacitor directly across VDD (pin 14) and VSS (pin 5), placed within 5 mm of the package, plus a bulk 10 µF electrolytic or tantalum at the board power-entry point. The MCLR/VPP pin (pin 4) must be pulled high through a 10 kΩ resistor; do not leave it floating, as noise on MCLR can cause spurious resets. Brown-out reset (BOR) is enabled by configuration bits and protects Flash from corruption during VDD droops below 4.0 V.
The PIC16F83-04/SO in SOIC-18 should be placed with its crystal/oscillator traces (OSC1/OSC2, pins 16/15) kept short—under 12 mm—and surrounded by a ground guard ring to minimize EMI pickup. The ICSP pins RB6/RB7 (pins 12/13) are shared with PORTB; if your application drives heavy loads on these pins, isolate them with series resistors (470 Ω) to avoid programmer conflicts during in-circuit programming. Keep the MCLR/VPP trace (pin 4) away from high-frequency switching nodes (relay coils, TRIAC outputs) to prevent inadvertent resets. Conformal coating is recommended for industrial environments since the SOIC-18 leads are easily bridged by contamination.
Three common pitfalls arise when designing with the PIC16F83-04/SO: (1) The 'A' notation (RA4/T0CKI, pin 3) has an open-drain output—it cannot source current, only sink, and requires an external pull-up to drive a logic-high load such as an LED to VDD. (2) The PIC16F83 has NO internal oscillator; designs that attempt to leave OSC1/OSC2 floating will not start. Always specify an external crystal, ceramic resonator, or canned oscillator. (3) The Flash endurance is rated at only 100 erase/write cycles for the program memory (vs 1M for EEPROM), so storing rapidly changing parameters in Flash will brick the part; always write dynamic data to the 64-byte EEPROM or external storage instead. According to Microchip's migration note, designers of new products should select the PIC16F84A or PIC16F818 instead.
The PIC16F83-04/SO in SOIC-18 has a thermal resistance (θJA) of approximately 100 °C/W when soldered to a standard JEDEC 2s2p test board with no forced airflow. At 4 MHz clock and typical 5 mA active current, internal dissipation is negligible (~25 mW), so the device runs near ambient temperature. However, in sealed enclosures at 70 °C ambient, derating 50 % leaves ample margin. Industrial-grade alternative PIC16F83-04I/SO (-40 °C to +85 °C) should be selected for outdoor or unventilated installations. No heatsink is required for this MCU under any normal operating condition.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product declaration. Lead-free matte-tin finish on SOIC-18 leads. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (industrial/consumer only). Halogen-free molding compound. Conflict-mineral declaration filed with CFSI.
