PIC16F873-10E/SO - 8-bit 10MHz MCU, 7KB Flash, 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F873-10E/SO β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.87 | $6.87 |
| 10 | $6.18 | $61.80 |
| 100 | $5.5 | $550.00 |
| 500 | $4.95 | $2,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.4 | $4,400.00 |
PIC16F873-10E/SO Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), and a rich set of peripherals such as timers, ADC, USART, and I/O ports on one die. Microcontrollers sit at the top of the embedded-control hierarchy - above discrete logic, below full microprocessors - and dominate applications where deterministic real-time response, low power, and small footprint matter. The PIC16F family specifically introduced nanoWatt technology for ultra-low-power sleep modes.
Key features of the PIC16F873-10E/SO include 200 ns instruction execution, only 35 single-word instructions for easy C/assembly programming, 5 channels of 10-bit ADC, USART, MSSP (SPI/I2C), two 8-bit timers plus one 16-bit timer, and nanoWatt power management with < 1 uA sleep current. The enhanced '-10E' variant runs up to 10 MHz across the full 4.0-5.5 V supply range.
Architecturally, the device uses a Harvard RISC core with separate program and data buses, 14-bit wide instruction word, and a hardware multiplier. The flash memory supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) via two pins, enabling firmware updates without removing the MCU from the board. Hardware brown-out reset, watchdog timer, and code protection are integrated.
Typical applications include industrial control modules, automotive body and sensor subsystems, HVAC controllers, sensor interfaces, small appliances, and battery-powered instruments requiring extended temperature operation. The 28-SOIC wide-body footprint is footprint-compatible with the rest of the PIC16F87x 28-pin family, enabling PCB reuse.
When designing with this part, verify the brown-out reset voltage threshold against the minimum supply (4.0 V) and budget for the 22 I/O pins which share analog/digital functions - the AN0-AN4 analog inputs multiplex with PORTA/PORTE bits. Always consult the Microchip PIC16F873/4/6/7 datasheet for the ICSP programming pinout and configuration-word settings.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives sourced from Microchip's own PIC16F family, and practical design notes not found in the standalone datasheet, giving engineers a single decision-ready reference.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F873-10E/SO β 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 PIC16F873-10E/SO (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Core Architecture, Package, Timers, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F873-04E/SO
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.81 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F873-10I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F876-10E/SO
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.99 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F873-04/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F876-04E/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F873-10E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| Core Architecture | PIC16 RISC, Harvard, 14-bit instruction word |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 10 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| Supply Voltage | 4.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Number of I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| Communication Peripherals | USART, MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Package | 28-SOIC (0.295", 7.50 mm width) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended / Automotive grade) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Instruction Set Size | 35 single-word instructions |
| ICSP Programming | Supported (2-wire in-circuit serial programming) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per distributor listings) |
PIC16F873-10E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP β Master clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 β PORTA bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 β PORTA bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 β PORTA bit 2 / analog input 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ β PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI β PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS β PORTA bit 5 / analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI β Crystal oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO β Crystal oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI β PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 β PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 β PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 PWM/capture/compare |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL β PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA β PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO β PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK β PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT β PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD β Positive supply (4.0 V - 5.5 V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT β PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 22 | RB1 β PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 β PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/PGM β PORTB bit 3 / low-voltage ICSP programming |
| Pin 25 | RB4 β PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 β PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC β PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD β PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC16F873-10E/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface Module, Automotive Body & Sensor Subsystem, HVAC Thermostat Controller, Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Small Appliance Control Board, Industrial UART-to-SPI Bridge.
Industrial Sensor Interface Module
The PIC16F873-10E/SO fits industrial 4-20 mA or 0-10 V sensor interface modules because its 5-channel 10-bit ADC digitises up to 5 transducer signals while the 22 I/O pins drive indicator LEDs, relay coils, and an isolated UART link to a PLC. With 4.0-5.5 V supply tolerance it operates directly from a regulated 5 V industrial rail, and the extended -40C to +125C grade handles cabinet and field-sensor temperatures. The 200 ns instruction execution supports 9,600-115,200 baud USART comms with comfortable CPU margin for sensor linearisation and HART-style protocol handling. Pair with an MCP2551 CAN transceiver or RS-485 driver for field-bus connectivity.
Recommended
Automotive Body & Sensor Subsystem
Automotive body controllers, climate sensors, and lighting modules benefit from the PIC16F873-10E/SO's extended -40C to +125C automotive temperature grade and 22 robust I/O pins that can directly drive small solenoids, LEDs, and low-side switches. The 5-channel 10-bit ADC reads thermistor, ambient-light, and battery-sense signals, while the MSSP peripheral supports I2C communication with sensors and EEPROM. The 10 MHz CPU bandwidth handles seat-position memory, mirror-adjust, and wiper-control state machines with low-latency interrupt response. nanoWatt sleep modes drop quiescent current below 1 uA for parked-vehicle standby.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat Controller
The PIC16F873-10E/SO is well-suited to residential and commercial HVAC thermostats: its 5-channel ADC samples NTC thermistors for indoor, outdoor, and supply-air temperatures, while 22 I/O lines drive a character LCD, triac-fired relays for the compressor, fan, and reversing valve, and a USART link to a Wi-Fi module. The 7 KB flash accommodates scheduling logic and PID control loops, and the 192-byte RAM supports soft-start ramp tables. Operating from a regulated 5 V or 24 VAC-derived rail, the extended -40C to +125C grade tolerates attic and equipment-room environments.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
For battery-powered wireless sensor nodes, the PIC16F873-10E/SO's nanoWatt technology delivers < 1 uA sleep current, allowing multi-year life on 2x AA cells when the MCU sleeps between transmissions. The MSSP port drives SPI-based 2.4 GHz transceivers such as the MRF24J40, while the 5-channel ADC reads sensor inputs at periodic wake intervals. The 10 MHz burst mode lets the node process and transmit in a few milliseconds before returning to sleep, dramatically lowering average current. Watchdog timer and brown-out reset protect against low-battery brown-out in unattended deployments.
Recommended
Small Appliance Control Board
Coffee machines, induction cooktops, washing machines, and other small appliances use the PIC16F873-10E/SO as the main controller: its 22 I/O lines drive triac-controlled heaters, brushed-DC pump motors via PWM, segment LEDs or character LCDs, and capacitive-touch buttons. The 10-bit ADC reads temperature from a thermistor bridge for closed-loop heater control, while the USART enables diagnostics over a service-port UART. Extended -40C to +125C tolerance handles under-hood and over-range thermal events in kitchen and laundry appliances.
Recommended
Industrial UART-to-SPI Bridge
The PIC16F873-10E/SO is an effective glue-logic choice for legacy UART-to-SPI protocol bridges used in factory automation. Its integrated USART plus MSSP (SPI master) ports enable transparent bridging of MODBUS RTU commands from a PLC to SPI peripherals such as DACs, ADCs, or display drivers. The 7 KB flash holds a small command parser and CRC-16 validator, and the 10 MHz instruction rate sustains 115,200 baud with margin. The 28-SOIC footprint fits on a compact DIN-rail module, and the -40C to +125C grade operates in cabinet environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F873-10E/SO β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F873-04E/SO | PIC16F873-10I/SO | PIC16F876-10E/SO | PIC16F873-04/SO | PIC16F876-04E/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SOIC (0.295") | 28-SOIC (0.295") - same | 28-SOIC (0.295") - same | 28-SOIC (0.295") - same | 28-SOIC (0.295") - same | 28-SOIC (0.295") - same |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 10 MHz | 4 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Program Flash | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 368 bytes | 192 bytes | 368 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 256 bytes | 128 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Key Differentiators
- Extended automotive temperature grade (-40C to +125C) at full 10 MHz speed (vs PIC16F873-04E/SO)
- Larger flash and RAM within identical 28-SOIC footprint (vs PIC16F876-10E/SO)
- Same 28-SOIC footprint as the entire PIC16F87x 28-pin family for design reuse (vs PIC16C73B-04I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16F873-10E/SO operates from a single 4.0 V to 5.5 V supply on VDD (pin 20) with VSS (pins 8 and 19) tied to ground. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor on the same rail. For battery applications, leverage the nanoWatt sleep mode with the on-chip watchdog disabled to drop quiescent current below 1 uA. Always enable brown-out reset (BOR) in the configuration word to prevent code corruption during supply droops below 4.0 V.
Route the crystal traces between OSC1 (pin 9) and OSC2 (pin 10) as short, symmetric traces with a grounded guard ring; keep them away from switching signals like PWM CCP outputs. The 28-SOIC wide-body package leaves adequate room for a two-layer board; expose the ICSP pins RB6/PGC (pin 27) and RB7/PGD (pin 28) on a 2.54 mm test pad or 1x5 header for in-circuit programming and debug, and bring MCLR/VPP (pin 1) to a reset/test header through a 10 kohm pull-up.
PORTA pins AN0-AN4 default to analog mode after power-on; failure to clear the PCFG bits in ADCON1 leaves those pins unusable as digital GPIO. The MCLR pin must NOT be left floating - it requires a 10-50 kohm pull-up to VDD, or the MCU will randomly reset. When migrating from the PIC16F873 to the PIC16F876, code that exceeds 7 KB flash obviously will not fit; verify .hex size before PCB assembly. Configuration-word CP (code-protect) bits are sticky once programmed - they cannot be un-set, only erased by a full chip erase.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance confirmed by distributor listings (DigiKey, Mouser, LCSC). The part is supplied in lead-free 28-SOIC packaging. AEC-Q100 qualification is not declared on the manufacturer product page - the -40C to +125C automotive temperature grade is qualified per Microchip's industrial/automotive spec, not formally certified to AEC-Q100.
