PIC16F876A-I/SS - 8-Bit 20MHz 14KB MCU 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F876A-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.4 | $5.40 |
| 10 | $4.86 | $48.60 |
| 100 | $4.32 | $432.00 |
| 500 | $3.89 | $1,945.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.46 | $3,460.00 |
PIC16F876A-I/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (ROM/Flash), data memory (RAM), and a rich set of peripherals (timers, ADC, communication ports, GPIO). Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16F876A belongs to PIC16 family -> PIC16F mid-range 8-bit MCU -> flash MCU -> microcontroller -> semiconductor IC. Mid-range PIC16 MCUs are widely recognized for their 35-instruction RISC architecture, deterministic instruction execution, and ease of programming in both C and assembly.
Key features include 22 digital I/O pins, five 10-bit ADC channels, two analog comparators, two capture/compare/PWM modules, a USART port, and a synchronous serial port configurable as either 3-wire SPI or 2-wire I2C. On-chip in-circuit debug (ICD) and self-programming capability allow field upgrades without external programmers. The Harvard memory architecture separates program and data buses, enabling simultaneous fetch and execute for deterministic real-time control.
Typical applications include industrial sensor interfacing, low-cost motor control, automotive AC diagnostics, hobby robotics, and battery-powered Smart Sensing applications. The 5-channel 10-bit ADC allows direct connection to temperature sensors.
When designing with the PIC16F876A-I/SS, pay attention to supply decoupling and in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) pin allocation to avoid conflicting with target application I/O. The device operates from 2.0 V to 5.5 V.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found on individual distributor product pages.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F876A-I/SS — 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 PIC16F876A-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Core Architecture, ADC, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F876A-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F876A-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 mid-range 8-bit RISC |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 368 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Digital I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 5 channels x 10-bit |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| CCP/PWM Modules | 2 |
| Serial Interfaces | USART + MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Timers | 3 (TMR0, TMR1, TMR2) |
| Self-Programming / ICD | Yes (In-Circuit Debug + self-programming) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, -I grade) |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F876A-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/Vpp — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/CVREF — Digital I/O / analog input 2 / comparator reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / analog input 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Digital I/O / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — Digital I/O / analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal oscillator pin 1 / external clock input |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal oscillator pin 2 / clock output |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator output |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator input |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Digital I/O / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC6/TX/CK — Digital I/O / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 17 | RC7/RX/DT — Digital I/O / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 18 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin 19 | RD0 — Digital I/O port D bit 0 |
| Pin 20 | RD1 — Digital I/O port D bit 1 |
| Pin 21 | RD2 — Digital I/O port D bit 2 |
| Pin 22 | RD3 — Digital I/O port D bit 3 |
| Pin 23 | RC4/C2OUT — Digital I/O port C bit 4 / comparator 2 output |
| Pin 24 | RC5/C1OUT — Digital I/O port C bit 5 / comparator 1 output |
| Pin 25 | RB0/INT — Digital I/O port B bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 26 | RB1 — Digital I/O port B bit 1 |
| Pin 27 | RB2 — Digital I/O port B bit 2 |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F876A-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface, Low-Cost Motor Control (BLDC, Stepper), Hobby Robotics and Educational Kits, Battery-Powered Smart Sensor Nodes, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), White Goods and Appliance Control.
Industrial Sensor Interface
The PIC16F876A-I/SS is well suited to industrial sensor interface boards reading 4-20 mA loops, thermistors, and 0-10 V signals via its 10-bit ADC. The 22 digital I/O pins directly drive indicator LEDs, relay coils, and optocouplers without external buffers, while the 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply accommodates both 3.3 V sensor rails and legacy 5 V control logic. Five ADC channels multiplex multiple analog inputs on a single MCU.
Recommended
Low-Cost Motor Control (BLDC, Stepper)
With two CCP/PWM modules and 22 GPIO pins, the PIC16F876A-I/SS can drive a single low-power brushed DC motor, a small stepper, or sensorless BLDC motor with back-EMF sensing on a single chip. The 20 MHz clock provides a 50 ns PWM resolution at 50 kHz switching frequency for smooth torque control. Two analog comparators enable hardware overcurrent protection without software latency.
Recommended
Hobby Robotics and Educational Kits
The PIC16F876A-I/SS is a workhorse in hobby robotics: 22 I/O drives servos and sensors, the USART connects to Bluetooth/WiFi modules for remote control, and the ICD port allows in-circuit debug with a PICkit 3 programmer. The 35-instruction RISC architecture is easy to teach in C or assembly, making it popular in undergraduate embedded systems courses and maker projects.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Smart Sensor Nodes
The PIC16F876A-I/SS supports low-power sleep with peripherals running, allowing multi-year battery life in remote sensor nodes transmitting over SPI or I2C. The 256-byte EEPROM stores calibration constants and node IDs non-volatilely, while the self-programming feature enables Over-The-Air firmware updates via a companion radio module. Industrial temperature rating suits outdoor and industrial deployments.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the PIC16F876A-I/SS is widely used in non-safety automotive body applications such as interior lighting controllers, HVAC auxiliaries, and seat controllers where automotive-grade qualification is not mandated. The wide 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply tolerates load-dump and cranking transients when paired with proper TVS protection. The 256-byte EEPROM retains user settings across battery disconnects.
Recommended
White Goods and Appliance Control
The PIC16F876A-I/SS is used in washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, and microwave ovens for user interface, timing, and motor control. The two CCP/PWM modules drive displays and buzzers, the 22 I/O pins interface with keypads and rotary encoders, and the 5-channel ADC reads temperature and humidity sensors. In-circuit debug simplifies field service and firmware updates.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F876A-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F876A-E/SS | PIC16F876A-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SSOP-28 (5.30 mm) | SSOP-28 (5.30 mm) - same footprint | SOIC-28 (7.50 mm) - DIFFERENT footprint |
| Pin Count | 28 | 28 - same | 28 - same |
| Core / Architecture | PIC16 mid-range 8-bit | PIC16 mid-range 8-bit - identical | PIC16 mid-range 8-bit - identical |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Flash Program Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB |
| SRAM | 368 bytes | 368 bytes | 368 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Wider operating temperature range than -I grade (vs PIC16F876A-I/SO)
- Smaller PCB footprint in same pinout (vs PIC16F876A-I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 28) of the PIC16F876A-I/SS, with a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the main supply rail. For ICSP programming, ensure MCLR/Vpp (pin 1) has its own 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF cap to ground to suppress programming noise. Operating voltage range is 2.0 V to 5.5 V; do not exceed 5.5 V absolute maximum.
Keep the crystal or external clock traces (OSC1/OSC2, pins 8-9) short and surrounded by a ground pour to minimize EMI and clock jitter. If using the internal RC oscillator instead, leave OSC1/OSC2 as GPIO (RA6/RA7 do not exist on 28-pin variants - use RA4/OSC2 only on 40-pin packages). Route sensitive analog signals (AN0-AN4) away from digital switching traces.
Do not confuse the PIC16F876A (this enhanced part) with the legacy PIC16F876 - the older part has different memory architecture and fewer peripherals. Also note that the 28-pin SSOP pinout differs from 40-pin DIP variants; pin numbers 23-27 are remapped to port C functions (C2OUT, C1OUT, RB0-RB2) on the SSOP, not to port D bits. Always consult the datasheet pinout for your specific package.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - do not use for safety-critical automotive applications without further qualification.
