PIC16F886-I/ML - 8-bit MCU, 14KB Flash, 20MHz, 28-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F886-I/ML β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.36 | $3.36 |
| 10 | $3.02 | $30.20 |
| 100 | $2.71 | $271.00 |
| 500 | $2.43 | $1,215.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.18 | $2,180.00 |
PIC16F886-I/ML Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small computer-on-a-chip that combines a CPU, program memory, data RAM, and peripheral interfaces on a single die. The PIC16F family sits within the broader hierarchy of PIC microcontrollers -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. Unlike 16-bit or 32-bit MCUs, 8-bit parts optimize for cost, deterministic behavior, and ease of programming rather than raw arithmetic throughput, making them ideal for control loops, sensor reading, and human-interface tasks in industrial, automotive, and consumer products.
The PIC16F886-I/ML uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range 14-bit instruction set with only 35 single-word instructions, allowing most instructions to execute in one instruction cycle. It supports self-programmability, an internal oscillator, nanoWatt power management for sleep modes as low as 50 nA, and a wide 2.0V to 5.5V operating voltage range. The 28-QFN package provides a compact footprint suitable for space-constrained designs while exposing the full 25 I/O pin count.
Typical applications include sensor interface boards, LED lighting controllers, small home appliances, automotive body electronics, battery management peripherals, and industrial control modules. The on-chip 10-bit ADC and comparators allow direct connection to analog sensors without external signal-conditioning ICs.
When designing with this device, ensure the ICSP programming pins (RB6/RB7) are accessible on the PCB for in-circuit programming and debugging. The internal oscillator is factory calibrated to within 1 percent, but for timing-sensitive UART or PWM applications, a crystal is recommended.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in PIC16F88x family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F886-I/ML 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 PIC16F886-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Timers, ADC, I/O Pins, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F886-I/SP
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F886-I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F886-I/SS
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.81 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F886T-I/ML
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.4 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F886-E/ML
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F884-I/ML
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F884T-I/PT
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$2.3 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F887-I/ML
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.16 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F886-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 Enhanced Mid-Range 8-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 368 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Digital I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 11 channels x 10-bit |
| Comparators | 2 |
| CCP / ECCP Modules | 1 CCP + 1 ECCP |
| Serial Interfaces | 1x USART, 1x MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Timers | 2x 8-bit + 1x 16-bit |
| Instruction Set Size | 35 instructions (14-bit word) |
| In-Circuit Debug | Yes (ICD via RB6/RB7) |
| Package | 28-pin QFN (6x6 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F886-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/ULPWU β Port A bit 0 / Analog input 0 / Ultra-Low-Power Wake-up |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 β Port A bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/CVREF/VREF- β Port A bit 2 / Analog input 2 / Comparator reference output / DAC negative reference |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/C1OUT/VREF+ β Port A bit 3 / Analog input 3 / Comparator 1 output / DAC positive reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4/C2OUT/T0CKI β Port A bit 4 / Analog input 4 / Comparator 2 output / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5/SS/HLVDIN β Port A bit 5 / Analog input 5 / SPI Slave Select / High-Low Voltage Detect input |
| Pin 7 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/RA7 β Crystal oscillator input / Port A bit 7 |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/RA6 β Crystal oscillator output / Port A bit 6 |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI β Port C bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 β Port C bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 output |
| Pin 12 | RC2/P1A/CCP1 β Port C bit 2 / Enhanced PWM output A / CCP1 I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCK/SCL β Port C bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDI/SDA β Port C bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO β Port C bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC6/TX/CK β Port C bit 6 / USART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 17 | RC7/RX/DT β Port C bit 7 / USART receive / USART data |
| Pin 18 | VSS β Ground reference (second bond) |
| Pin 19 | VDD β Positive supply voltage 2.0V to 5.5V |
| Pin 20 | RB0/INT0/AN12 β Port B bit 0 / External interrupt 0 / Analog input 12 |
| Pin 21 | RB1/INT1/AN10 β Port B bit 1 / External interrupt 1 / Analog input 10 |
| Pin 22 | RB2/INT2/AN8 β Port B bit 2 / External interrupt 2 / Analog input 8 |
| Pin 23 | RB3/AN9/PGM β Port B bit 3 / Analog input 9 / ICSP programming low-voltage |
| Pin 24 | RB4/AN11 β Port B bit 4 / Analog input 11 |
| Pin 25 | RB5/AN13 β Port B bit 5 / Analog input 13 |
| Pin 26 | RB6/ICSPCLK β Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock / debugging |
| Pin 27 | RB7/ICSPDAT β Port B bit 7 / ICSP data / debugging |
| Pin 28 | RE3/MCLR/VPP β Port E bit 3 / Master Clear reset / ICSP programming voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC16F886-I/ML is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface Board, Home Appliance Control (Washing Machine / Microwave), Automotive Body Electronics (Lighting, Door Modules), LED Lighting Controller / DMX Decoder, Battery-Operated Portable Instruments, Small HVAC and Thermostat Modules, Educational / Hobby Electronics Projects.
Industrial Sensor Interface Board
The PIC16F886-I/ML is well suited for industrial 4-20 mA sensor interface boards because its 11-channel 10-bit ADC directly digitizes multiple analog sensors without external ADCs. The 25 I/O pins drive indicator LEDs, optocoupler inputs, and digital outputs for relay control. Its 2.0V-5.5V supply range accepts 24V industrial rails after regulation, while the -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating tolerates factory floor environments. A typical circuit uses RA0-RA5 for sensor inputs, RC0-RC2 for digital outputs, and USART over RS-485 to a central PLC, reducing BOM cost and board area versus a 32-bit MCU solution.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control (Washing Machine / Microwave)
The PIC16F886-I/ML is widely deployed in home appliance control boards where its 14 KB Flash holds a real-time control loop, key scan, and LCD drive state machine. The two analog comparators detect zero-cross for triac firing in motor and heater loads, while the ECCP module generates accurate PWM for variable-speed drives. Its 25 I/O pins connect to keypads, LED indicators, and triac drivers, and the 5V operation matches typical appliance power rails directly. The QFN-28 footprint fits inside sealed control modules where vibration and humidity tolerance of surface-mount packages is required.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Lighting, Door Modules)
For automotive body electronics like interior lighting controllers, door modules, and seat controllers, the PIC16F886-I/ML provides a 5V-tolerant MCU with 14 KB Flash for CAN/LIN body-control firmware. The Enhanced USART supports LIN 1.3 master or slave communication with vehicle body networks, while the ADC reads light sensors and switch inputs. The nanoWatt power-down modes reduce quiescent current below 50 nA for battery-drain-sensitive parked vehicles. Designers migrate to the PIC16F886-E/ML or Q1 automotive-qualified PIC16 variants when AEC-Q100 Grade 1 (125C) operation is required.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller / DMX Decoder
The PIC16F886-I/ML drives multi-channel LED lighting fixtures by decoding DMX-512 (RS-485) data on the EUSART and generating 16-bit PWM via the ECCP plus Timer2 hardware for smooth dimming. Its 20 MHz instruction rate sustains 44 Hz DMX refresh across 512 channels. The 11 ADC channels read ambient light sensors and potentiometer dimming controls, while the 25 I/O pins drive MOSFET gate drivers for RGBW LED strings. This part is widely used in architectural and stage lighting fixtures where deterministic real-time response to DMX commands is critical.
Recommended
Battery-Operated Portable Instruments
The PIC16F886-I/ML is a strong fit for handheld measurement tools like digital multimeters, portable data loggers, and medical monitoring peripherals, where its nanoWatt sleep current below 50 nA extends battery life across months of standby. The 14 KB Flash accommodates USB HID class firmware via the MSSP SPI/I2C bus and display driver state machines. Its 2.0V minimum Vdd operation accepts a single Li-ion cell down to its cutoff voltage, while the 10-bit ADC reads battery voltage and sensor inputs directly. The QFN-28 6x6 mm footprint fits compact handheld enclosures.
Recommended
Small HVAC and Thermostat Modules
The PIC16F886-I/ML runs HVAC zone controllers and small thermostat modules, where the ADC reads multiple temperature sensors (NTC thermistors or analog ICs) and the ECCP drives a triac for heater/cooler switching. Its 5V operation matches common HVAC boards with 24VAC-derived rails. The MSSP I2C bus connects to OLED or character LCD displays, while the 14 KB Flash holds proportional-integral control loops with seasonal scheduling. The QFN-28 footprint is well suited to compact wall-mount enclosures where through-hole parts would be too tall.
Recommended
Educational / Hobby Electronics Projects
The PIC16F886-I/ML is popular in university embedded systems curricula and hobbyist projects because its 14 KB Flash is large enough for meaningful projects yet small enough to teach the full PIC16 instruction set without overwhelming students. The 28-pin QFN package exposes 25 I/O pins for breadboard-friendly IO via breakout adapters, and the ICSP interface works directly with PICkit 3/4 debuggers. Compatibility with Microchip's free MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler lowers the entry barrier; thousands of example projects exist online for sensors, motor control, and human-machine interfaces.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F886-I/ML β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F886-I/SP | PIC16F886-I/SO | PIC16F886T-I/ML | PIC16F886-E/ML | PIC16F884-I/ML | PIC16F887-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-QFN (6x6) | 28-SPDIP (through-hole) | 28-SOIC (SMT) | 28-QFN (6x6) - same | 28-QFN (6x6) - same | 28-QFN (6x6) - same | 28-QFN (6x6) - same |
| Flash Program Memory | 14 KB (8K x 14) | 14 KB - same | 14 KB - same | 14 KB - same | 14 KB - same | 7 KB - smaller | 14 KB - same |
| Data RAM | 368 bytes | 368 bytes - same | 368 bytes - same | 368 bytes - same | 368 bytes - same | 256 bytes - smaller | 368 bytes - same |
| ADC Channels | 11 x 10-bit | 11 x 10-bit - same | 11 x 10-bit - same | 11 x 10-bit - same | 11 x 10-bit - same | 11 x 10-bit - same | 14 x 10-bit - more |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +125C - wider | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +85C - same |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz / 5 MIPS | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same |
| I/O Pin Count | 25 | 25 - same | 25 - same | 25 - same | 25 - same | 25 - same | 36 (40-pin variant) - more |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash within 28-pin PIC16F88x family (vs PIC16F884-I/ML)
- Wider temperature range than industrial -I grade (vs PIC16F886-I/SP)
- More ADC channels than PIC16F886 in same footprint (vs PIC16F886-I/SO)
- SMT-optimized QFN package with low profile (vs PIC16F886-I/SP)
Design Notes
The PIC16F886 integrates a brown-out reset (BOR) and low-voltage detect (LVD) module that should be enabled in CONFIG1 to protect Flash integrity during supply droops. Per the Microchip datasheet, BOR can be configured for 2.1V or 4.0V thresholds (matching 3.3V or 5V rails). Add a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to VDD pin 19 and a bulk 10 uF tantalum on the main rail; a ferrite bead plus 10 ohm resistor between VDD and digital VDD is recommended when ADC accuracy is critical.
RB3, RB6, and RB7 are shared between general I/O and the ICSP programming interface (PGM, ICSPCLK, ICSPDAT). When designing the PCB, isolate these signals with 0 ohm jumpers or test-point footprints so production programming and debugging do not conflict with user circuitry - especially high-current loads that could exceed the ICSP driver's 5 mA source limit. According to Microchip ICSP guidance, never pull RB6/RB7 low during reset or the device will enter programming mode instead of executing user code.
The 28-QFN package has an exposed thermal pad (EP) on pin 29 that must be soldered to a ground pour for mechanical reliability and thermal dissipation. Per IPC-7351 QFN land pattern guidelines, use a 5.6 mm x 5.6 mm pad with a via array (typically 9 vias at 0.3 mm drill, 0.6 mm pitch) tying EP to the internal ground plane. Without proper EP soldering the part can overheat at high I/O switching loads because all ground currents concentrate at pin 7/18.
When using the MSSP module in I2C mode, place 4.7 kohm pull-up resistors on SCL (RC3) and SDA (RC4) as close to the MCU as possible; for I2C bus lengths over 100 mm use 2.2 kohm pull-ups or a buffered repeater. The internal weak pull-ups on PORTB (~50 kohm) are too weak for reliable I2C at 400 kHz Fast Mode. For SPI applications above 5 MHz, keep traces under 50 mm and use a series 33 ohm resistor on SCK (RC3) to dampen ringing on the SCK line.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. The PIC16F886-I/ML industrial-grade variant is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive applications use the -E/ML or PIC16F886-Q1 variants per Microchip product family map.
