PIC16LF1516-E/MV - 8-Bit MCU, 14KB Flash, 28-UQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1516-E/MV ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.05 | $2.05 |
| 10 | $1.85 | $18.50 |
| 100 | $1.62 | $162.00 |
| 500 | $1.41 | $705.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.22 | $1,220.00 |
PIC16LF1516-E/MV Overview
What is a PIC16 microcontroller? The PIC16 is a family of 8-bit Harvard-architecture microcontrollers from Microchip built on the enhanced mid-range core, sitting in the hierarchy: microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> PIC16 family -> PIC16F15xx sub-family. These devices combine a RISC instruction set with on-chip Flash and a rich peripheral mix, serving as the workhorse for cost-sensitive and battery-powered applications. The "LF" prefix designates the extended low-voltage variant (1.8V minimum VDD), making it suitable for direct operation from single-cell Li-ion or two-cell alkaline supplies.
The device features XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology with nanoWatt XLP sleep currents in the sub-microamp range, watchdog timer, brown-out reset, and an internal 20MHz oscillator that eliminates the need for an external crystal in most designs. The 10-bit ADC with multiple channels supports sensor interfacing, while the two CCP modules provide PWM generation for motor or LED control.
Architecturally, the PIC16LF1516 uses a 14-bit instruction word with single-cycle execution except for program branches, achieving throughput close to 200ns per instruction at 20MHz. The 28-UQFN (4x4 mm) package offers a compact footprint with an exposed pad that must be soldered for proper thermal dissipation. This combination makes it attractive for space-constrained IoT nodes, sensor hubs, and portable consumer products.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, IoT edge devices, low-power motor control, LED lighting controllers, and consumer appliances where extended battery life is critical. The combination of low-voltage operation and ultra-low sleep current enables multi-year coin-cell battery lifetimes in intermittent-duty designs.
When designing with the PIC16LF1516-E/MV, pay attention to the exposed thermal pad connection - it must be soldered to the board ground plane to meet thermal specifications. The internal oscillator accuracy of ±1% is suitable for UART communication but verify timing margins for higher baud rates. For applications requiring more memory or additional peripherals, the PIC16LF1517/1518/1519 in the same family offer 28K/32K Flash and additional UART/I2C channels.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the PIC16LF151x family, and practical design notes not consolidated in the Microchip datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1516-E/MV — 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 PIC16LF1516-E/MV (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash), ADC, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1517-E/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1518-E/MV
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1519-E/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1516-E/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1517-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.71 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1503-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1516-E/MV Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| Core Architecture | PIC® Enhanced Mid-Range (8-bit, 14-bit instruction word) |
| Family | PIC16F XLP |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 512 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 10-bit, multi-channel |
| CCP Modules | 2 |
| Serial Interfaces | SPI, MI2C, EUSART |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +125C (E suffix = Extended) |
| Package | 28-pin UQFN (4x4 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Lead-Free / RoHS Compliant (per Microchip MV package designation) |
PIC16LF1516-E/MV Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — PORTA digital I/O bit 5 |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — PORTA digital I/O bit 4 |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — PORTA digital I/O bit 3 |
| Pin 4 | RC5 — PORTC digital I/O bit 5 |
| Pin 5 | RC4 — PORTC digital I/O bit 4 |
| Pin 6 | RC3 — PORTC digital I/O bit 5 / SCL |
| Pin 7 | RC6 — PORTC digital I/O bit 6 / TX |
| Pin 8 | RC7 — PORTC digital I/O bit 7 / RX |
| Pin 9 | RC0 — PORTC digital I/O bit 0 |
| Pin 10 | RC1 — PORTC digital I/O bit 1 |
| Pin 11 | RC2 — PORTC digital I/O bit 2 |
| Pin 12 | RB7 — PORTB digital I/O bit 7 |
| Pin 13 | RB6 — PORTB digital I/O bit 6 / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 14 | RB5 — PORTB digital I/O bit 5 |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — PORTB digital I/O bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RB3 — PORTB digital I/O bit 3 |
| Pin 17 | RB2 — PORTB digital I/O bit 2 |
| Pin 18 | RB1 — PORTB digital I/O bit 1 |
| Pin 19 | RB0 — PORTB digital I/O bit 0 / INT |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 21 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 22 | RA7 — PORTA digital I/O bit 7 |
| Pin 23 | RA6 — PORTA digital I/O bit 6 |
| Pin 24 | RA0 — PORTA digital I/O bit 0 / AN0 |
| Pin 25 | RA1 — PORTA digital I/O bit 1 / AN1 |
| Pin 26 | RA2 — PORTA digital I/O bit 2 / AN2 |
| Pin 27 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset) input, active low |
| Pin 28 | EP — Exposed thermal pad - must be soldered to ground plane |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1516-E/MV is suitable for 8 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Low-Power LED Lighting Controllers, Industrial Sensor Hubs, Consumer Appliance Control Boards, Portable Medical Monitoring Devices, Remote Control and Wireless HIDs, Automotive Body Electronics, Smart Home Sensor Hubs.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF1516-E/MV is ideally suited for IoT sensor nodes operating from coin-cell or single Li-ion batteries, thanks to its 1.8V-3.6V operating range and nanoWatt XLP sleep currents below 1uA. The 14KB Flash accommodates small sensor-processing algorithms and intermittent wireless protocol stacks, while the 10-bit ADC interfaces with temperature, humidity, or motion sensors at up to 10 channels. With the LF variant drawing only a fraction of the active current of the F variant, battery life can extend to multiple years in intermittent-duty designs that wake every few minutes to take a measurement.
Recommended
Low-Power LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC16LF1516-E/MV's two CCP modules and 20MHz CPU make it well-suited for driving LED lighting strings and dimming controllers in portable or solar-powered applications. The 1.8V minimum supply enables direct operation from a single Li-ion or 2x AA cells without a boost converter, and the 10-bit ADC can read ambient light sensors for automatic brightness adjustment. The 28-UQFN package fits within miniature lamp housings, while XLP sleep currents ensure the controller does not drain the battery when the lights are off.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hubs
Industrial sensor hubs benefit from the PIC16LF1516-E/MV's robust -40C to +125C extended temperature range (E suffix), SPI for high-speed sensor interfaces, and EUSART for RS-485/RS-232 connectivity to factory networks. The 14KB Flash stores configuration and calibration data, while the 512B RAM buffers incoming sensor samples. With 1.8V-3.6V operation, the MCU can be powered directly from industrial 3.3V rails without level shifting, simplifying PCB design and reducing BOM cost in factory automation systems.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Boards
Consumer appliances such as coffee makers, blenders, and small kitchen tools use the PIC16LF1516-E/MV for low-cost motor control via the two CCP PWM outputs and timer-based sequencing logic. The 14KB Flash holds small user-interface state machines and timing profiles, while the EUSART connects to user displays or external Bluetooth modules. The compact 28-UQFN (4x4 mm) package enables integration into small enclosures, and the LF 1.8V operation allows direct battery operation in cordless appliances.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Devices
Portable medical monitoring devices such as pulse oximeters, blood-pressure cuffs, and wearable health patches use the PIC16LF1516-E/MV for its low-voltage 1.8V operation, low sleep current extending battery life, and reliable -40C to +125C temperature range for healthcare environments. The 10-bit ADC reads analog sensor signals from optical or pressure transducers, while the EUSART outputs to Bluetooth Low Energy modules for wireless data transfer to mobile apps. Its small 28-UQFN footprint fits within disposable patch form factors.
Recommended
Remote Control and Wireless HIDs
Remote controls for televisions, smart-home devices, and wireless human interface devices (HIDs) use the PIC16LF1516-E/MV for its sub-microamp sleep current that allows multi-year coin-cell operation and its EUSART for IR or low-volume RF communication. The 14KB Flash stores device pairing codes and key-scan logic, while the 10-bit ADC can read battery voltage to transmit low-battery warnings. With the LF variant drawing minimal active current, designers can extend battery replacement cycles to match product lifecycles.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified at the LF grade, the PIC16LF1516-E/MV's extended -40C to +125C temperature range and EUSART + SPI peripherals make it suitable for non-safety automotive body applications such as interior lighting controllers, seat-control modules, and accessory interfaces. The 1.8V-3.6V supply aligns with 3.3V automotive rails, and the 28-UQFN package's small footprint eases integration into space-constrained body controllers. For AEC-Q100-qualified designs, Microchip offers PIC16F variants with automotive qualification.
Recommended
Smart Home Sensor Hubs
Smart-home sensor hubs use the PIC16LF1516-E/MV as a low-cost local processor to aggregate data from door/window sensors, motion detectors, and environmental monitors before forwarding via Wi-Fi/BLE modules. The 14KB Flash stores device-specific firmware, the 10-bit ADC reads analog sensors, and the EUSART/SPI interfaces connect to wireless modules. With LF 1.8V operation and XLP sleep currents, the hub itself can be battery-powered for flexible placement without requiring mains wiring.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1516-E/MV — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1517-E/MV | PIC16LF1518-E/MV | PIC16LF1519-E/MV | PIC16F1516-E/MV | PIC16LF1517-I/MV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-UQFN (4x4 mm) | 28-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same | 28-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same | 28-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same | 28-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same | 28-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Flash | 14 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 32 KB | 14 KB | 28 KB |
| Data RAM | 512 B | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1.5 KB | 512 B | 1 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8V - 3.6V | 1.8V - 3.6V | 1.8V - 3.6V | 1.8V - 3.6V | 2.3V - 5.5V | 1.8V - 3.6V |
| Max CPU Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| ADC | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- 1.8V minimum supply voltage for single-cell Li-ion operation (vs PIC16F1516-E/MV (2.3V minimum))
- Lower active and sleep current consumption (vs PIC16F1516-E/MV (F variant))
- Extended -40C to +125C operating temperature range (vs PIC16LF1517-I/MV (-40C to +85C Industrial))
- Memory upgrade path within same footprint (vs PIC16LF1503-I/MV (8KB Flash variant))
Design Notes
The 28-UQFN package has an exposed thermal pad (EP, pin 28) that MUST be soldered to the PCB ground plane for proper thermal dissipation and electrical grounding. Failing to solder the EP can cause the device to exceed thermal limits and exhibit erratic behavior. Use an array of thermal vias (typically 0.3mm drill, 0.6mm pad, 1.0mm pitch) directly under the EP to conduct heat to inner ground planes, per Microchip AN2465 layout recommendations.
Place a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 20) with traces less than 5mm long. Add a bulk 1uF-10uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor on the same supply rail nearby for transient suppression during ADC conversions and CCP PWM switching events. The PIC16LF1516-E/MV draws brief current spikes during peripheral activation, and insufficient decoupling can cause VDD droop that triggers spurious brown-out resets.
Do not apply voltages above 3.6V to VDD - the LF variant will be damaged. If your design requires 5V operation, choose the PIC16F1516-E/MV (2.3V-5.5V variant) instead, which has identical firmware compatibility but accepts higher supply voltages. Also note that the LF internal oscillator accuracy is typically ±2% across temperature, which may require baud-rate trim register adjustment for high-speed UART communication above 57600 baud at extreme temperatures.
For EUSART communication over cables or long traces, add series termination resistors (typically 100 ohms) on TX and RX lines to dampen reflections. The PIC16LF1516's outputs have edge rates around 3-5 ns; without termination, ringing on cables longer than ~10cm can cause data corruption. For SPI communication to sensors, keep clock speeds at or below 4 MHz if the traces are not impedance-controlled.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip MV package designation. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive safety applications, choose a PIC16F AEC-Q100 variant. Halogen-free status not specified in the verified data.
