PIC16LF1516T-I/MV - 8-bit 20MHz 14KB Flash MCU 28-UQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1516T-I/MV ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.85 | $1.85 |
| 10 | $1.65 | $16.50 |
| 100 | $1.42 | $142.00 |
| 500 | $1.18 | $590.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.96 | $960.00 |
PIC16LF1516T-I/MV Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), and programmable I/O peripherals. The PIC16 family uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit RISC core with 49 instructions and 16 hardware stack levels, optimized for deterministic real-time control in cost-sensitive embedded designs. The 'LF' prefix designates the wide-voltage low-power process variant, sitting in the PIC16 microcontroller taxonomy (PIC16 -> 8-bit PIC -> PIC MCU family -> Microcontroller -> Embedded IC).
Key features of the PIC16LF1516T-I/MV include 18 I/O ports, two MSSP peripherals supporting I2C and SPI, enhanced PWM modules, 10-bit ADC with internal voltage reference, and nanoWatt XLP sleep current below 50 nA typical. The 28-UQFN package measures only 4x4 mm with 0.9 mm height, suiting space-constrained wearables, IoT sensors, and portable consumer products.
The device integrates an internal 16 MHz high-precision oscillator, eliminating external crystals in many designs and reducing BOM cost. Enhanced peripherals include multiple 10-bit PWM channels, a configurable logic cell (CLC), and numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) modules. The LF process variant guarantees full operation across 1.8V-3.6V while consuming minimal active current (~1.8 mA at 4 MHz).
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, low-cost home automation controllers, portable health monitors, LED lighting controllers, and consumer handheld devices. Industrial uses span remote controls, simple motor control, and human-machine interface (HMI) front ends requiring reliable deterministic timing.
Designers should review the PIC16(L)F1516/1517/1518/1519 family datasheet for pinout variants and peripheral sharing. The 28-UQFN package requires careful PCB layout for the exposed thermal pad, and MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler is the recommended toolchain. Migration notes: the PIC16LF1513 (28-pin SSOP) and PIC16LF1512 (28-pin SOIC) are alternate family members with differing Flash sizes; verify pinout before PCB reuse.
This page consolidates distributor pricing as of 2026-09-23, pin-compatible same-family Microchip drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1516T-I/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 PIC16LF1516T-I/MV (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, I/O Pins, Low-Power Technology, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1516T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1516-I/MV
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1516T-I/MVVAO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1516T-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1516-E/MV
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.22 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1517T-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1516T-I/MV Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC16 (L)F1516/1517/1518/1519 |
| Core | Enhanced Mid-Range 8-bit RISC |
| Instruction Set | 49 instructions, 16 stack levels |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 512 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| Communication | MSSP (I2C/SPI), EUSART |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz (factory calibrated) |
| Package | 28-UQFN (4x4 mm, 0.9 mm height) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes |
| Programming | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
PIC16LF1516T-I/MV Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — I/O port A bit 5 / ICSP programming clock (ICSPCLK) |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — I/O port A bit 4 |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — I/O port A bit 3 / MCLR (reset, active low) |
| Pin 4 | RC5 — I/O port C bit 5 |
| Pin 5 | RC4 — I/O port C bit 4 |
| Pin 6 | RC3 — I/O port C bit 3 / SCL (I2C clock) |
| Pin 7 | RC2 — I/O port C bit 2 |
| Pin 8 | RC1 — I/O port C bit 1 / SDA (I2C data) |
| Pin 9 | RC0 — I/O port C bit 0 |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | RB7 — I/O port B bit 7 / ICSP programming data (ICSPDAT) |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — I/O port B bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | RB5 — I/O port B bit 5 / AN11 |
| Pin 14 | RB4 — I/O port B bit 4 / AN10 |
| Pin 15 | RB3 — I/O port B bit 3 / AN9 |
| Pin 16 | RB2 — I/O port B bit 2 / AN8 |
| Pin 17 | RB1 — I/O port B bit 1 / AN7 / PGM |
| Pin 18 | RB0 — I/O port B bit 0 / AN12 |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 20 | RA2 — I/O port A bit 2 |
| Pin 21 | RA1 — I/O port A bit 1 / AN1 |
| Pin 22 | RA0 — I/O port A bit 0 / AN0 |
| Pin 23 | RC7 — I/O port C bit 7 |
| Pin 24 | RC6 — I/O port C bit 6 |
| Pin 25 | RB7 — [DATA_NEEDED: pin 25 confirmation per datasheet QFN layout] |
| Pin 26 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 27 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 28 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1516T-I/MV is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Low-Cost Home Automation Controllers, Portable Health and Fitness Monitors, LED Lighting and Dimming Controllers, Consumer Handheld Devices and Remote Controls, Industrial Remote Control and HMI Front Ends, Smart Agriculture and Environmental Sensing.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF1516T-I/MV's nanoWatt XLP technology delivers sub-50 nA sleep current and 1.8V-3.6V operation, suiting coin-cell powered wireless sensor nodes. The 14 KB Flash accommodates simple Sub-GHz or BLE stack slices plus sensor drivers, while the 18 I/O pins interface multiple analog/digital sensors. Placed on a sensor PCB with a 3V CR2032 battery, the MCU sleeps between sensor reads, waking via WDT or interrupt to transmit data. Trade-off: limited RAM (512B) constrains buffer-heavy designs; consider PIC16LF1517 for larger protocol stacks.
Recommended
Low-Cost Home Automation Controllers
The PIC16LF1516T-I/MV fits low-cost home automation controllers (Zigbee/BLE bridges, smart switches, occupancy sensors) by balancing 20 MHz CPU performance, 14 KB Flash for application code, and integrated MSSP I2C/SPI peripherals for sensor and radio interfacing. Placed on a wall-switch PCB, it runs the user interface and protocol logic at low BOM cost. The 28-UQFN 4x4 mm footprint fits behind-switch mounting envelopes, and 1.8V operation supports 2xAA battery backup.
Recommended
Portable Health and Fitness Monitors
The PIC16LF1516T-I/MV is well-matched for portable health monitors (heart rate straps, pulse oximeters, fitness bands) thanks to 1.8V-3.6V coin-cell operation, nanoWatt XLP sleep current below 50 nA, and 10-bit ADC for analog sensor conditioning. Placed on a wearable PCB, the MCU sleeps between measurements, waking periodically to sample and process signals. The 4x4 mm UQFN fits wristband form factors, while 14 KB Flash holds basic algorithms; for ECG-class analysis, consider dsPIC33 family migration.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Dimming Controllers
The PIC16LF1516T-I/MV's 10-bit PWM modules and configurable logic cell (CLC) make it suitable for LED lighting and dimming controllers driving RGB strips or architectural fixtures. With 18 I/O pins, multiple PWM channels can directly drive MOSFET gates or constant-current LED drivers. Placed between a 24V DC bus and MOSFET array, the MCU handles DMX or 0-10V dimming protocols. The 20 MHz CPU executes smooth fade algorithms without flicker.
Recommended
Consumer Handheld Devices and Remote Controls
Consumer handheld devices like universal remote controls, presentation clickers, and small toys benefit from the PIC16LF1516T-I/MV's low BOM cost, 1.8V operation, and small 28-UQFN footprint. The 14 KB Flash fits NEC/RC5/RC6 IR protocol libraries plus user interface logic. With 18 I/O pins, the MCU can drive IR LEDs, scan keypads, and interface BLE add-on modules via UART/SPI. The nanoWatt XLP idle current extends AAA battery life to over a year.
Recommended
Industrial Remote Control and HMI Front Ends
Industrial remote controls, conveyor HMI panels, and machine-status displays benefit from the PIC16LF1516T-I/MV's deterministic 8-bit core, 10-bit ADC, and enhanced PWM. Placed in a hand-held industrial enclosure, it interfaces keypads, status LEDs, and 4-20 mA loop sensors via the 10-bit ADC. The 28-UQFN package withstands industrial vibration environments when properly PCB-mounted, and the -40C to +85C industrial temperature range covers factory floor conditions.
Recommended
Smart Agriculture and Environmental Sensing
The PIC16LF1516T-I/MV suits smart agriculture nodes (soil moisture, weather stations, irrigation controllers) running from solar-charged Li-Ion batteries. Its 1.8V-3.6V range accommodates Li-Ion discharge curves, while nanoWatt XLP keeps quiescent draw under 50 nA for long sleep intervals between sensor reads. With 14 KB Flash, the MCU handles averaging filters and LoRaWAN/Sub-GHz protocol stacks. The 10-bit ADC reads analog soil and weather sensors directly.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1516T-I/MV — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1516T-I/ML | PIC16LF1516-I/MV | PIC16F1516T-I/MV | PIC16LF1517T-I/MV | PIC16LF1516-E/MV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm - same die, larger thermal pad | 28-UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm - identical | 28-UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm - identical | 28-UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm - identical | 28-UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm - identical |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB |
| Data RAM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 1 KB | 512 B |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8V to 3.6V (LF) | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 2.3V to 5.5V (F variant) | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
| I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| Shipping Format | Tape & Reel (T suffix) | Tape & Reel | Tray (non-T) | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tray (non-T) |
Key Differentiators
- Wider VDD range than F variant (vs PIC16F1516T-I/MV)
- Higher code density than 8 KB siblings (vs PIC16LF1513-I/SS)
- Lower BOM cost than larger-memory siblings (vs PIC16LF1517T-I/MV)
- Same-package migration path (vs PIC16LF1516T-I/ML)
Design Notes
The 28-UQFN (MV) package has an exposed thermal pad (EP) on pin 29 that MUST be soldered to a PCB ground land for mechanical reliability, thermal dissipation, and ground reference. Recommended land pattern: 4x4 mm copper pad with 0.5 mm pitch thermal vias to the inner ground plane. Without proper EP soldering, the device may overheat at high CPU loads or exhibit ground-bounce noise on ADC conversions.
Decouple VDD with at least one 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin, plus a bulk 1-10 uF capacitor for transient load handling. For nanoWatt XLP operation, ensure the MCLR pin (RA3) is either pulled high via 10 kohm or left configured as input with the internal weak pull-up enabled; floating MCLR causes spurious resets. The ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK pins (RB7/RA5) require isolation resistors if shared with application circuitry during in-circuit programming.
Do not assume the LF variant operates above 3.6V; the PIC16F1516T-I/MV (F variant) is required for 5V systems. When migrating firmware from PIC16LF1513 (8 KB Flash) or PIC16LF1512 (4 KB Flash), verify that code space fits within 14 KB and that vector addresses match. Configuration bits (CONFIG1/CONFIG2) control oscillator, watchdog, code protection, and brown-out voltage - mismatched configurations between variants can cause unexpected resets or programming failures.
Estimated: at 20 MHz CPU speed, VDD=3.3V, and all peripherals active, the PIC16LF1516T-I/MV consumes approximately 4.5 mA (per family datasheet DC characteristics). Power dissipation is approximately 15 mW, well within the UQFN package's thermal limits when the EP is properly soldered. For industrial -40C to +85C operation, derate by 1 mW per 10C above 70C ambient to ensure junction temperature stays below 100C.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free UQFN package. Halogen-free per Microchip material declarations. For AEC-Q100 automotive qualification, consider PIC16LF1516T-I/MVVAO factory-traceable variant or migrate to PIC16F1516 automotive-grade family members.
