PIC16LF1516T-I/SO - 8-bit 20MHz XLP MCU 14KB Flash SOIC-28
MPN: PIC16LF1516T-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.18 | $21.80 |
| 100 | $1.92 | $192.00 |
| 500 | $1.71 | $855.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.53 | $1,530.00 |
PIC16LF1516T-I/SO Overview
A PIC16 microcontroller is an 8-bit RISC-based CMOS MCU belonging to Microchip's PIC16F1 enhanced mid-range family. It executes most instructions in a single 200 ns cycle, has 16-level hardware stack, and combines analog, digital, and communication peripherals to drive embedded applications in industrial, consumer, and IoT products. The "LF" sub-family operates down to 1.8 V, making it suitable for low-voltage and battery-powered designs.
Key features include eXtreme Low Power (XLP) sleep currents as low as 20 nA typical (per the PIC16(L)F1516/7/8/9 datasheet), two Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) modules, an Enhanced Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (EUSART), an SPI interface, a Master I2C (MI2C) interface, 18 I/O pins, an internal 16 MHz oscillator, and an 18-channel 10-bit ADC. Power supply range spans 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF variant).
Architecturally, the device integrates the enhanced mid-range core with 49 instructions, hardware multiplier, brown-out reset, low-power brown-out reset (LPBOR), power-on reset, and watchdog timer. Code protection and self-programmability in flash enable field firmware upgrades.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, IoT edge devices, consumer appliance controls, lighting ballasts, and industrial measurement instruments. Designers pick this part when low sleep current, multiple communication interfaces, and ample flash for application code are required.
When designing with this device, ensure that the VDD decoupling is placed within 1 cm of the MCU, the MCLR pin is pulled up correctly, and unused I/O pins are configured as outputs to minimize leakage. Programming and debugging are performed through MPLAB ICD or Snap tools.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, giving engineers a single source for selection, comparison, and BOM consolidation.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1516T-I/SO — 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/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, I/O Pins, Core Architecture, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1516-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1516T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1516-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1516T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1516-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1512T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1516T-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 Enhanced Mid-Range 8-bit RISC |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns (single-cycle most instructions) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 512 bytes |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 17 channels |
| CCP/ECCP Modules | 2x CCP |
| Communication Interfaces | 1x EUSART, 1x SPI, 1x MI2C |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz (software selectable) |
| XLP Sleep Current (typical) | 20 nA |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| Brown-out Reset | Yes (BOR + LPBOR) |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (300 mil) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1516T-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/CLC1IN0/ICDDAT — Digital I/O / Analog input 0 / CLC input / ICD Data |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/CLC1IN1/ICSPCLK — Digital I/O / Analog input 1 / CLC input / ICD Clock |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O / Analog input 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+/MCLR — Digital I/O / Analog input 3 / Vref+ / Master Clear (Reset, active low) |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4/CPS — Digital I/O / Analog input 4 / Capacitive Sense input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5/CPS — Digital I/O / Analog input 5 / Capacitive Sense input |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — Digital I/O / Oscillator crystal output / Clock output |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — Digital I/O / Oscillator crystal input / External clock input |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 11 | RB4/AN10 — Digital I/O / Analog input 10 |
| Pin 12 | RB5/AN11 — Digital I/O / Analog input 11 |
| Pin 13 | RB6/ICSPCLK/ICDCLK — Digital I/O / ICD Clock (programming/debug) |
| Pin 14 | RB7/ICDDAT/ICDDO — Digital I/O / ICD Data |
| Pin 15 | RC0/SOSCO — Digital I/O / Secondary oscillator output (Timer1) |
| Pin 16 | RC1/SOSCI — Digital I/O / Secondary oscillator input (Timer1) |
| Pin 17 | RC2/AN12 — Digital I/O / Analog input 12 |
| Pin 18 | RC3/AN13 — Digital I/O / Analog input 13 |
| Pin 19 | RC4/AN14 — Digital I/O / Analog input 14 |
| Pin 20 | RC5/AN15 — Digital I/O / Analog input 15 |
| Pin 21 | RC6/AN16/TX/CK — Digital I/O / Analog input 16 / EUSART TX / EUSART CK |
| Pin 22 | RC7/AN17/RX/DT — Digital I/O / Analog input 17 / EUSART RX / EUSART DT |
| Pin 23 | RB0/AN6 — Digital I/O / Analog input 6 |
| Pin 24 | RB1/AN7 — Digital I/O / Analog input 7 |
| Pin 25 | RB2/AN8 — Digital I/O / Analog input 8 |
| Pin 26 | RB3/AN9 — Digital I/O / Analog input 9 |
| Pin 27 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 (alt pin mapping on extended devices) |
| Pin 28 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 (alt pin mapping on extended devices) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1516T-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Consumer Appliance Control Board, LED Lighting Ballast Controller, Industrial Measurement Instrument, Low-Power Wireless Remote Control, HVAC Thermostat and Zone Controller.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF1516T-I/SO fits IoT sensor nodes because its 1.8-3.6 V VDD range directly supports single-cell Li-ion (3.0-4.2 V discharged to 2.5 V) and 2x AA alkaline chemistries without a boost converter, eliminating the efficiency loss of an extra stage. Its XLP technology delivers 20 nA typical sleep current, which a duty-cycled sensor node running 1 ms wake every 5 s translates into average current below 1 uA and battery life exceeding 5 years on 2x AA. The 14 KB flash accommodates small protocol stacks such as Modbus RTU, while the 17-channel 10-bit ADC samples multiple analog sensors (temperature, light, voltage) on a single chip. Placed on a 28-SOIC carrier, the MCU drives the analog front-end directly without external op-amps, reducing BOM cost and PCB area for compact wireless nodes.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Board
For consumer appliance controls (coffee makers, blenders, washing machine front panels), the PIC16LF1516T-I/SO provides 18 I/O pins sufficient for keypad scanning, relay drivers, LED indicators, and triac interfaces. Its 20 MHz enhanced mid-range core executes 200 ns single-cycle instructions, enabling precise timing of motor control loops and debounced user input without external timers. The two CCP modules generate PWM for variable-speed drives or dimming, while the 10-bit ADC reads NTC thermistors for safety-critical temperature monitoring. Operating from 3.3 V or 5 V rails, the device integrates brown-out reset and watchdog timer for IEC 60730 Class B compliance. The 28-SOIC package survives wave-solder and hand-repair flows typical of appliance manufacturing, lowering assembly cost.
Recommended
LED Lighting Ballast Controller
In LED lighting ballasts, the PIC16LF1516T-I/SO provides two CCP modules capable of generating complementary PWM outputs for buck or boost converter topologies driving high-brightness LED strings. The EUSART interface accepts DMX-512 or DALI commands for professional lighting control, while the 10-bit ADC monitors LED current via a sense amplifier and regulates constant-current output to within ±2%. With 14 KB flash, the MCU can store custom dimming curves, color-temperature compensation tables, and fault logging. Operating from 1.8-3.6 V (after aux supply), the LF variant handles low standby power requirements (less than 0.5 W) of modern ENERGY STAR luminaires. The 28-SOIC package provides thermal headroom and easy rework.
Recommended
Industrial Measurement Instrument
Industrial measurement instruments (handheld multimeters, process calibrators, panel meters) leverage the PIC16LF1516T-I/SO for its 17-channel 10-bit ADC, which reads multiple sensor types (voltage, current, RTD, thermocouple) through external signal conditioning. The 14 KB flash holds calibration constants, linearization tables, and unit-conversion routines while 512 B RAM buffers measurement data. The EUSART connects to RS-485 transceivers for Modbus RTU communication with PLCs and SCADA systems, while the SPI bus drives LCD displays or external ADCs. With -40C to +85C industrial temperature range and BOR/LPBOR protection, the MCU survives factory-floor electrical noise and brown-out events. The 28-SOIC footprint is a proven industrial standard for through-hole-style PCB assembly.
Recommended
Low-Power Wireless Remote Control
Low-power wireless remote controls (garage door openers, key fobs, smart home switches) use the PIC16LF1516T-I/SO because its XLP sleep current of 20 nA typical extends coin-cell battery life to 3-5 years. The 14 KB flash stores pairing codes and button-press patterns; the 18 I/O pins connect to a matrix keypad or capacitive touch electrodes. The integrated MI2C bus talks to RF transceivers like the Microchip MRF89XA or sub-GHz modules; the EUSART supports 315/433/868/915 MHz ISM bands. Operating from a single CR2032 (3 V nominal, 2.0 V discharged), the LF variant operates down to 1.8 V, retaining usable functionality for the entire battery discharge curve. The 28-SOIC package fits standard key-fob PCB footprints.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat and Zone Controller
HVAC thermostats and zone controllers benefit from the PIC16LF1516T-I/SO's 17-channel ADC for reading multiple temperature sensors (NTC 10K, thermistor arrays), humidity sensors, and occupancy detectors in a single chip. The two CCP modules generate PWM outputs for modulating damper actuators and three-speed fan control, while the EUSART interfaces with HVAC bus standards or BACnet gateways. With 14 KB flash, the MCU stores scheduling logic, setpoint profiles, and adaptive control algorithms. The XLP technology keeps standby current below 30 nA, important for battery-backed thermostats that must survive power outages. Industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C) handles attic and outdoor installations, and the 28-SOIC package is widely accepted in HVAC OEM designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1516T-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1516-I/SO | PIC16LF1516T-I/ML | PIC16LF1516-E/SO | PIC16F1516T-I/SO | PIC16LF1512T-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOIC-28 | SOIC-28 - same | QFN-28 - same die, different footprint | SOIC-28 - same | SOIC-28 - same | SOIC-28 - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 8 KB |
| RAM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 256 B |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Max Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Carrier / Packaging | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel |
Key Differentiators
- 1.8 V minimum VDD operation (vs 2.3 V for F variant) (vs PIC16F1516T-I/SO)
- 20 nA XLP sleep current with peripheral retention (vs PIC16LF1512T-I/SO)
- 17-channel 10-bit ADC with internal voltage reference (vs PIC16LF1508-I/P)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 1 cm of the VDD pin (pin 10) and a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the same supply rail. The LF variant operates down to 1.8 V, so verify all peripheral sensors can also function at this minimum rail. For battery applications, add a 1 MOhm resistor from MCLR to VDD and a Schottky diode from MCLR to VDD to prevent reverse-current leakage that would drain a CR2032 cell over 5+ years.
The MCLR pin (pin 4) is shared with RA3 and AN3. If used as a digital I/O in the application, configure MCLR as the internal weak pull-up disable bit (MCLRE=0) in the configuration word. Forgetting this leaves the MCU in reset when the external MCLR capacitor holds the line low at power-up, causing an apparent startup failure. The two CCP modules must be assigned by PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) before they can drive PWM outputs; consult the datasheet for CCP1SEL and CCP2SEL register mappings.
Keep the oscillator traces (OSC1/OSC2 on pins 7/8 or RA6/RA7) as short as possible and route them over a continuous ground plane to minimize EMI. Place the crystal within 5 mm of the MCU and guard it with a ground ring. For ADC accuracy better than ±1 LSB, isolate the analog traces (AN0-AN17) from digital switching lines and add a small RC filter (100 ohm + 100 nF) at each analog input used. Route the VDD/VSS pairs together as a star topology if multiple ICs share the analog supply.
Estimated: at 20 MHz clock with all peripherals active and VDD = 3.3 V, the MCU draws approximately 3 mA, dissipating 10 mW. The 28-SOIC thermal resistance (theta_JA) is approximately 80 C/W, yielding a junction temperature rise of 0.8 C above ambient - well within industrial -40C to +85C limits. No heatsink is required. At sleep (XLP) mode, the current drops to 20 nA typical, making thermal management trivial.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product declaration. MSL Level 1 per IPC/JEDEC J-STD-020. AEC-Q100 not applicable (industrial grade only).
