PIC16LF1526T-I/MR - 8-bit MCU, 14KB Flash, 64-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1526T-I/MR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.92 | $1.92 |
| 10 | $1.78 | $17.80 |
| 100 | $1.65 | $165.00 |
| 500 | $1.52 | $760.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.41 | $1,410.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.3 | $3,900.00 |
PIC16LF1526T-I/MR Overview
What is a PIC16F/LF1526 microcontroller? It is a member of Microchip's enhanced mid-range PIC16 family - a Harvard-architecture 8-bit RISC MCU that integrates Flash program memory, data EEPROM, SRAM, and a rich peripheral set onto a single die. These parts target cost-sensitive embedded designs that need deterministic interrupt response, low sleep current (XLP nanoWatt technology), and wide peripheral integration without the cost or complexity of a 32-bit MCU.
Key features include 10-bit ADC, multiple timers (Timer0/1/2), EUSART, MSSP (SPI/I2C), and up to 18 general-purpose I/O depending on package. The 'I' suffix denotes the industrial temperature grade of -40C to +85C, and 'MR' identifies the 64-pin VFQFN-EP package. With nanoWatt XLP sleep currents in the microamp range, this device is well-suited to always-on IoT endpoints, sensor nodes, and remote controls.
Architecturally, the device uses an 8-bit data path with 14-bit instruction words, providing a compact code footprint. The 14 KB Flash supports roughly 7,000 single-word instructions - enough for typical sensor drivers, simple protocol stacks, and state-machine logic. Peripherals are mapped via Microchip's Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) on larger-pin-count variants, simplifying PCB routing in space-constrained designs.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, low-power remote controls, battery-powered industrial sensors, consumer appliances, and educational/development platforms. Its combination of small Flash, ample I/O, and wide operating voltage makes it attractive for cost-sensitive always-on designs.
Design consideration: when migrating between MR and SO/SS packages, verify peripheral-to-pin mappings because PPS and pinout differ across packages. Always place a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor close to VDD and use the exposed pad for thermal dissipation.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet - giving procurement and design engineers a single decision-ready source.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1526T-I/MR — 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 PIC16LF1526T-I/MR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in CPU Speed, Core Architecture, Mounting Type, Operating Temperature, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1526-E/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.06 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1526T-I/MR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1526T-I/MR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC enhanced mid-range |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB |
| Data RAM | 768 bytes |
| CPU Speed | 20 MHz maximum |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF variant) |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| I/O Ports | 18 (package-dependent) |
| Package | 64-pin VFQFN exposed pad (MR) |
| Package Size | 4 x 4 mm, 0.90 mm height |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, 'I') |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | MSL3 (typical for VFQFN-EP) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes, lead-free per JEDEC |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel ('T' suffix) |
| ROM Type | Flash |
| Communication Peripherals | EUSART, MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2 |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
PIC16LF1526T-I/MR Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — General-purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — General-purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — General-purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — General-purpose I/O (digital only) |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 6 | RA5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | RA8 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 11 | RA9 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 12 | RA10 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 13 | RA11 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 14 | RA12 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 15 | RA13 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 16 | RA14 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 19 | RB0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 20 | RB1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 21 | RB2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 22 | RB3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 23 | RB4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 24 | RB5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 25 | RB6 — ICSPCLK / general-purpose I/O |
| Pin 26 | RB7 — ICSPDAT / general-purpose I/O |
| Pin 27 | RB8 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 28 | RB9 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 29 | RB10 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 30 | RB11 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 31 | RB12 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 32 | RB13 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 33 | RB14 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 34 | RB15 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 35 | RC0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 36 | RC1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 37 | RC2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 38 | RC3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 39 | RC4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 40 | RC5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 41 | RC6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 42 | RC7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 43 | RC8 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 44 | RC9 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 45 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 46 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 47 | RD0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 48 | RD1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 49 | RD2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 50 | RD3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 51 | RD4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 52 | RD5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 53 | RD6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 54 | RD7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 55 | RE0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 56 | RE1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 57 | RE2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 58 | RE3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 59 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 60 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 61 | RF0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 62 | RF1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 63 | RF2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 64 | RF3 — General-purpose I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1526T-I/MR is suitable for 6 applications: IoT Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Low-Power Remote Control, Industrial Sensor and Metering Front-End, Consumer Appliance Control Board, Educational and Development Board Platform, Automotive Aftermarket Accessory Controller.
IoT Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC16LF1526T-I/MR fits IoT sensor nodes where its 1.8V-3.6V LF range allows direct connection to a single lithium coin cell or two AA cells, and its nanoWatt XLP technology drops sleep current into the microamp range for multi-year battery life. Its 14 KB Flash (8K x 14 instructions) comfortably holds a simple wireless protocol driver and application logic, while the on-chip 10-bit ADC reads analog sensors without external components. At 20 MHz the core handles periodic sensor sampling, ADC conversion, and packet transmission with deterministic timing. Compared with a 32-bit MCU, the 8-bit PIC16 saves BOM cost on always-on endpoints where processing headroom is not the bottleneck.
Recommended
Low-Power Remote Control
The PIC16LF1526T-I/MR is well suited to handheld remote controls because its nanoWatt XLP sleep current extends coin-cell life, and its 20 MHz core can wake quickly to drive IR or RF transmitters, scan key matrices, and run debounce/proto firmware. The 64-VFQFN 4x4 mm package keeps the PCB footprint minimal - a key advantage when the remote must fit behind a thin keypad. The 14 KB Flash holds custom button mappings and protocol sequences, while the 10-bit ADC can read battery voltage for low-battery warning indicators. Industrial -40C to +85C grade supports garage doors, gate openers, and outdoor sensor interfaces where consumer-grade parts would fail.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor and Metering Front-End
The PIC16LF1526T-I/MR serves as an analog front-end controller in industrial metering thanks to its 10-bit ADC, 64-pin VFQFN-EP package (with excellent thermal dissipation via the exposed pad), and industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade. The 18+ I/O can drive indicator LEDs, scan rotary encoder inputs, and interface to RS-485 or 4-20 mA loops via the EUSART. With 14 KB Flash the firmware can implement calibration tables and Modbus-style register maps for utility or process instrumentation. Unlike higher-pin-count ARM Cortex-M0 parts, the PIC16F1526 family is priced for sub-$2 BOM in high-volume industrial deployments.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Board
In white-goods and small appliances the PIC16LF1526T-I/MR drives relay logic, reads temperature sensors (NTC or analog thermocouple front ends), drives triac-controlled heater elements, and runs user-interface keypads or LED indicators. The 1.8V-3.6V supply range supports direct 3.3V designs while remaining tolerant of rectified 5V rails if needed, and the 64-VFQFN exposed pad handles the thermal envelope of always-on appliance control. Industrial temperature grade ensures reliability behind oven doors, dishwasher panels, and washing-machine controllers where ambient can exceed 70C. Compared with discrete logic, the integrated Flash and peripherals shorten development time and reduce PCB area.
Recommended
Educational and Development Board Platform
The PIC16LF1526T-I/MR is a strong fit for university embedded courses and hobbyist dev boards because the PIC16 architecture has the deepest ecosystem of textbooks, compilers (XC8), and programmer/debugger tools (PICkit, ICD) at a sub-$2 entry price. Its 14 KB Flash fits the canonical curriculum labs (GPIO, timers, ADC, UART, I2C, SPI), and the 64-VFQFN package exposes enough pins for breadboard-friendly breakouts. The 20 MHz core is fast enough for RTOS-style demos and small protocol stacks, while industrial temperature grading lets students prototype for outdoor or automotive projects. Hobbyists migrating from PIC16F84A can drop in PIC16F/LF1526 with minimal code rework.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Accessory Controller
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the PIC16LF1526T-I/MR is used in non-safety automotive aftermarket accessories where industrial -40C to +85C and 1.8V-3.6V operation meet cabin and under-hood-at-rest thermal profiles. Applications include LED accent controllers, aftermarket alarm tone generators, trailer light interfaces, and CAN-LIN gateway accessories. The 14 KB Flash stores custom lighting sequences or protocol translations, the 10-bit ADC reads battery voltage for cutoff protection, and the EUSART interfaces to OBD-II adapters. For safety-critical automotive design, the AEC-Q100 qualified dsPIC33CK family is recommended instead.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1526T-I/MR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1526-E/MR | PIC16F1526T-I/MR | PIC16LF1519-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 64-pin VFQFN exposed pad (MR), 4x4 mm | 64-pin VFQFN exposed pad (MR) - same | 64-pin VFQFN exposed pad (MR) - same | 40-pin PDIP (P) - different |
| Flash Memory | 14 KB (8K x 14) | 14 KB - same | 14 KB - same | 14 KB - same |
| RAM | 768 bytes | 768 bytes - same | 768 bytes - same | 768 bytes - same |
| CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V - same | 1.8 V to 5.5 V (F - wider) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V - same |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (I grade) | -40 C to +125 C (E grade - wider) | -40 C to +85 C - same | -40 C to +85 C - same |
| ADC | 10-bit | 10-bit - same | 10-bit - same | 10-bit - same |
| I/O Count | 18 effective (package-dependent) | 18 effective - same | 18 effective - same | 36 effective (40-pin) |
Key Differentiators
- Same 64-VFQFN-EP footprint as the wider-voltage PIC16F1526T-I/MR (vs PIC16F1526T-I/MR)
- Industrial -40C to +85C grade vs extended -40C to +125C (vs PIC16LF1526-E/MR)
- 14 KB Flash vs 8 KB on lower-pin PIC16LF1518 sibling (vs PIC16LF1518-I/ML)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of every VDD pin and a single 10uF bulk capacitor near the VFQFN exposed pad. The PIC16LF1526T-I/MR has multiple VDD/VSS pairs (pins 17/18, 45/46, 59/60) that must all be decoupled - omitting any one pair can cause ADC reference noise or core logic resets under load transients. The exposed pad (EP) on pin 65 must be soldered to a ground copper pour for thermal dissipation and signal return.
The 64-VFQFN-EP package relies on its exposed pad for thermal dissipation. Estimate: at 20 MHz active current ~3 mA and 3.3V, power dissipation is ~10 mW - well within thermal limits. Sleep current drops into the nanoWatt XLP range (<1 uA typical) for battery applications. Ensure the PCB land pattern follows the Microchip recommended footprint with at least 6 thermal vias stitching the EP to an internal ground plane; without vias, junction-to-ambient thermal resistance can double.
Route the ICSP pins (RB6/ICSPCLK, RB7/ICSPDAT) directly to a 2x3 or 1x6 header with no series components in the path - in-circuit serial programming requires direct access to these pins. Keep analog signals (RA0-RA5) short and away from digital switching traces to minimize ADC noise; place the AVdd filter capacitor close to the analog VDD pin if your variant has one. Use Microchip's PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) feature on 28+ pin variants to remap peripherals and ease PCB routing.
Do not exceed absolute maximum VDD of 4.0V on the LF variant - the non-LF PIC16F1526 (5.5V max) is required for 5V rails. Configure the Configuration Words (CONFIG1/2) correctly for oscillator selection (HS vs INTOSC) and watchdog timer; incorrect configuration words can brick the part or cause spurious resets. Always read the errata document for the specific silicon revision before locking the design - early PIC16F1526 revisions had ADC and PPS revisions that affected firmware behavior.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose dsPIC33CK family for AEC-Q100 automotive designs.
