PIC16LF1618T-I/SO - 8-bit 32MHz 7KB Flash XLP MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1618T-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.46 | $0.46 |
| 10 | $0.42 | $4.20 |
| 100 | $0.38 | $38.00 |
| 500 | $0.34 | $170.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.31 | $310.00 |
PIC16LF1618T-I/SO Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory, and programmable I/O peripherals. The PIC16 architecture is a popular 8-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) core widely used in embedded systems, sensor interfaces, and consumer products. The PIC16F family is a mid-range tier within Microchip's PIC portfolio, sitting between the baseline 10/12/16F families and the high-performance dsPIC/PIC24 families. The PIC16LF1618 specifically targets battery-powered applications where power consumption is critical.
Key features include an integrated 10-bit ADC with multiple channels, PWM modules, comparators, configurable logic cells, and a hardware peripheral pin select (PPS) system for flexible pin mapping. The 32 MHz internal oscillator supports instruction execution at 8 MHz (4 clock cycles per instruction), enabling efficient real-time control. The device also includes I2C, SPI, and UART serial interfaces for communication with sensors and peripheral ICs.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered remote controls, low-power wireless devices (BLE/Zigbee host MCUs), HVAC thermostat controls, and small home appliances. The wide operating voltage range (1.8V to 3.6V) and low sleep current make it suitable for energy-harvesting designs and products powered by coin-cell or Li-ion batteries.
When designing with this device, ensure that the MCLR pull-up, decoupling capacitors, and the ICSP programming pins are correctly placed on the PCB. Use the MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler for firmware development, and consider the Power-Saving modes (Sleep/Doze) to maximize battery life.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1618T-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 PIC16LF1618T-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Program Memory (Flash), ADC, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1618-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1579T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1507T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1618T-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16F (8-bit RISC) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 512 bytes |
| CPU Speed (Max) | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 10-bit, multiple channels |
| I/O Pins | Up to 18 (depends on package) |
| Package | 20-SOIC (SOIC-20, 7.50 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, "I") |
| Low-Power Family | XLP (eXtreme Low Power) |
| Communication Interfaces | I2C, SPI, UART (EUSART) |
| Timers/PWM | Multiple 8/16-bit timers with PWM |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life at <30 C / 85% RH) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1618T-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive power supply (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O pin / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR — Bidirectional I/O / Master Clear (reset) |
| Pin 5 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 6 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 7 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 8 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 9 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 10 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O pin / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 11 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O pin / ICSP_CLK |
| Pin 12 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 13 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 14 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 15 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 16 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 17 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O pin / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 19 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1618T-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, HVAC Thermostat Controller, Wireless Remote Control (RF Host), Smart Home Appliance Control Board, Battery-Powered Medical Wearable, Industrial Sensor Transmitter.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF1618T-I/SO is well-matched to battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its 1.8V-3.6V operating range supports direct connection to single-cell Li-ion or 2x CR2032 coin cells, and its XLP sleep modes drop quiescent current below 1 uA typical. The 32 MHz CPU handles sensor polling, data filtering, and BLE/Zigbee host interface code within the 7 KB Flash budget. The 512-byte RAM accommodates small packet buffers without external memory. The 10-bit ADC integrates sensor signal conditioning, eliminating an external amplifier. PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) allows flexible PCB layout without redesigning firmware when pin assignments change between board spins. The 20-SOIC package is hand-solderable for prototype builds and compatible with standard SMT lines for production. Estimated battery life with duty-cycled sensor reads: 1-3 years on 2x CR2032 cells depending on transmission frequency and active-mode duty cycle.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat Controller
The PIC16LF1618T-I/SO suits HVAC thermostat controllers because its 32 MHz CPU executes closed-loop PID temperature control algorithms in real time, and the multiple PWM channels drive triac-fired HVAC loads (fans, valves, compressors). The 10-bit ADC reads thermistor inputs with sufficient resolution for 0.5 C temperature accuracy, and the I2C/SPI interfaces connect to digital temperature sensors and humidity sensors. The wide 1.8V-3.6V operating range supports direct connection to backup coin-cell batteries during main power loss. The configurable logic cells (CLC) enable hardware-based safety interlocks without software polling - critical for HVAC safety certification. Industrial temperature grade (-40 C to +85 C) handles outdoor thermostat installation in extreme climates. The 20-SOIC package is well-suited to through-hole-adjacent SMT layouts common in HVAC control boards.
Recommended
Wireless Remote Control (RF Host)
The PIC16LF1618T-I/SO is a good fit for wireless remote controls serving as the host MCU for sub-GHz transceivers (LoRa, FSK, OOK). The 32 MHz CPU executes button-debouncing, address filtering, and packet-frame construction in real time, while the SPI bus drives the RF transceiver at full hardware speed. The XLP sleep modes allow the remote to idle at <1 uA between button presses, extending coin-cell battery life to multi-year durations. The configurable logic cells wake the MCU from sleep on GPIO edge events without external interrupt controllers, enabling instant button-press response with zero software latency. The 1.8V-3.6V operating range supports direct connection to single CR2032 cells used in compact remote designs. The 20-SOIC package is easy to hand-solder for prototype builds and low-volume specialty products.
Recommended
Smart Home Appliance Control Board
The PIC16LF1618T-I/SO fits smart home appliance control boards (small kitchen appliances, fans, coffee makers) because its 32 MHz CPU runs motor-control and user-interface firmware concurrently, and the 7 KB Flash fits typical appliance control logic. The 10-bit ADC reads temperature, current, and position sensors for safety monitoring and closed-loop control. PWM channels drive BLDC motors, solenoid valves, and TRIAC-fired heating elements directly from MCU pins. The I2C bus links to LED drivers and OLED displays for user interface feedback. The wide voltage range (1.8V-3.6V) supports universal-input designs with internal buck regulators. The 20-SOIC package is robust for consumer appliances where hand-rework may be needed. Industrial temperature grade covers kitchen environment thermal stress (-40 C to +85 C).
Recommended
Battery-Powered Medical Wearable
The PIC16LF1618T-I/SO works well in medical wearables (pulse oximeters, fitness bands, glucose monitors) because the XLP sleep modes deliver <1 uA quiescent current, extending coin-cell or rechargeable battery life to multiple days per charge cycle. The 32 MHz CPU executes biosignal sampling and processing in real time, while the 10-bit ADC captures analog biosensor outputs (PPG, ECG, temperature) at 100 Hz to 1 kHz sample rates. The 512-byte RAM accommodates signal-processing buffers for heart-rate variability (HRV) algorithms. I2C/SPI interfaces connect to optical biosensors and BLE modules. Industrial temperature grade supports body-worn thermal requirements. The 20-SOIC package is robust for wearable enclosures. Estimated battery life with 10% duty-cycled active mode: 1-2 weeks on small Li-ion (100 mAh).
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter
The PIC16LF1618T-I/SO is suitable for industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered sensor transmitters because its 1.8V-3.6V operating range supports direct connection to low-voltage loop supplies and energy-harvesting circuits. The 32 MHz CPU executes sensor linearization, temperature compensation, and HART/IO-Link protocol stacks in real time. The 10-bit ADC reads bridge sensors (pressure, load, strain) with sufficient precision for industrial-grade measurement. The configurable logic cells implement hardware safety interlocks (overrange, sensor-fault detection) without software polling latency. The industrial temperature grade (-40 C to +85 C) handles factory floor thermal stress. The 20-SOIC package is well-established in industrial control board designs. The XLP modes enable multi-year battery operation for wireless sensor networks in factory automation.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1618T-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1618-I/SO | PIC16LF1579T-I/SO | PIC16LF1507T-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-SOIC | 20-SOIC - same | 20-SOIC - same | 20-SOIC - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Program Memory | 7 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB | 3.5 KB |
| Data RAM | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 1 KB | 128 bytes |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) | 20 MHz (5 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V |
| Packaging Format | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel |
| Unit Price (qty 1000) | $0.31 | $0.30 | $0.35 | $0.27 |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest voltage operation in 7 KB Flash class (vs PIC16F1618)
- Modern peripherals (PPS + CLC) (vs PIC16F1936)
- Balanced Flash/RAM ratio (vs PIC16LF1509T-I/SO)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin, plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum-polymer capacitor on the main supply rail. For battery-powered designs, the XLP Sleep state draws <1 uA typical; verify this with the datasheet's electrical characteristics table. Use estimated size or bulk: 100 nF + 10 uF bulk caps, returning to VSS directly without sharing copper with switching nodes.
Place the ICSP programming header (5-pin: VDD, VSS, ICSPDAT, ICSPCLK, MCLR) on the board edge or a dedicated test pad cluster. MCLR must have a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for normal operation, but can be pulled low for reset. The 20-SOIC package has 7.50 mm body width; use SOIC-20 land patterns with 1.27 mm pitch. Estimated land pattern: 0.5 mm wide pads with 0.6 mm spacing.
Do not exceed 3.6V on VDD or 5V on any I/O pin (the LF variant is not 5V-tolerant). When using peripherals that require 5V (e.g., legacy LCD drivers), add a level translator. Watch out for the PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) mapping on PPS-locked pins - the datasheet's pin allocation table must be reviewed for the specific 20-SOIC pinout, since PPS pin mappings differ between packages.
For SPI bus speeds above 4 MHz, keep trace lengths matched and short (<25 mm) to avoid signal skew. Place a 10-100 ohm series resistor on SCK close to the master MCU to dampen ringing. For I2C buses above 400 kHz (Fast mode), use 4.7 kohm pull-ups on SDA/SCL instead of the typical 10 kohm. The PIC16LF1618's I2C module supports Standard, Fast, and Fast-Plus modes per the peripheral library documentation.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) only - not AEC-Q100 automotive qualified. Halogen-free and lead-free per Microchip environmental compliance data.
