PIC16LF1786-E/SP - 8-Bit MCU, 14KB Flash, 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1786-E/SP โ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.45 | $4.45 |
| 10 | $3.92 | $39.20 |
| 100 | $3.21 | $321.00 |
| 500 | $2.74 | $1,370.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.39 | $2,390.00 |
PIC16LF1786-E/SP Overview
What is an 8-bit flash MCU? An 8-bit flash microcontroller is a single-chip computer built on a Harvard RISC architecture with 8-bit data paths, on-chip Flash program memory that can be erased and reprogrammed in-circuit, and integrated peripherals such as ADC, timers, and communication blocks. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16LF1786 sits under MCU -> microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> PIC16 family -> PIC16F178x sub-family, and it competes with low-power 8-bit lines from vendors such as Atmel/Microchip AVR and NXP Kinetis E.
Key features include 14 KB self-programmable Flash (8K x 14 words), 1 KB RAM, 256 B EEPROM, hardware Multiply and Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), an 8-bit DAC with FVR reference, four operational amplifiers rated for 12V operation, and a 12-bit differential ADC. The 'LF' variant runs from 1.8V to 3.6V while the standard 'F' part runs from 2.3V to 5.5V. Integrated XLP sleep modes drop quiescent current below 50 nA typical, enabling multi-year battery life in duty-cycled designs.
Architecturally, the device uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range x14 core with a 200 ns instruction cycle at 20 MHz and 31.25 ns at 32 MHz, plus a 16-level hardware stack and 32 interrupt sources. On-chip peripherals are routed to pins through the Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) engine, which lets designers remap digital functions without changing PCB layout. The PSMC block provides programmable dead-band control and edge-aligned PWM, simplifying digital lighting, half-bridge, and full-bridge drive topologies.
Typical applications include LED lighting and signage drivers using the PSMC and op-amps, sensor signal conditioning with the on-board op-amp and 12-bit ADC, low-power battery-powered IoT nodes leveraging XLP sleep, and small motor or solenoid control loops. The 28-SPDIP package also fits legacy through-hole industrial boards and breadboard-friendly prototypes.
A practical design tip: place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin and a bulk capacitor near VDD if the op-amps drive heavy loads, because the analog and digital VDD pins share internal bond wires. Always configure the PPS registers before enabling peripherals; otherwise pin mapping falls back to defaults and the code appears non-functional even though the silicon is healthy.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1786-E/SP โ 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 PIC16LF1786-E/SP (same form factor and footprint) โ differing in ADC, I/O Pins, Mounting Type, Operating Temperature, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool โ Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1786-E/SP
โ Drop-In๐ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1786-I/SP
โ Drop-Inโ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet โPIC16LF1787-E/SP
โ Drop-In๐ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1784-E/SP
โ Drop-In๐ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1782-E/SP
โ Drop-In๐ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1786-E/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 8-bit enhanced mid-range (x14) |
| Instruction Set Architecture | 8-bit Harvard RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (31.25 ns instruction cycle) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF variant) |
| ADC | 12-bit differential |
| DAC | 8-bit |
| Operational Amplifiers | 4 x 12V op-amps |
| PSMC Channels | 1 programmable switch-mode controller |
| I/O Pins | Up to 25 GPIO with PPS |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (0.300 inch, 7.62 mm pitch) |
| Mounting Type | Through-hole (DIP) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E suffix = extended) |
| Low-Power Feature | XLP - eXtreme Low Power (<50 nA sleep) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16LF1786-E/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/C1IN+/C2IN+ โ GPIO RA3 / analog input 3 / comparator input |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4/T0CKI โ GPIO RA4 / analog input 4 / Timer0 clock |
| Pin 3 | RA5/AN5/OPA2IN+ โ GPIO RA5 / analog input 5 / op-amp 2 input+ |
| Pin 4 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT โ GPIO RA6 / crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 5 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN โ GPIO RA7 / crystal input / clock input |
| Pin 6 | VPP/RE3/MCLR โ Programming voltage / GPIO RE3 / Master Clear (reset) |
| Pin 7 | VDD โ Positive supply (1.8-3.6 V) |
| Pin 8 | VSS โ Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RB0/AN12/OPA1OUT โ GPIO RB0 / analog input 12 / op-amp 1 output |
| Pin 10 | RB1/AN10/OPA1IN- โ GPIO RB1 / analog input 10 / op-amp 1 input- |
| Pin 11 | RB2/AN8/OPA1IN+ โ GPIO RB2 / analog input 8 / op-amp 1 input+ |
| Pin 12 | RB3/AN9/MDCR/PWM3 โ GPIO RB3 / analog input 9 / PSMC reference / PWM3 |
| Pin 13 | RB4/AN11/PWM2 โ GPIO RB4 / analog input 11 / PWM2 |
| Pin 14 | RB5/AN13/PWM1 โ GPIO RB5 / analog input 13 / PWM1 |
| Pin 15 | RB6/PGC โ GPIO RB6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 16 | RB7/PGD โ GPIO RB7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 17 | VDD โ Positive supply (1.8-3.6 V) |
| Pin 18 | VSS โ Ground reference |
| Pin 19 | RC0/SOSCO โ GPIO RC0 / secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 20 | RC1/SOSCI โ GPIO RC1 / secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 21 | RC2/AN14 โ GPIO RC2 / analog input 14 |
| Pin 22 | RC3/AN15 โ GPIO RC3 / analog input 15 |
| Pin 23 | RC4/AN16 โ GPIO RC4 / analog input 16 |
| Pin 25 | RC5/AN17 โ GPIO RC5 / analog input 17 |
| Pin 26 | RC6/AN18 โ GPIO RC6 / analog input 18 |
| Pin 27 | RC7/AN19 โ GPIO RC7 / analog input 19 |
| Pin 28 | RA0/AN0/OPA2OUT โ GPIO RA0 / analog input 0 / op-amp 2 output |
| Pin 29 | RA1/AN1/OPA2IN- โ GPIO RA1 / analog input 1 / op-amp 2 input- |
| Pin 30 | RA2/AN2/DACOUT โ GPIO RA2 / analog input 2 / DAC output |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1786-E/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, LED Lighting and Signage Driver, Analog Signal Conditioning Front-End, Low-Voltage Motor and Solenoid Control, Portable Medical and Wellness Devices, Industrial Sensor Transmitters (4-20 mA / Loop-Powered).
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF1786-E/SP fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes thanks to its 1.8-3.6 V operating range and Microchip XLP technology that drops sleep current below 50 nA. Its 14 KB Flash accommodates BLE/Zigbee sub-gigahertz stack snippets and small RTOS kernels, while the 1 KB SRAM buffers sensor samples between wake events. The 12-bit differential ADC paired with four 12V op-amps lets designers condition thermocouple, bridge, or photodiode signals on-chip, eliminating external analog ICs. A duty-cycled wake-measure-transmit loop running at 1 Hz averages below 1 uA, supporting multi-year coin-cell operation. PPS allows flexible pin mapping for SPI/I2C sensors without board rework.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Signage Driver
The PIC16LF1786-E/SP drives LED lighting and signage strings through its on-chip PSMC (Programmable Switch-Mode Controller) and four 12V op-amps that implement constant-current feedback loops. The PSMC delivers programmable dead-band and edge-aligned PWM up to 32 MHz, enabling high-resolution dimming and color mixing without external PWM controllers. The op-amps close the loop around sense resistors while the 8-bit DAC sets the dimming target. Designers can map PWM outputs to any GPIO via PPS, simplifying PCB layout for RGB or RGBA channels. Industrial temperature grade and XLP sleep extend product life in always-on installations.
Recommended
Analog Signal Conditioning Front-End
The PIC16LF1786-E/SP acts as a self-contained analog front-end by combining four 12V op-amps, a 12-bit differential ADC, an 8-bit DAC, and a precision FVR on a single die. Engineers can implement active filters, instrumentation amplifiers, and programmable gain stages using the on-chip op-amps, then feed the conditioned signal directly into the ADC - no external analog IC required. The 256-byte EEPROM stores calibration coefficients, while the DAC outputs analog setpoints for closed-loop control. PPS allows simultaneous use of op-amp outputs and ADC inputs on the same chip without pin contention, reducing BOM cost and PCB area.
Recommended
Low-Voltage Motor and Solenoid Control
The PIC16LF1786-E/SP controls small DC motors, solenoids, and relays through its PSMC peripheral that generates complementary PWM with programmable dead-time, preventing shoot-through in half-bridge or full-bridge drivers. The 1.8-3.6 V supply range suits single-cell Li-ion packs driving sub-3V actuators directly, while the four 12V op-amps condition back-EMF and current-sense feedback. The 32 MHz CPU closes current and speed loops in well under 1 ms, with 1 KB RAM supporting small field-oriented-control experiments. Through-hole SPDIP packaging simplifies prototype and lab-bench assembly.
Recommended
Portable Medical and Wellness Devices
The PIC16LF1786-E/SP suits portable medical and wellness devices such as pulse oximeters, glucose meters, and wearable monitors because its 12-bit differential ADC reads small biopotential signals with on-chip op-amp gain, while XLP sleep extends battery life between measurements. The 14 KB Flash runs small DSP-style filtering (moving-average or simple FIR) and the 256-byte EEPROM stores user profiles or calibration constants. The 28-SPDIP package is friendly for through-hole medical-grade assembly lines, and the industrial temperature range ensures operation in body-worn enclosures. A single CR2032 coin cell can power months of spot-check measurements at low duty cycle.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitters (4-20 mA / Loop-Powered)
The PIC16LF1786-E/SP powers loop-powered 4-20 mA industrial sensor transmitters thanks to its wide 1.8-3.6 V supply and ultra-low XLP sleep current below 50 nA. The four 12V op-amps implement bridge excitation, instrumentation amplification, and V-I conversion in a single chip, while the 12-bit ADC digitizes the conditioned sensor signal before driving the loop DAC. PPS remaps UART peripherals to any GPIO, allowing RS-485 or HART modem isolation. The 28-SPDIP package is field-replaceable, and the extended -40C to +125C temperature range handles outdoor process plants and factory floors.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1786-E/SP โ comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1786-E/SP | PIC16LF1786-I/SP | PIC16LF1787-E/SP | PIC16LF1784-E/SP | PIC16LF1782-E/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 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 |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB (-50%) | 3.5 KB (-75%) |
| RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C |
| On-Chip Op-Amps | 4 x 12V | 4 x 12V | 4 x 12V | 4 x 12V | 2 x 12V | 2 x 12V |
| 12-bit ADC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Wider operating voltage window than the F variant (vs PIC16F1786-E/SP)
- Higher memory than smaller siblings (vs PIC16LF1784-E/SP)
- Extended temperature range vs I-grade (vs PIC16LF1786-I/SP)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD (pin 7 and pin 17) with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of each pin and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic near the chip. The dual VDD/VSS pairs serve separate analog and digital bond wires; bypass both to keep ADC noise low. For XLP designs, switch to the internal 31 kHz LFINTOSC during sleep and gate unused peripherals via PMD registers to achieve the <50 nA sleep current promised in the datasheet. Estimated: assuming two VDD pins share current equally, each pin carries about 15 mA maximum load at 32 MHz.
Configure PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) registers before enabling peripherals - peripherals default to no pin mapping and the firmware will appear non-functional even though the silicon is healthy. Always clear the CCP/MSSP pins back to GPIO when reassigning them. The MCLR pin (RE3, pin 6) is input-only on this family; do not drive it as an output. Programming voltage on VPP must not exceed 13.5V or the device will enter High-Voltage Programming mode unintentionally.
Estimated: at 32 MHz, VDD 3.3 V and full GPIO toggle, the PIC16LF1786-E/SP draws approximately 8 mA active (per datasheet typical curves) dissipating about 26 mW. The 28-SPDIP package has theta_JA around 70 C/W in still air, so the junction rises only ~2 C above ambient. No heatsink is needed, but the part should be kept below 125 C for E-grade reliability.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC16F1786-E/SP automotive variants for vehicle applications. REACH compliance confirmed via Microchip regulatory documentation.
