PIC16LF1826-E/P - 3.5KB Flash, 32MHz, 18-Pin MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1826-E/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.85 | $1.85 |
| 10 | $1.65 | $16.50 |
| 100 | $1.45 | $145.00 |
| 500 | $1.3 | $650.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.18 | $1,180.00 |
PIC16LF1826-E/P Overview
What is a PIC16 microcontroller? A PIC16 microcontroller is an 8-bit Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) MCU from Microchip Technology built around a modified Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses. The PIC16F1826 sits within the enhanced mid-range PIC16 family, which adds C compiler-friendly architecture, linear memory mapping, and nanoWatt XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology. As an LF variant, the PIC16LF1826 supports a wider 1.8V-3.6V supply range targeting portable and battery-powered designs. The hierarchy is: PIC16LF1826 -> PIC16F1826 family -> enhanced mid-range PIC16 -> 8-bit PIC microcontroller -> Microchip MCU portfolio -> embedded microcontroller.
The device's headline specifications include 32 MHz internal oscillator (8 MIPS instruction rate with 4x PLL), 3.5KB flash program memory (2K x 14 words), 256 bytes SRAM, 256 bytes EEPROM, 12 I/O, and an internal 32 kHz low-power oscillator for sleep-mode timing. Power consumption at 1.8V/32 kHz is approximately 1.8 µA with peripheral modules disabled, enabling battery lifetimes of years on coin cells.
The PIC16LF1826 utilizes a 14-bit instruction word with 200 ns instruction execution and a 16-level hardware stack. On-chip peripherals include a 10-bit ADC with automatic averaging, two analog comparators with selectable references, enhanced PWM (ECCP) with auto-shutdown, an EUSART supporting RS-232/RS-485 LIN, and an MSSP supporting both SPI and I2C master/slave. nanoWatt XLP technology provides multiple idle/sleep modes with retention down to ~20 nA typical.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, capacitive-touch user interfaces, consumer appliances, low-cost motor control, and IoT edge devices requiring long battery life. It is also used in industrial sensor transmitters, smart-meter peripherals, and LED lighting controllers. The 18-pin PDIP package allows easy breadboarding, hobbyist prototyping, and through-hole assembly for low-volume or repair-friendly designs.
When designing with this part, place decoupling capacitors of 0.1 µF and 10 µF within a few millimeters of VDD, and configure the configuration words (fuses) before any code may run. For sleep current, ensure all unused pins are set as outputs at a defined level and that no floating inputs leak current. The ICSP programming pins (RB6, RB7) require isolation resistors in production to avoid contention during in-circuit programming.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative cross-references, and practical design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1826-E/P — 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 PIC16LF1826-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Timers, Operating Temperature, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1826-I/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1826-E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1826-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1826-E/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1826-E/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1826-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC16F1826 / PIC16LF1826 |
| Core | 8-bit PIC (14-bit instruction) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| Data SRAM | 256 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage (LF) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 12 channels |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Communication | 1x EUSART, 1x MSSP (SPI/I2C) |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2, ECCP, WDT |
| PWM Modules | ECCP + 2x CCP |
| Package | 18-pin PDIP (P, 0.300 in / 7.62 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E suffix = industrial) |
| nanoWatt XLP | Yes (sleep ~20 nA typical) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (PDIP) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16LF1826-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 4 |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN5/SS/HCOUT — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 5 / SPI SS / comparator output |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB4/AN10 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 10 |
| Pin 7 | RB5/AN11/TX/CK — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 11 / EUSART TX / I2C clock |
| Pin 8 | RB6/AN12/ICSPCLK — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 12 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 9 | RB7/AN13/ICSPDAT — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 13 / ICSP data |
| Pin 10 | VSS2 — Optional second ground (tie to VSS) |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage 1.8V-3.6V |
| Pin 12 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — Bidirectional I/O / crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 13 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — Bidirectional I/O / crystal oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 14 | RA0/AN0/C1IN0+ — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 0 / comparator 1 positive input |
| Pin 15 | RA1/AN1/C1IN1- — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 1 / comparator 1 negative input |
| Pin 16 | RB0/AN8/C2IN1+ — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 8 / comparator 2 positive input |
| Pin 17 | RB1/AN9/C2IN1- — Bidirectional I/O / analog input 9 / comparator 2 negative input |
| Pin 18 | RB2/AN8/C1OUT — Bidirectional I/O / analog input / comparator 1 output |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1826-E/P is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Capacitive Touch (mTouch) User Interfaces, Consumer Appliance Control, Low-Cost Motor Control (DC, Stepper), LED Lighting Controllers, Hobbyist Prototyping and Education.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF1826-E/P's nanoWatt XLP technology with sleep currents down to ~20 nA typical and 1.8-3.6 V wide operating range make it ideal for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes. It can run directly from a 3 V CR2032 coin cell or 2x AA alkaline cells without boost regulators. The 12-channel 10-bit ADC interfaces directly with analog sensors (temperature, light, gas), while the MSSP I2C connects to digital sensors. The 256-byte EEPROM stores calibration data non-volitely. Combined with 8 MIPS instruction throughput for sensor processing, this part delivers 1-5 year battery lifetimes in duty-cycled sensor applications.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch (mTouch) User Interfaces
The PIC16LF1826-E/P integrates Microchip's mTouch capacitive touch sensing module, making it suitable for touch buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors in consumer and appliance interfaces. The CTMU peripheral enables capacitive measurement via timed current sources, with on-chip ADC reading the resulting voltage. The 12 I/O pins can each function as a touch channel with no external components beyond the sensor pad. The 32 MHz core runs the touch-scanning firmware fast enough for <10 ms response time on 12 buttons, while nanoWatt XLP keeps idle current under 5 µA for battery-powered remote controls.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16LF1826-E/P fits consumer appliance control (coffee makers, microwaves, washing machines) with its 32 MHz core for real-time PWM control, EUSART for communication with main controllers, and 256-byte EEPROM for storing user settings. The 12 I/O pins drive LEDs, relays, triac gate drivers, and keypad matrices. Its industrial -40C to +125C temperature range handles appliance environments. Compared to dedicated motor controllers, this MCU is general-purpose enough to combine multiple functions (keypad scan + LED drive + buzzer + motor PWM) into one chip, reducing assembly cost and PCB area.
Recommended
Low-Cost Motor Control (DC, Stepper)
The PIC16LF1826-E/P's ECCP (Enhanced CCP) module with auto-shutdown and complementary PWM outputs, combined with 8 MIPS processing, makes it a capable low-cost motor controller. It generates precise PWM at up to 32 kHz for quiet motor drive, supports 1-Hz resolution timers for ramp-up/ramp-down profiles, and the 2 analog comparators implement overcurrent protection by directly tripping PWM shutdown. With 4 PWM channels total (ECCP + 2x CCP), it can drive a bipolar stepper or two DC motors with H-bridges like the DRV8871. Its 1.8-3.6V supply suits battery-powered robotics and toys.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC16LF1826-E/P enables smart LED lighting control with its 4 PWM channels for RGBW dimming, EUSART for DMX512 or DALI protocol, and nanoWatt XLP for dim standby power. The 10-bit ADC reads ambient light sensors for daylight harvesting, while the EEPROM stores fade curves and color preferences. Its 1.8-3.6V operation suits 3.3V LED driver topologies. Compared to dedicated LED driver ICs, this MCU adds flexibility for custom protocols and adaptive lighting algorithms while maintaining low BOM cost. Operating temperature -40C to +125C handles outdoor fixtures.
Recommended
Hobbyist Prototyping and Education
The PIC16LF1826-E/P's 18-pin PDIP through-hole package makes it ideal for hobbyist breadboarding, university coursework, and Arduino-shield prototyping. The .300-inch PDIP pitch fits standard breadboards and perfboards without surface-mount soldering. It is fully supported by MPLAB X IDE, XC8 C compiler, and the free version of the MPLAB SNAP programmer (~$15), making it the cheapest entry into PIC development. Its 32 MHz capability, 3.5 KB flash, and 12 I/O are sufficient for most learning projects - motor control, sensor reading, communication protocols - while remaining accessible to beginners.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1826-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1826-I/P | PIC16F1826-E/P | PIC16F1826-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 18-pin PDIP (P) | 18-pin PDIP (P) - same | 18-pin PDIP (P) - same | 18-pin PDIP (P) - same |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V (F) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V (F) |
| Flash Memory | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB |
| RAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Frequency | 32 MHz / 8 MIPS | 32 MHz / 8 MIPS | 32 MHz / 8 MIPS | 32 MHz / 8 MIPS |
| Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) |
| Sleep Current | ~20 nA typical | ~20 nA typical | ~20 nA typical | ~20 nA typical |
Key Differentiators
- Widest operating voltage among 18-pin PDIP PIC16 family (vs PIC16F1826-E/P (F variant))
- Industrial extended temperature range with same flash/RAM (vs PIC16LF1826-I/P (I variant))
- On-chip mTouch capacitive sensing module (vs PIC16LF1825-I/SL (14-pin variant))
Design Notes
Estimated: PIC16LF1826-E/P active current at 32 MHz is approximately 4 mA at 3.3 V (about 13 mW). At 1.8 V/32 kHz, active current drops to ~10 µA. Sleep current with WDT off is ~20 nA typical per datasheet. For a coin-cell sensor node duty-cycling 1 ms active per second, average current is ~4 µA - achievable with a 220 mAh CR2032 for 6+ years. Decoupling: place 0.1 µF and 10 µF ceramic within 5 mm of VDD pin (pin 11) and VSS pin (pin 5) on the same layer with short, wide traces to minimize loop inductance.
For 18-pin PDIP through-hole designs, route VDD/VSS on opposite ends of the package (pins 5, 11) to minimize supply bounce. Place ICSP test points on RB6 (pin 8) and RB7 (pin 9) accessible from the board edge for programming. Add 4.7 kΩ pull-up resistors on SDA/SCL (RB4/RB5) if I2C is used. For capacitive touch buttons, the sensor pad should be at least 0.5 mm diameter with a small slit to avoid direct antenna coupling. Avoid routing digital signals under touch pads.
Configuration words MUST be set correctly before code executes - leaving them at default can disable the oscillator or set incorrect oscillator mode, resulting in a 'dead' MCU. The ICSP pins RB6/RB7 must not be loaded with more than 1 kΩ impedance during programming to avoid programming failure. The internal MCLR is enabled by default; for in-circuit operation either use it externally or disable it via the MCLRE configuration bit. nanoWatt sleep modes require all unused pins set as outputs at a defined level to prevent floating-pin current leakage.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free / matte-tin finish standard for the E/P variant. The E suffix indicates industrial-extended temperature grade, NOT AEC-Q100 automotive qualification - for AEC-Q100 automotive use, refer to AEC-qualified PIC16 variants. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in verified data.
