PIC16LF1826-I/SO - 8-bit XLP MCU, 3.5KB Flash, 32MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1826-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.79 | $1.79 |
| 10 | $1.61 | $16.10 |
| 100 | $1.43 | $143.00 |
| 500 | $1.27 | $635.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.12 | $1,120.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.98 | $2,940.00 |
PIC16LF1826-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path and a Harvard or modified-Harvard CPU core. PIC16LF1xxx devices occupy the enhanced mid-range position in Microchip's PIC16 taxonomy (PIC10/12/16/18/24/32), above PIC10/12 baseband parts and below 16-bit PIC24/dsPIC33 controllers. They integrate flash, RAM, EEPROM, ADC, timers, and serial peripherals (I2C, SPI, USART) into one die, allowing compact designs without external memory or glue logic.
Key features include nanoWatt XLP™ technology for sub-µA sleep currents, an on-chip 32 MHz internal oscillator, 16 I/O pins, five timers, two comparators, a capture/compare/PWM (CCP) module, and an enhanced Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (EUSART). The mTouch™ peripheral supports capacitive touch buttons, sliders, and proximity sensing directly on the device. C compiler support is provided by Microchip's MPLAB XC8 toolchain.
Typical applications include ultra-low-power wireless sensor nodes, capacitive touch user interfaces, battery-powered IoT end nodes, LED lighting controls, and small consumer appliances. Designers choose this part for designs where flash size is moderate, peripherals are abundant, and quiescent current must be low enough to extend coin-cell life. To choose the right variant, evaluate whether your design needs more flash (PIC16LF1827 with 7 KB) or a smaller pinout (PIC16LF1824/1825).
Designers should budget required 25 mA per I/O bank and respect the 3.6V absolute maximum on VDD; use the internal 32 MHz HFINTOSC to free I/O pins normally consumed by an external crystal, and pair the device with a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close to VDD as possible.
This page consolidates verified distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives in the same 18-SOIC footprint, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, accelerating component selection for ultra-low-power PIC16 designs.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1826-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 PIC16LF1826-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, ADC, Program Memory (Flash), Maximum CPU Speed.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1826-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1827-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1826-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1826-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1826-E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1826-E/MV
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$0.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1826-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC® XLP™ mTouch™ 16F |
| Core | 8-bit PIC16 enhanced mid-range |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) flash |
| Data RAM | 256 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 |
| ADC | 12-channel, 10-bit |
| Timers | 5 |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Communication Interfaces | I2C, SPI, EUSART |
| Package | 18-SOIC (7.50 mm width) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
PIC16LF1826-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/C1IN+/T1G/CCP1/MCLR/Vpp — GPIO RA3 / ADC ch3 / Comparator1 IN+ / Tmr1 gate / CCP1 / Master Clear (reset) / ICSP Vpp |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4/T1G/C2OUT — GPIO RA4 / ADC ch4 / Tmr1 gate / Comparator2 output |
| Pin 3 | RA5/AN5/T2CKI — GPIO RA5 / ADC ch5 / Tmr2 clock input |
| Pin 4 | RA0/AN0/C1IN0-/C2IN0- — GPIO RA0 / ADC ch0 / Comparator1 IN0- / Comparator2 IN0- |
| Pin 5 | RA1/AN1/C1IN1-/C2IN1- — GPIO RA1 / ADC ch1 / Comparator1 IN1- / Comparator2 IN1- |
| Pin 6 | RA2/AN2/Vref-/C2IN+ — GPIO RA2 / ADC ch2 / Vref- / Comparator2 IN+ |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN/RA7 — Crystal OSC input / external clock in / GPIO RA7 |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT/RA6 — Crystal OSC output / clock out / GPIO RA6 |
| Pin 11 | RC0/SOSCO — GPIO RC0 / Secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 12 | RC1/SOSCI — GPIO RC1 / Secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 13 | RC2/AN6 — GPIO RC2 / ADC ch6 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/AN7 — GPIO RC3 / ADC ch7 |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — GPIO RC4 |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — GPIO RC5 |
| Pin 17 | RC6/AN8/SS — GPIO RC6 / ADC ch8 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 18 | RC7/AN9/SDI — GPIO RC7 / ADC ch9 / SPI data in |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1826-I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Capacitive Touch User Interface, LED Lighting Controller, Small Consumer Appliance Control, Industrial Sensor Transmitter (4-20 mA), Wearable Fitness / Health Accessory, Automotive Body Electronics (AEC-Q100 tier).
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF1826-I/SO is well-suited to coin-cell or two-cell battery IoT sensor nodes thanks to its nanoWatt XLP technology and 1.8 V to 3.6 V operating window. At 32 MHz it delivers 32 MHz MIPS of processing for sensor sampling and protocol stack fragments while drawing sub-mA active current. Paired with a sub-GHz radio like the MRF89XA, the MCU handles ADC readings from temperature/humidity sensors, runs sleep duty cycling, and wakes peripherals via interrupt-on-change. The 256-byte RAM limits buffer depth but is sufficient for periodic telemetry. Designers should leverage the internal 32 MHz HFINTOSC to skip external oscillator power draw, and use the datasheet's typical-application reference schematic for the recommended 100 nF + 10 µF decoupling network.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC16LF1826-I/SO integrates Microchip's mTouch capacitive touch peripheral with up to 12 touch channels routed through the on-chip ADC and CTMU, supporting buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors without external touch ICs. This eliminates a dedicated touch controller, reducing BOM cost and PCB area in appliances, lighting controls, and consumer products. The mTouch libraries under MPLAB X IDE provide firmware reference implementations and noise-immunity algorithms (oversampling, frequency hopping). With 16 I/O and 3.5 KB flash, the part handles 8-10 touch pads plus RGB LED PWM drive in a typical white-goods control panel. Compared with a discrete touch solution, the integrated approach saves approximately $0.30-$0.50 BOM at 1ku and simplifies EMC compliance.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16LF1826-I/SO fits entry-level LED lighting controllers, where its 5 timers, 1 CCP module, and 16 I/O pins can drive multiple LED channels via PWM dimming. Operating from 2.5 V to 3.6 V at 32 MHz, the MCU executes closed-loop current-control algorithms for constant-current LED drivers. The EUSART interface allows DMX-512 or 0-10 V analog dimming reception, while the I2C peripheral talks to ambient light sensors for daylight harvesting. Compared with a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0 alternative, this PIC16LF1xxx device cuts unit cost by ~30% and supports lower quiescent current for always-on lighting standby. Reference designs in the Microchip application note library show typical PWM frequencies up to 20 kHz above the audible band.
Recommended
Small Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16LF1826-I/SO serves as the main controller in small consumer appliances such as coffee makers, blenders, and countertop ovens, where its 12-channel 10-bit ADC reads temperature, current, and level sensors, while PWM drives motor or heater elements. The 3.5 KB flash comfortably fits state-machine firmware for user-interface buttons, mode selection, and safety timers. The 1.8 V to 3.6 V operating window lets designers run the MCU directly from two alkaline cells or a small LDO downstream of an offline regulator. Compared with the older PIC16F84A, the PIC16LF1826 delivers 32 MHz vs 20 MHz CPU speed, 10-bit vs 8-bit ADC, and integrated I2C/SPI peripherals. This makes it a modern functional successor with a familiar toolchain.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter (4-20 mA)
The PIC16LF1826-I/SO can serve as the digital core of a 4-20 mA current-loop sensor transmitter, where its 10-bit ADC digitizes sensor signals and its EUSART/HART modem interface communicates with the host controller. The 1.8 V to 3.6 V operating window supports direct connection to loop-powered regulators. The 32 MHz CPU speed provides ample headroom for HART protocol encoding and linearization math. Compared with a 32-bit ARM alternative, the PIC16LF1826-I/SO keeps quiescent current below 1 mA and unit cost near $1 in volume, both critical for loop-powered field instruments. The industrial -I temperature grade (-40C to +85C) covers the majority of process-control installations.
Recommended
Wearable Fitness / Health Accessory
The PIC16LF1826-I/SO fits wearable fitness accessories such as step counters, BLE beacons, and heart-rate accessories, where its nanoWatt XLP sleep currents below 50 nA extend coin-cell life beyond a year. Its small 18-SOIC footprint (7.50 mm body) accommodates thin PCB assemblies, and the integrated I2C/SPI ports talk to accelerometers and optical heart-rate sensors. With 16 I/O and 12 ADC channels, the MCU can drive low-power LEDs, sample bioelectrical signals, and manage BLE module handshakes. Compared with a 32-bit Cortex-M0+, the PIC16LF1826-I/SO costs less and offers longer battery life, at the expense of computational headroom. Datasheet figures show typical sleep currents of ~20 nA with RTC running.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (AEC-Q100 tier)
For non-safety automotive body electronics, the PIC16LF1826 family is available in AEC-Q100-qualified variants (e.g., PIC16F1826-E/SO) covering -40C to +125C. Typical applications include seat-heater controllers, mirror-adjust modules, ambient lighting nodes, and simple BCM sub-modules. The MCU reads switch inputs, drives MOSFET gates via PWM, and communicates over LIN via the EUSART + external LIN transceiver. While the standard PIC16LF1826-I/SO is not AEC-Q100 qualified, drop-in upgrades like the PIC16F1826-E/SO preserve the same 18-SOIC footprint. The 32 MHz CPU speed and 12 ADC channels fit typical BCM sub-module workloads with firmware headroom for diagnostic routines.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1826-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1826-I/SO | PIC16LF1827-I/SO | PIC16LF1826-I/P | PIC16F1826-I/P | PIC16F1826-E/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 18-SOIC | 18-SOIC (same) | 18-SOIC (same) | 18-PDIP (through-hole, same die) | 18-PDIP (through-hole) | 18-PDIP (extended temperature) |
| Flash Memory | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 7 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB |
| RAM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Operating Voltage | 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 | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| ADC Channels | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +125C (extended) |
Key Differentiators
- Wide low-voltage operating range with 32 MHz CPU speed at full performance (vs PIC16F1826-I/SO)
- Integrated mTouch™ capacitive touch peripheral with 12 channels (vs PIC16LF1824-I/SL)
- Drop-in compatible with higher-flash PIC16LF1827-I/SO (vs PIC16LF1827-I/SO)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD = 3.3 V and 32 MHz CPU clock, the PIC16LF1826-I/SO draws approximately 4-6 mA active current per the datasheet typical characteristics. For coin-cell designs, leverage Sleep mode (sub-1 µA typical with WDT off) and use the internal 32 MHz HFINTOSC with the OSCCON register to skip external crystal power draw. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 7) and a 10 µF bulk cap on the supply rail. Do not allow VDD to exceed 3.6 V absolute maximum — use a Zener or TVS clamp if powered from a 5 V rail.
Estimated: the 18-SOIC package (7.50 mm body width) requires a 1.27 mm pitch SOIC land. Keep analog traces (ADC inputs, VREF+) short and routed away from digital switching lines; Microchip recommends a ground plane under the MCU for ADC noise performance. For capacitive-touch applications using the mTouch peripheral, route touch sensor traces with minimum 0.2 mm width and 0.5 mm clearance, and avoid ground planes under the touch pad area. Place the ICSP programming header footprint (PGC/PGD/Vpp/Vss) on every prototype board to allow in-circuit serial programming without removing the MCU.
Do not exceed the 3.6 V absolute maximum on VDD — the PIC16LF1826-I/SO is the low-voltage LF variant; substituting the PIC16F1826-I/SO (F variant) is acceptable but limits low-voltage operation. MCLR pin (pin 1) must be pulled high through a 10 kΩ resistor; floating MCLR will cause intermittent resets. When using the internal oscillator, set the OSCCON configuration bits correctly in the configuration word or the device will not start. The MSSP peripheral must be configured for I2C vs SPI mode before use; mismatched register settings lock the bus. Always define unused I/O pins as outputs and tie them low to minimize sleep current.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page declarations. The standard PIC16LF1826-I/SO industrial-grade variant is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive use, select the PIC16F1826-E/SO (extended temperature) or PIC16F1826T-E/SO automotive-qualified part.