PIC16LF1829-I/GZ - 8-Bit MCU, 14KB Flash, 32MHz, 20-UQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1829-I/GZ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.32 | $1.32 |
| 10 | $1.18 | $11.80 |
| 100 | $1.05 | $105.00 |
| 500 | $0.92 | $460.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.81 | $810.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.69 | $2,070.00 |
PIC16LF1829-I/GZ Overview
What is an 8-bit microcontroller? An 8-bit MCU is a microprocessor core that processes data in 8-bit wide chunks, paired with on-chip Flash, RAM, and peripherals for embedded control. The PIC16 family falls into the hierarchy: 8-bit MCU -> PIC16 family -> PIC16F/LF182X sub-family -> PIC16LF1829 part number, representing Microchip's mid-range XLP line optimized for battery and energy-harvesting designs.
Key features include 14KB (8K x 14 words) of self-programmable Flash, an integrated 10-bit ADC with up to 12 channels, mTouch capacitive touch support, multiple communication peripherals (I2C, SPI, EUSART), and nanoWatt XLP sleep currents as low as . The 20-UQFN (GZ) package provides a compact 4x4 mm footprint with an exposed pad for thermal dissipation, suitable for space-constrained IoT and sensor node designs.
The PIC16LF1829 employs a Harvard RISC architecture with a 14-bit instruction word, achieving up to 32 MHz core speed (8 MIPS typical). Its enhanced mid-range core supports C-optimized compilers via MPLAB XC8, and the device includes a configurable logic cell (CLC), complementary waveform generator (CWG), and numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) for advanced peripheral synthesis without external components.
Typical applications include capacitive touch user interfaces, low-power IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered remote controls, LED lighting control with PWM, and small consumer appliances. The 18 I/O count accommodates keypad scanning, sensor reading, and PWM-driven LED or motor control within a single chip.
When designing with this MCU, account for the 20-UQFN's exposed pad which must be soldered to a copper pour for reliable operation, and verify that the chosen programmer supports ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) on the LF (low-voltage) variant - some legacy programmers default to high-voltage ICSP. Consider using MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) for rapid peripheral setup.
This page synthesizes distributor stock levels from DigiKey and Mouser, parametric alternatives from the same PIC16 family, and practical design notes for low-power embedded applications beyond what is found in the standalone datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1829-I/GZ — 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 PIC16LF1829-I/GZ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Operating Temperature, Timers, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1829-E/GZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.14 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1829-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.31 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1828-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1828-E/GZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1827-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF15344T-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1579-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1829-I/GZ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC enhanced mid-range (Harvard RISC) |
| Instruction Word Width | 14-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 1 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF variant) |
| Digital I/O Pins | 18 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 12 channels |
| Capacitive Touch Module | mTouch (CTMU-based) |
| Communication Peripherals | 1x EUSART, 1x I2C/SPI, 1x SPI |
| PWM Modules | Multiple ECCP + CCP channels |
| Package | 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial -I) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Programming Method | ICSP (HV or LV) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1829-I/GZ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — GPIO/Touch/AN/C1OUT/PWM |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — GPIO/Touch/AN/T1G/PWM |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — GPIO/Touch/AN/VREF+ |
| Pin 4 | RC5 — GPIO/Touch/AN/PWM |
| Pin 5 | RC4 — GPIO/Touch/AN/PWM |
| Pin 6 | RC3 — GPIO/Touch/AN/SCL/I2C |
| Pin 7 | RC2 — GPIO/Touch/AN/PWM |
| Pin 8 | RC1 — GPIO/Touch/AN/SDA/I2C |
| Pin 9 | RC0 — GPIO/Touch/AN/PWM |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 11 | RA2 — GPIO/Touch/AN/CVREF/PWM |
| Pin 12 | RA1 — GPIO/Touch/AN/ICSPCLK |
| Pin 13 | RA0 — GPIO/Touch/AN/ICSPDAT |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 15 | RA7 — GPIO/OSC1/CLKI |
| Pin 16 | RA6 — GPIO/OSC2/CLKO |
| Pin 17 | RB7 — GPIO/Touch/AN/PWM |
| Pin 18 | RB6 — GPIO/Touch/AN/PWM |
| Pin 19 | RB5 — GPIO/Touch/AN/PWM |
| Pin 20 | MCLR — Reset (active-low) / VPP programming |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1829-I/GZ is suitable for 6 applications: Capacitive Touch User Interface, Low-Power IoT Sensor Node, Battery-Powered Remote Control, LED Lighting and PWM Control, Small Consumer Appliance Control, Industrial Sensor Hub.
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC16LF1829-I/GZ fits capacitive touch user-interface designs because its integrated mTouch peripheral (built on CTMU) provides 12 channels of touch sensing with 10-bit resolution, while 14KB Flash holds mTouch libraries and gesture recognition code. The 18 I/O count supports 8-12 touch buttons plus LED feedback outputs without an external touch IC. Place 100nF decoupling on VDD, route touch traces as guarded shielded tracks, and use MPLAB Code Configurator to generate mTouch firmware in minutes.
Recommended
Low-Power IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF1829-I/GZ is ideal for low-power IoT sensor nodes because its nanoWatt XLP technology delivers sub-microamp sleep currents, 1.8-3.6V operation supports single-cell Li-ion or 2xAA battery chemistries, and 14KB Flash is sufficient for sensor fusion and BLE/Zigbee stack snippets. With 1KB RAM, the MCU can buffer sensor data before transmission bursts. Pair with a low-power wireless transceiver and use the WDT + sleep wake-up pattern to achieve years of battery life in periodic-reporting applications.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Control
The PIC16LF1829-I/GZ fits battery-powered remote controls because its 32 MHz performance handles IR modulation (38 kHz carrier) and button matrix scanning in a single chip, while the 1.8V minimum supply extends coin-cell life. The 18 I/O count supports a 4x4 keypad (8 pins) plus LED indicators and IR LED driver. Pair with a 32.768 kHz crystal for accurate timing and use nanoWatt XLP sleep mode to idle at <1 uA between button presses.
Recommended
LED Lighting and PWM Control
The PIC16LF1829-I/GZ drives LED lighting and PWM control applications because it integrates multiple CCP/ECCP modules with hardware PWM, 10-bit ADC for ambient light sensing, and 32 MHz speed for flicker-free dimming at 20 kHz. The 18 I/O count supports RGBW channels, button input, and DMX-style control. Configure the CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) for half-bridge LED driver topologies and use the NCO for precise color temperature mixing.
Recommended
Small Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16LF1829-I/GZ fits small consumer appliance designs because its 14KB Flash handles user menu logic, sensor reading, and motor control code, while ECCP modules drive TRIAC or MOSFET power stages for heaters, pumps, or fans. The -40 to +85 C industrial temperature range covers kitchen and laundry environments. Pair with an I2C temperature sensor and use the integrated op-amp/comparator for over-temperature protection without external analog components.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hub
The PIC16LF1829-I/GZ serves as an industrial sensor hub because it integrates I2C/SPI/EUSART for multi-sensor networking, 10-bit ADC for analog transducers, and 14KB Flash for protocol stacks like Modbus RTU. The 20-UQFN industrial temperature rating supports factory automation enclosures. Use the CLC (Configurable Logic Cell) to offload simple combinational logic from the CPU and the NCO for precision frequency synthesis in vibration sensor signal conditioning.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1829-I/GZ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1829-E/GZ | PIC16F1829-I/GZ | PIC16LF1828-I/GZ | PIC16LF1827-I/GZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) | 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same |
| Program Flash | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB | 4 KB |
| Data RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 384 B |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Digital I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 to +85 C (I grade) | -40 to +125 C (E grade) | -40 to +85 C | -40 to +85 C | -40 to +85 C |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in PIC16F/LF182x UQFN-20 family (vs PIC16LF1828-I/GZ)
- Extended temperature grade option within same UQFN package (vs PIC16LF1829-I/GZ vs PIC16LF1829-E/GZ)
- Drop-in 5V-compatible upgrade path (vs PIC16F1829-I/GZ)
- Most RAM in PIC16LF182x UQFN-20 family (vs PIC16LF1827-I/GZ)
Design Notes
Estimated: the 20-UQFN (GZ) package has a small thermal pad on its underside that must be soldered to a copper pour on the PCB. Without this connection, junction temperature can rise 20-40 C above ambient at full 32 MHz CPU load. Design a ground-plane copper pour of at least 10x10 mm under the UQFN with multiple thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pitch) for best heat dissipation.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 14) and another to VSS (pin 10). Add a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the IC for active-mode transient suppression. Keep analog (AN) traces short and away from PWM or switching signals to minimize ADC noise coupling. Route the ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK traces (RA0/RA1) with a ground guard for reliable in-circuit programming.
Do not confuse the LF (low-voltage, 1.8-3.6V) variant with the F variant (1.8-5.5V) - substituting LF1829 into a 5V design will damage the MCU. Always check the ICSP mode: the LF variant supports LV (low-voltage) programming only on some revisions; verify the CONFIG word LVP bit matches your programmer expectations before locking the code with the debugger.
When using mTouch capacitive touch sensing, ensure the touch pads have a clear ground ring around them (at least 1 mm gap). Route touch traces as short as possible and never run them under a switching power node or digital clock trace. Add a 100 nF series capacitor on each touch pin if the PCB is exposed to moisture or condensation, per Microchip's mTouch design guide.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - the -E temperature grade is industrial, not automotive-qualified. Lead-free (Pb-free) matte-tin finish per JEDEC J-STD-020.
