PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ - 32MHz 8-Bit XLP MCU, 28KB Flash, 16-UQFN
MPN: PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.48 | $1.48 |
| 10 | $1.32 | $13.20 |
| 100 | $1.12 | $112.00 |
| 500 | $0.96 | $480.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.85 | $850.00 |
PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ Overview
What is a PIC16 microcontroller? The PIC16 family is a broad line of Microchip 8-bit RISC microcontrollers built around a Harvard-architecture CPU with a small, deterministic instruction set, on-chip Flash, data EEPROM, and a rich set of Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs). They sit in the hierarchy: PIC16 -> PIC10/12/14/16/18 family -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> semiconductor. Engineers select PIC16LF parts when they need the lowest active and sleep current consumption under the XLP (eXtreme Low Power) program.
Key features include a 10-bit ADC with computation (ADC2), a 5-bit and 10-bit DAC, two comparators, an 8-bit timer (TMR0/TMR2), a 16-bit timer, a Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO), Configurable Logic Cells (CLC), Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), PWM, and Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP). Peripherals are routed to pins via the Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) feature, allowing almost any digital function on most I/O pins and simplifying PCB layout reuse across the family.
Communication is provided by an EUSART (LIN-capable) and independent SPI and I2C controllers. The CPU runs up to 32 MHz from the internal 32 MHz HFINTOSC and includes two speed grades with instruction cycles from 125 ns. The device supports in-circuit debugging via the Microchip ICD/PICkit and programming via the In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) interface, with MPLAB X IDE and XC8 toolchain support.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, wearable fitness devices, Bluetooth Low Energy beacon hosts, energy-harvesting wireless switches, battery-powered remote controls, and general-purpose mixed-signal front ends. The 16-pin UQFN package is well-suited for space-constrained PCB designs that still need substantial on-chip memory and rich analog.
When designing with this part, place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin and a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the main supply rail. Connect the exposed thermal pad to the ground plane for thermal and electrical performance, and route the ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT pins to a 2x3 programming header for production programming and debug.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative cross-references, and practical design notes not found in a single manufacturer datasheet view, giving engineers a one-stop reference for sourcing and designing with the PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ — 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 PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F18326T-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18326-E/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.99 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18325T-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18323T-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.71 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18324T-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1574-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.94 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 8-bit RISC |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz (max) |
| Instruction Set | PIC16 enhanced mid-range |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Package | 16-pin UQFN (4x4 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| I/O Pins | 12 (with PPS mapping) |
| ADC | 10-bit with computation (ADC2) |
| DAC | 5-bit and 10-bit |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Communication | EUSART (LIN), SPI, I2C |
| Timers | 8-bit TMR0/TMR2 and 16-bit timers |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Core Independent Peripherals | CLC, NCO, CWG, CCP, PWM |
| XLP (eXtreme Low Power) | Yes |
| ICSP Debug | Yes (PICkit/ICD) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/ANA0/ICSPDAT — Analog input 0 / ICSP data / digital I/O with PPS |
| Pin 2 | RA1/ANA1/ICSPCLK — Analog input 1 / ICSP clock / digital I/O with PPS |
| Pin 3 | RA2/ANA2/VREF- — Analog input 2 / negative voltage reference |
| Pin 4 | RA3/ANA3/VREF+ — Analog input 3 / positive voltage reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4/ANA4/T0CKI — Analog input 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/ANA5/MCLR — Master Clear (reset) / analog input 5 |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RC0 — Digital I/O with PPS |
| Pin 10 | RC1 — Digital I/O with PPS |
| Pin 11 | RC2 — Digital I/O with PPS |
| Pin 12 | RC3 — Digital I/O with PPS |
| Pin 13 | RC4 — Digital I/O with PPS |
| Pin 14 | RC5 — Digital I/O with PPS |
| Pin 15 | RC6 — Digital I/O with PPS |
| Pin 16 | RC7 — Digital I/O with PPS |
| Pin 17 | EP — Exposed thermal pad - connect to VSS ground plane |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Wearable Fitness and Health Devices, Energy-Harvesting Wireless Switches, Industrial Sensor Conditioning and 4-20 mA Loops, Smart Home Wireless Sensor Hubs, Handheld Measurement and Test Instruments.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply range operates directly from a single LiSOCl2 or 2x AA cell down to end-of-life voltage. Its 32 MHz CPU plus 28 KB Flash hosts BLE beacon stacks and Modbus or LoRaWAN driver firmware, while the 10-bit ADC2 with computation performs oversampling and averaging for temperature, humidity, and analog sensor channels. XLP sleep current below 30 nA with RTC wake-up from the 32 kHz LFINTOSC enables multi-year coin-cell operation. The 16-UQFN (4x4) keeps board area under 20 mm^2.
Recommended
Wearable Fitness and Health Devices
Wearable fitness bands and heart-rate monitors benefit from the PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ's XLP architecture, which keeps sleep current under 30 nA while still supporting always-on sensor polling at 1 Hz intervals. The 10-bit ADC2 samples photoplethysmography (PPG) and temperature sensor signals with hardware averaging, while the CLC and NCO generate timing signals for LED drivers without waking the CPU. The 1.8 V minimum supply supports direct Li-ion operation, and the 16-UQFN (4x4 mm) package is small enough for wristbands and patches.
Recommended
Energy-Harvesting Wireless Switches
Energy-harvesting wireless light switches and remote controls use the PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ because it can cold-start at 1.8 V from a harvested pulse and immediately transmit before returning to deep sleep. The EUSART, SPI, and I2C peripherals connect to sub-GHz or BLE companion radios, while the CWG and NCO generate precise timing for protocol stacks. 28 KB Flash stores complete wireless protocol firmware, and PPS remaps pins to route SPI/I2C to convenient package pins without PCB changes.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning and 4-20 mA Loops
The PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ operates inside industrial 4-20 mA current loops and low-voltage sensor transmitters because its 1.8 V minimum supply runs from loop-derived voltages after a shunt regulator. Two on-chip comparators and a 10-bit DAC2 implement current/voltage signal conditioning, while EUSART outputs Modbus RTU over RS-485 transceivers. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade covers most factory-floor deployments. PPS remaps peripheral outputs to the most layout-friendly pins.
Recommended
Smart Home Wireless Sensor Hubs
Smart-home temperature, occupancy, and air-quality sensors integrate the PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ as the local controller because it can route SPI/I2C sensor data to a host radio via EUSART, handle interrupts from motion detectors via PPS-mapped comparators, and sleep at <30 nA between events. The 28 KB Flash supports Zigbee or Matter-over-Thread application stacks when paired with an 802.15.4 radio, and the 16-UQFN (4x4) package fits inside small sensor enclosures.
Recommended
Handheld Measurement and Test Instruments
Handheld DMMs, clamp meters, and field-test instruments use the PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ because its 1.8 V minimum supply extends battery life on two AAA cells and its 10-bit ADC2 with computation performs RMS and peak detection on measured waveforms. The 5-bit and 10-bit DAC subsystems drive LCD bias voltages and audio feedback tones, while the CWG generates precision PWM for excitation signals. The 32 MHz CPU runs UI logic at responsive rates while XLP sleep preserves battery during idle periods.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18326T-I/JQ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F18326T-I/JQ | PIC16LF18326-E/JQ | PIC16LF18325T-I/JQ | PIC16LF18323T-I/JQ | PIC16LF1574-I/JQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 16-UQFN (4x4) | 16-UQFN (4x4) - same | 16-UQFN (4x4) - same | 16-UQFN (4x4) - same | 16-UQFN (4x4) - same | 16-UQFN (4x4) - same |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 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 |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB | 14 KB |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| CPU Max Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (older family) |
| CLC / NCO / CWG CIPs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Key Differentiators
- Sub-2V operation enabled by LF voltage range (vs PIC16F18326T-I/JQ)
- Largest Flash in PIC16LF1832x 16-UQFN family (vs PIC16LF18325T-I/JQ)
- Industrial vs Extended temperature grade option (vs PIC16LF18326-E/JQ)
- Modern CIP peripherals vs older PIC16 baseline (vs PIC16LF1574-I/JQ)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF X7R decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 7) and a 10 uF X5R bulk capacitor on the main supply rail. For battery applications below 2.0 V, ensure the bulk capacitor ESR is below 200 milliohm to prevent brown-out during transmit peaks. Use the LFINTOSC (32 kHz) for sleep-mode RTC and switch to HFINTOSC (32 MHz) only for active processing to minimize average current. Estimated: with 99% sleep duty at 30 nA and 1% active at 2 mA, average current is approximately 50 uA, giving multi-year life on a 220 mAh coin cell.
Solder the exposed thermal pad (pin 17 / EP) to a continuous ground copper pour of at least 25 mm^2. The 16-UQFN package relies on the EP for heat dissipation; without proper soldering the junction-to-ambient thermal resistance (theta_JA) can exceed 100 C/W. In typical IoT sensor duty cycles (peak current below 10 mA) the part dissipates well under 30 mW, so thermal concerns are minimal - but the EP is also a low-impedance ground return and skipping it can degrade ADC noise and EMI performance.
Route the ICSP pins (RA0/ICSPDAT and RA1/ICSPCLK) to a 2x3 0.1-inch programming header for production programming and in-circuit debugging. Keep ICSPCLK traces short and away from switching signals. Add 4.7 kohm pull-up resistors on SDA/SCL if I2C peripherals are used, and 4.7 kohm pull-up on MCLR (RA5) if external reset is not required; the part supports internal MCLR disable via configuration bits. Place a 0.1 uF on the MCLR line when using external reset.
Do not exceed 3.6 V on VDD - the LF variant is not 5 V tolerant and absolute maximum VDD is 4.0 V per the family datasheet. When migrating firmware from PIC16F to PIC16LF parts, verify the BOR (brown-out reset) voltage configuration - LF defaults are typically 1.8 V while F defaults are 2.0 V. Failing to adjust BOR can cause intermittent resets at low battery. Always declare PPS pin mapping in firmware before first peripheral use; using a peripheral before PPS configuration leaves its output floating.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - use AEC-Q100-qualified PIC variants for automotive designs. Lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip material declarations.
