PIC16LF18346-E/GZ - 8-bit XLP MCU 32MHz 28KB Flash 20-UQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18346-E/GZ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.92 | $1.92 |
| 10 | $1.72 | $17.20 |
| 100 | $1.45 | $145.00 |
| 500 | $1.21 | $605.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.04 | $1,040.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.89 | $2,670.00 |
PIC16LF18346-E/GZ Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program storage (Flash), and configurable peripherals around an 8-bit data path. Within the broader electronics taxonomy, 8-bit MCUs sit below 16-bit and 32-bit microcontrollers in arithmetic throughput, but their deterministic instruction timing, low power consumption, low cost and small footprint keep them dominant in cost-sensitive, deeply embedded roles such as sensor front-ends, appliance controls and battery-powered IoT nodes. The PIC16F family specifically targets applications that need Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) - such as CLC, CWG and PPS - so that simple tasks can run without waking the CPU.
Key features include Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) for flexible digital peripheral pin mapping, a 10-bit ADC with computation, two SPI/I²C, Configurable Logic Cells (CLC), Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), and XLP technology with sub-uA sleep currents. The 20-UQFN package gives a very small PCB footprint while still exposing the full set of peripherals. The device is rated for the extended -40 °C to +125 °C operating range and ships as an 'E' (engineering sample / extended temp) grade.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, battery chargers, energy harvesting IC front-ends, small appliances, LED lighting controllers, and remote controls. The wide operating voltage combined with deep-sleep nanoWatt XLP modes enables multi-year coin-cell battery life in duty-cycled sensor products.
When designing with this MCU, ensure that decoupling is placed within a few millimetres of VDD, that unused I/O pins are configured as outputs low (not floating), and that PPS assignments do not inadvertently route peripherals onto debug pins.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, making it a higher-value resource than a bare DigiKey or Mouser listing.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18346-E/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 PIC16LF18346-E/GZ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Independent Peripherals, ADC, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF18346-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18346-E/GZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18345-E/GZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.91 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18344-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18326-E/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.99 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18346-E/GZ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC® XLP™ 16F |
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14) |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (2.5V-3.6V typical at full 32 MHz) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C |
| Package | 20-pin UQFN 4x4 mm (GZ) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 10-bit, with computation |
| Communication Peripherals | 2x (SPI / I²C) |
| Core Independent Peripherals | CLC, CWG, PPS, CCP/PWM |
| Power Technology | eXtreme Low Power (XLP), nanoWatt |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF18346-E/GZ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Port A bit 5 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — Port A bit 4 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — Port A bit 3 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Port A bit 2 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 9 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 10 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 14 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 15 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 16 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 / analog input / I/O |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground (secondary) |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 20 | EP — Exposed pad (thermal/ground, must be soldered to PCB ground) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18346-E/GZ is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Small Appliance Control, LED Lighting Controller, Remote Control / HMI Keypad, Energy Harvesting Sensor Front-End, Wearable Health Monitor, Smart Home Sensor / Edge Node.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF18346-E/GZ is purpose-built for coin-cell or 2x AAA powered IoT sensor nodes that must operate for years without battery replacement. Its nanoWatt XLP technology delivers sub-microampere sleep currents, while Core Independent Peripherals (CLC, CWG, ADC2) let the device wake, take a sensor reading, run a threshold check and trigger an interrupt without fully waking, dramatically cutting average current draw. The 28 KB Flash accommodates BLE/Zigbee-friendly bootstrap loaders plus application code. Wide-voltage 1.8V-3.6V VDD lets the part run directly from a discharged coin cell down to its brown-out threshold without a boost regulator, simplifying the BOM and saving PCB area in compact sensor products.
Recommended
Small Appliance Control
The PIC16LF18346-E/GZ fits small appliance control boards - coffee makers, blenders, fans, slow cookers, air purifiers - where a low-cost MCU drives relays, triacs, LEDs, a keypad and an indicator display. The 32 MHz core handles user-interface polling and triac zero-crossing timing, while the 10-bit ADC reads temperature, humidity or motor-current sensors. PPS reassigns SPI/I2C onto any two pins, simplifying PCB routing when the keypad layout forces the MCU to a corner of the board. The 20-pin UQFN package is small enough for sub-$2 BOM targets and the LF variant's 1.8V-3.6V range simplifies direct connection to 3.3V LDO rails derived from rectified mains.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16LF18346-E/GZ drives multi-channel LED lighting fixtures including dimmable white, RGB and RGBCW smart bulbs. The Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) and PWM peripherals produce high-resolution dimming signals with minimal CPU overhead, while PPS routes the PWM outputs to convenient pins. The 10-bit ADC samples a photodiode or potentiometer-based dim input, and the I2C/SPI peripherals interface to a wireless module (BLE, Zigbee, Matter) or a digital LED driver. The LF variant's wide VDD range lets it run directly from a 3.3V regulator on the LED driver board, eliminating an additional LDO.
Recommended
Remote Control / HMI Keypad
The PIC16LF18346-E/GZ operates as the keypad-scan MCU in IR/RF/BLE remote controls and other handheld HMIs. Its Core Independent Peripherals (CLC, CWG) can debounce keypad inputs and generate PWM-driven IR carrier signals without CPU involvement, drastically reducing sleep-mode power consumption when the device sits idle on a coffee table for months. The 28 KB Flash stores IR protocol libraries (NEC, RC5, RC6, SIRC) plus application-specific button maps. The 20-pin UQFN package fits inside thin remote housings where every cubic millimetre counts.
Recommended
Energy Harvesting Sensor Front-End
The PIC16LF18346-E/GZ sits at the front of an energy-harvesting sensor node - solar, thermal or vibration powered - where average load must stay in the tens of microamperes to ensure net-positive energy harvest. Its 1.8V-3.6V VDD lets it run directly from harvested energy buffered in a supercapacitor, while nanoWatt XLP sleep modes drop quiescent current into the sub-uA range between sensor reads. The ADC2 with computation offloadings cells performs threshold-based event filtering in hardware, reducing the need to wake the CPU for every sample. The compact 20-pin UQFN lets the entire sensor fit into a coin-sized footprint.
Recommended
Wearable Health Monitor
The PIC16LF18346-E/GZ is suited for compact wearable health monitors - fitness bands, body-temperature patches, pulse oximeters - that demand tiny PCB area and very long battery life. Its 4x4 mm 20-pin UQFN footprint fits on a 10 mm diameter flex PCB, while nanoWatt XLP sleep modes let the part sleep for the majority of the day between measurements. The 10-bit ADC2 with computation handles photoplethysmography (PPG) and thermistor signals, and the I2C peripheral talks to a low-power accelerometer or BLE SoC. The LF variant's wide-voltage operation tolerates a depleted coin cell without glitches.
Recommended
Smart Home Sensor / Edge Node
The PIC16LF18346-E/GZ serves as the local MCU in smart-home sensor and edge-control nodes - door/window sensors, leak detectors, room thermostats - that must operate continuously on a coin cell or 2x AAA cells for years. Its Core Independent Peripherals handle keypad, reed switch and PIR sensor wake events in hardware, dramatically cutting wake-ups of the main CPU. The 28 KB Flash stores Matter/Zigbee commissioning credentials and application firmware. The 1.8V-3.6V VDD range lets the MCU share a coin-cell or low-dropout regulator with a wireless companion SoC, simplifying the BOM and reducing standby power.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18346-E/GZ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18346-I/GZ | PIC16F18346-E/GZ | PIC16LF18345-E/GZ | PIC16LF18344-I/GZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-UQFN 4x4 mm (GZ) | 20-UQFN 4x4 mm (GZ) - same | 20-UQFN 4x4 mm (GZ) - same | 20-UQFN 4x4 mm (GZ) - same | 20-UQFN 4x4 mm (GZ) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (KB) | 28 KB (16K x 14) | 28 KB | 28 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB |
| SRAM (KB) | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V (F) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) |
| Temperature Grade | Extended (-40 to +125C, 'E') | Industrial (-40 to +85C, 'I') | Extended (-40 to +125C, 'E') | Extended (-40 to +125C, 'E') | Industrial (-40 to +85C, 'I') |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Core Independent Peripherals | CLC, CWG, PPS, CCP/PWM, ADC2 | Same set | Same set | Same set | Same set |
| Unit Price @ qty-1 (USD, as of 2026-09-24) | 1.92 | 1.78 (approx) | 1.95 (approx) | 1.65 (approx) | 1.45 (approx) |
Key Differentiators
- 28 KB Flash on the 20-pin UQFN footprint (vs PIC16LF18344-I/GZ)
- Wide-voltage 1.8V-3.6V LF variant (vs PIC16F18346-E/GZ)
- Extended -40 to +125C temperature grade on 'E' suffix (vs PIC16LF18346-I/GZ)
- Compact 4x4 mm UQFN footprint (vs PIC16LF18326-E/SL)
Design Notes
Decoupling: place a 100 nF X7R ceramic capacitor between VDD (pin 19) and VSS (pin 7 or 18) within 3 mm of the VDD pin, plus a bulk 1-10 uF ceramic or tantalum on the same rail. For noise-sensitive analog reads on RA0-RA7, add a separate analog supply filter (ferrite + 1 uF + 100 nF) feeding AVDD if the board uses both analog and digital noise sources. The exposed pad (EP, pin 20) must be soldered to the PCB ground plane for thermal dissipation and electrical reference; do not leave it unconnected.
PPS lockup: when Peripheral Pin Select is used, the input and output PPS registers must be configured to map the chosen peripheral to a valid pin. Attempting to use a PPS function on an unavailable pin (or one locked by Configuration bits) will silently disable the peripheral. Always declare PPS in code, verify in MPLAB X's Pin Manager, and confirm the lock state via #pragma config-Write_PPS_LOCK. Also, never leave unused I/O pins floating - configure them as outputs low to avoid shoot-through current and noise injection.
Estimated: at VDD = 3.3V, FOSC = 32 MHz, CPU active, the PIC16LF18346 draws approximately 4-6 mA per the Microchip datasheet DC characteristics. In sleep (XLP, all peripherals off) the current drops below 1 uA. With a duty cycle of 1 ms active every 1 s, average current approaches (5 mA × 0.001) + (1 uA × 0.999) ≈ 6 uA. A CR2032 coin cell (220 mAh) would last roughly 220 mAh / 6 uA ≈ 36,500 h ≈ 4 years. Real-world battery life is shorter due to self-discharge, so use 50% derating.
20-pin UQFN (GZ) layout: the exposed pad is 2.5 mm x 2.5 mm and must be soldered. Use NSMD pads with via-in-pad or tented vias for the EP. Keep signal traces short on RA0-RA7 (ADC) and isolate the analog ground island from noisy switching currents. For PPS flexibility, route peripheral signals (SPI/I2C, PWM, CLC outputs) to pads that are not physically obstructed by adjacent components.
The 32 MHz core generates harmonics up to the 10th harmonic (320 MHz). On a 2-layer FR4 board, decoupling capacitor placement (100 nF within 3 mm of VDD) and a continuous ground plane under the UQFN are essential to keep digital switching noise out of the analog ADC inputs. For designs using ADC2 with computation, average 16-64 samples in hardware to further suppress residual switching noise; this is far more effective than oversampling in firmware.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications, use PIC16F18346-E/GZ with appropriate automotive-grade certification or contact Microchip line for AEC-Q100 alternative. Halogen-free per Microchip green-compliance statement.
