PIC16LF18346-E/P - 8-Bit XLP MCU, 28KB Flash, 32MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18346-E/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.39 | $2.39 |
| 10 | $2.15 | $21.50 |
| 100 | $1.92 | $192.00 |
| 500 | $1.71 | $855.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.52 | $1,520.00 |
PIC16LF18346-E/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (typically Flash), volatile data memory (RAM), and a configurable set of analog and digital peripherals. The PIC16LF18346 sits within Microchip's PIC16 mid-range MCU family, which occupies the entry-level to mid-tier segment of the 8-bit microcontroller market. The 'LF' prefix denotes the XLP (eXtreme Low Power) sub-family optimized for battery applications, while the 'PIC16' prefix indicates the 14-bit instruction word architecture shared across this family. Within the broader electronics taxonomy, this device belongs to: microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> embedded controller -> semiconductor IC.
Key features include nanoWatt XLP technology with sleep currents as low as 60 nA (typical), 2x SPI/I2C, 2x UART, 2x CCP/PWM, 1x 10-bit ADC with automatic threshold scanning, 1x 5-bit DAC, 1x comparator, and up to 18 I/O pins via PPS mapping. The 20-pin PDIP package provides easy through-hole prototyping for hobbyists, educators, and low-volume production.
Architecturally, the device uses a Harvard RISC core with a 14-bit instruction set and a hardware stack, executing most instructions in one cycle at 32 MHz (8 MIPS). PPS allows remapping of digital functions (CLC, CWG, CCP, PWM, communications) to nearly any I/O pin, simplifying PCB layout and reducing firmware redesign when port assignments change.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, low-power wireless remotes, LED lighting controllers, environmental data loggers, consumer appliance controls, and small motor-driver front ends. The combination of PPS flexibility and CIPs enables designers to implement state machines, waveform synthesis, and sensor sampling without burdening the CPU.
When designing with the PIC16LF18346-E/P, plan the power budget carefully: deep sleep draws nanoamps but active current is single-digit mA depending on peripherals enabled. Always include a 0.1µF decoupling capacitor within a few millimeters of VDD/VSS, and consider a 10µF bulk capacitor on the rail for ADC accuracy.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a faster path from selection to qualified design.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18346-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 PIC16LF18346-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, DAC, Core, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesPIC16LF18346-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 8-bit RISC, 14-bit instruction word |
| Program Memory | 28 KB Flash (16K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E suffix = Extended) |
| I/O Pins | Up to 18 (via Peripheral Pin Select) |
| ADC | 1x 10-bit ADC with Computation (ADC2) |
| DAC | 1x 5-bit DAC |
| Comparators | 1x with selectable references |
| Timers | 4x 8-bit, 4x 16-bit (selectable) |
| PWM / CCP | 2x CCP, 2x PWM |
| Waveform Generator | 1x CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) |
| Configurable Logic Cells | 4x CLC |
| Communication | 2x SPI/I2C, 2x UART |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP (0.300", 7.62 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Sleep Current (XLP) | 60 nA typical (Watchdog Timer off) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF18346-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5/MCLR#/VPP — PORTA bit 5 / Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0/C1IN0+/DAC1OUT1 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 / Comparator input / DAC output |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1/C1IN1- — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 / Comparator input |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 / Voltage reference negative |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / Voltage reference positive |
| Pin 6 | RA4/AN4 — PORTA bit 4 / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 7 | RA5/MCLR#/VPP — PORTA bit 5 / Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage (alternate) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — PORTA bit 7 / Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — PORTA bit 6 / Oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/SOSCO — PORTC bit 0 / Secondary oscillator output (32.768 kHz) |
| Pin 12 | RC1/SOSCI — PORTC bit 1 / Secondary oscillator input (32.768 kHz) |
| Pin 13 | RC2/AN6 — PORTC bit 2 / Analog input 6 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/AN7 — PORTC bit 3 / Analog input 7 |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18346-E/P is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Low-Power Wireless Remote Control, LED Lighting Controller, Environmental Data Logger, Consumer Appliance Control, Small Motor / Solenoid Front End, Hobby / Educational Prototyping.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF18346-E/P is well-suited for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes due to its nanoWatt XLP technology, with deep-sleep current as low as 60 nA typical enabling multi-year battery life from a single coin cell. The 1.8V to 3.6V VDD range supports direct Li-ion or 2x alkaline cell operation without a boost converter. Its 10-bit ADC2 with computation offloads windowed threshold comparisons to hardware, allowing the CPU to remain in sleep until sensor thresholds trigger a wake event via interrupt-on-change. The Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) flexibility and 2x UART/SPI/I2C allow direct interfacing with sensors, BLE modules, or LoRa transceivers. A 0.1µF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD is recommended for ADC accuracy.
Recommended
Low-Power Wireless Remote Control
For handheld wireless remotes, the PIC16LF18346-E/P offers the optimal balance of low power, fast wake, and integrated peripherals. Its 32 MHz core achieves 8 MIPS, sufficient for IR protocol encoding (RC5, NEC) or simple RF control (EV1527, PT2262 emulation). The CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) can produce IR-modulated 38 kHz carriers directly, while the CLC implements glue logic without external gates. Sleep current of 60 nA means a CR2032 coin cell can power the remote for years between button presses, and the interrupt-on-change I/O provides instant wake from any button press without CPU polling. Recommend a 0.1µF VDD bypass cap and proper ESD protection on tactile switch lines.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16LF18346-E/P drives LED lighting applications using its 2x CCP/PWM modules plus the CWG for complementary outputs, supporting full-bridge or half-bridge LED drivers directly. The 10-bit ADC2 with computation can sample ambient light sensors (e.g., photodiodes via transimpedance amplifier) and execute automatic dimming curves in hardware, freeing the CPU for higher-level tasks. The 32 MHz core and 8 MIPS performance support WS2812B / APA102 addressable-LED bit-banging protocols, or DMX512 reception for stage lighting. The 1.8V to 3.6V supply works well for 3.3V LED systems, while the 5V PIC16F18346 variant handles higher-voltage LED rails. Use a 10µF bulk cap plus 0.1µF ceramic bypass.
Recommended
Environmental Data Logger
For battery-operated environmental data loggers (temperature, humidity, pressure), the PIC16LF18346-E/P's 28KB Flash supports multi-month sensor-data buffering, while the 256B EEPROM provides non-volatile configuration. The 10-bit ADC2 with computation can directly digitize analog sensors, and the I2C/SPI peripherals interface with SHT30, BME280, or BMP280 digital sensors. Sleep current of 60 nA and the RTCC (Real-Time Clock Calendar) with alarm wake-up allow sampling at 1-minute intervals for years from a single CR2477 cell. The PPS module allows sensor I/O to coexist with debug pins without remapping firmware. A 32.768 kHz crystal on SOSCO/SOSCI pins enables accurate timekeeping.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
In small consumer appliances (coffee makers, kitchen timers, fan controllers, dehumidifiers), the PIC16LF18346-E/P handles user input, sensor sampling, and actuator drive. Its CWG module generates complementary PWM for brushed DC motor control, while the comparator enables over-current protection by sensing shunt voltage. The 10-bit ADC2 with hardware computation executes zero-crossing detection and closed-loop control without CPU intervention. The 1.8V to 3.6V range supports 2xAA/2xAAA battery operation or 3.3V from a small mains-powered supply. The Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade (E suffix) handles appliance thermal environments. Always include TVS protection on mains-coupled pins and reinforced isolation.
Recommended
Small Motor / Solenoid Front End
The PIC16LF18346-E/P drives small DC motors, solenoids, and stepper motors in low-power motion-control applications. Its CWG produces complementary PWM with programmable dead-time, ideal for half-bridge or full-bridge MOSFET drivers such as the MCP14E4 or MCP14E8. The 10-bit ADC2 with hardware computation reads back EMF or current-sense signals for closed-loop speed or position control, while the CLC implements window comparators for end-of-travel or stall detection without CPU load. The 32 MHz core supports real-time commutation algorithms for sensorless BLDC using back-EMF zero-crossing detection. Pair with an MCP1755 LDO for noise-free analog supply; recommend a 10µF bulk cap on motor supply rails.
Recommended
Hobby / Educational Prototyping
The 20-pin PDIP through-hole package of the PIC16LF18346-E/P makes it ideal for breadboarding, educational kits, and hobby projects where students learn embedded programming. The 32 MHz performance, 28KB Flash, and rich peripheral set (CLC, CWG, ADC2, PPS) provide extensive learning opportunities without requiring surface-mount soldering. The PICkit 4 / Snap programmer projects available from Microchip support the part natively, and MPLAB X IDE plus XC8 compiler offer free development environments. The nanoWatt XLP features demonstrate battery-powered design principles. For educators, the 20-pin PDIP footprint allows easy replacement of failed parts and clear signal probing on an oscilloscope or logic analyzer.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18346-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18345-E/P | PIC16LF18344-E/P | PIC16LF18346-I/P | PIC16F18346-E/P | PIC16LF18326-E/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin PDIP - same | 20-pin PDIP - same | 20-pin PDIP - same | 20-pin PDIP - same | 20-pin PDIP - same |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB | 28 KB (same) | 28 KB (same) | 16 KB |
| Data RAM | 2 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 2 KB (same) | 2 KB (same) | 1 KB |
| Maximum Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (same) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (same) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (same) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (same) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B (same) | 256 B (same) | 256 B (same) | 256 B (same) | 256 B (same) |
Key Differentiators
- nanoWatt XLP technology with 60 nA typical sleep current (vs PIC16LF18326-E/P)
- Core Independent Peripherals (CLC, CWG, ADC2 with computation) (vs PIC16LF18345-E/P)
- 1.8V to 3.6V VDD with nanoWatt XLP (vs PIC16F18346-E/P)
Design Notes
Estimated: At VDD=3.3V, 32 MHz, all peripherals active, the PIC16LF18346-E/P active current is ~3-5 mA typical (per Microchip datasheet 40001839E DC characteristics). For battery-powered designs, switch to the 32 kHz SOSC oscillator and use Sleep mode between sensor reads - the nanoWatt XLP technology achieves 60 nA typical deep-sleep current (Watchdog Timer off). Always include a 0.1µF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD pin, plus a 10µF bulk capacitor for transient load support during ADC sampling.
For the 20-pin PDIP package, place VDD/VSS decoupling as close to the IC as possible - 0.1µF ceramic within 5 mm and 10µF tantalum or ceramic bulk within 20 mm. If using ADC, separate analog VDD/VSS from digital VDD/VSS with a ferrite bead or small resistor plus capacitor filter to avoid digital noise coupling into ADC readings. Keep high-current traces (motor drivers, LED drivers) away from analog inputs; the on-chip ADC2 with computation can produce misleading results if PCB layout is poor.
Critical pitfalls when using the PIC16LF18346-E/P: (1) Do NOT exceed 3.6V on VDD - this is the LF (low-voltage) part; for 5V systems use the PIC16F18346 instead. (2) MCLR#/RA5 pin must have a pull-up resistor (typically 10k ohm) for normal operation; floating MCLR causes intermittent resets. (3) When using PPS, the PPS-lock register bit must be unlocked before changes - failing to do so yields silent peripheral mapping failures. (4) The ADC2 with computation has a fixed acquisition time; consult datasheet tables for proper TAD setup, otherwise ADC readings become noisy or stuck at full-scale.
For 32.768 kHz crystal connections on SOSCO/SOSCI (pins 11/12), keep traces short and symmetric, surround with a ground plane, and place load capacitors (typically 12-22 pF) close to the crystal pins. For the 20-pin PDIP socket footprint, reserve enough clearance around the IC for a programming clip (e.g., PICkit 4) or consider an ICSP header (ICSP header pinout: 1=VPP/MCLR, 2=VDD, 3=VSS, 4=ICSPCLK, 5=ICSPDAT) for in-circuit debugging. Reserve pads for a 0.1µF decoupling cap on each VDD pin.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free PDIP package. AEC-Q100 not qualified - for automotive-grade PIC16 MCUs, see the PIC16F18346-E/P variant family with automotive extensions. Halogen-free status not explicitly listed in datasheet; assume unknown.
