PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO - 8-Bit XLP MCU, 28KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.58 | $25.80 |
| 100 | $2.28 | $228.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.82 | $1,820.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.65 | $4,950.00 |
PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small computer-on-a-chip that integrates an 8-bit CPU core, program memory (Flash), data RAM, EEPROM, and a rich set of peripherals into a single IC. PIC microcontrollers are built on a modified Harvard RISC architecture: the program bus is separated from the data bus so the CPU can prefetch instructions while simultaneously reading or writing data. PIC16F-family MCUs sit in the middle of the Microchip 8-bit portfolio (PIC10/12/16/18), above PIC10/12 in capability and below PIC18 in code density, and the XLP variant is purpose-tuned for battery-powered IoT and portable products where quiescent current dominates energy budgets.
Key specifications include 28KB Flash, 2KB SRAM, 256 bytes of EEPROM, a 10-bit ADC, a hardware Core Independent Peripherals (CIP) block including CLC, CWG, NCO, and CCP/PWM, plus Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) that allows digital peripherals (CLC, CWG, CCP, PWM, and communications) to be remapped to a wide choice of pins at runtime. The "LF" prefix indicates a wide 1.8V-3.6V supply range suitable for Li-ion or 2x AA battery rails.
Architecturally the device pairs a Harvard RISC core with a 14-bit instruction word, a deep interrupt and DMA-style engine (the IVT and hardware CLCs), and PPS fabric that lets designers move a UART, SPI or PWM to almost any I/O pin - useful when a PCB layout forces pin reassignment late in the design. NanoWatt XLP technology drops active and sleep currents to single-digit microamp levels, enabling years of operation on a coin cell.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, wearable health monitors, low-power wireless sensor networks, battery-powered consumer devices, and automotive body and sensor ECUs (the /GZVAO suffix indicates the automotive/VQFN/Tape-and-Reel variant).
When designing with this part, plan to use the MPLAB X IDE with the XC8 compiler and configure PPS for every digital peripheral - leaving PPS at its default assignment will limit flexibility. Always enable the watchdog timer for unattended sensor nodes.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternate MPNs from the same PIC16LF183xx family, and practical design notes that are not included verbatim in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO — 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 PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Core Independent Peripherals, Data EEPROM, Operating Temperature, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF18346T-I/GZVAO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF18346T-E/GZ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF18346-E/GZ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$0.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18346-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16F 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Instruction Word Width | 14-bit |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF family) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (extended, /E suffix) |
| Package | 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) (GZ designation) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Core Independent Peripherals | CLC, CWG, NCO, CCP/PWM, CRC |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Low-Power Technology | eXtreme Low Power (XLP) / NanoWatt |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| AEC-Q100 Automotive | /GZVAO suffix is automotive-grade |
PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O; ICSP programming clock (ICSPCLK); PWM output |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O; PWM output; comparator output |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O; MCLR input (weak pull-up enabled by configuration) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O; analog channel; PWM output |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O; analog channel; comparator input |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O; analog channel; ICSP data (ICSPDAT) |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — Bidirectional I/O; OSC1/clock input |
| Pin 10 | RA6 — Bidirectional I/O; OSC2/clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O; PWM output; analog channel |
| Pin 12 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O; PWM output |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O; analog channel; PWM output |
| Pin 14 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O; analog channel |
| Pin 15 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O; analog channel; I2C clock |
| Pin 16 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O; analog channel; I2C data |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O; UART TX; PWM output |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O; UART RX; PWM output |
| Pin 19 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O; I2C clock; PWM output |
| Pin 20 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O; I2C data; PWM output |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Wearable Health Monitors, Automotive Body and Sensor ECUs, Low-Power Wireless Sensor Networks, Consumer Remote Controls and HMI, Industrial Sensor and Monitoring Modules.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO fits IoT sensor nodes because its eXtreme Low Power (XLP) sleep current is in the sub-microamp range, the 1.8V-3.6V supply range matches coin-cell and 2x AA batteries directly, and 28KB of Flash comfortably holds small protocol stacks. Core Independent Peripherals (CLC, NCO, CWG) let timers and waveform generation run while the CPU is asleep, extending battery life to multi-year levels. PPS lets designers route SPI/I2C/UART and PWM output to whichever GPIOs the PCB layout demands, reducing routing pressure in compact sensor modules. Use 32 kHz LFINTOSC plus periodic HFINTOSC wake-up for typical duty-cycled sensor sampling.
Recommended
Wearable Health Monitors
The PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO is well-suited to wearable health monitors thanks to its 1.8V-3.6V supply range that matches Li-ion coin-cell chemistries, sleep currents in the nanoamp range thanks to XLP technology, and a 10-bit ADC sufficient for heart-rate, SpO2, or temperature sensor front-ends. PPS allows digital peripherals to be routed around the PCB's tight wearable form factor without re-spinning the board. The 2KB SRAM and 28KB Flash allow on-device buffering and basic DSP for activity classification. The E-grade -40C to +125C rating covers skin and ambient temperatures encountered on body-worn devices.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Sensor ECUs
The PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO targets automotive body ECUs because the /GZVAO suffix (automotive/VQFN/tape-and-reel) and the E-grade -40C to +125C rating cover under-hood and cabin environments. Core Independent Peripherals (CLC, CWG) handle LIN-bus signal conditioning and PWM-driven lighting loads without CPU intervention, freeing the 8-bit core for protocol and diagnostics. PPS routes UART/LIN/PWM to convenient pins for compact body modules (window lifters, mirror controllers, ambient lighting). 32 MHz CPU clock with hardware CIP blocks enables deterministic response to LIN scheduler requests.
Recommended
Low-Power Wireless Sensor Networks
The PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO suits low-power wireless sensor networks because its nanoamp sleep current extends battery life when the radio is idle, the 32 MHz core wakes quickly to service radio interrupts, and PPS routes the SPI interface to whichever GPIOs are next to the wireless module on the PCB. 28KB Flash fits small protocol stacks such as proprietary sub-GHz or BLE-link layers that hand off to an external radio. Hardware CWG and NCO peripherals generate FSK/LoRa chirp-style symbols with no CPU involvement, reducing average active current. The 1.8V-3.6V range matches typical wireless SoC supply voltages.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls and HMI
The PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO is a fit for consumer remote controls and HMI products thanks to its 1.8V-3.6V supply (single CR2032 or 2x AAA), sub-microamp sleep current for years of shelf life, and integrated CLC/CWG peripherals that generate IR carrier frequencies in hardware. The 28KB Flash supports complex button-mapping or gesture-decoding firmware, while 2KB SRAM handles key debounce and buffer pools. The E-grade temperature range suits appliances that get warm during use, from coffee makers to hair tools.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor and Monitoring Modules
The PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO fits industrial sensor modules because the E-grade -40C to +125C rating tolerates factory floor temperatures, and 28KB Flash accommodates on-device calibration tables and security keys. PPS keeps the PCB layout flexible when analog front-end ICs force pin assignment changes mid-design, and the 10-bit ADC plus a DAC/DAC reference can drive 4-20 mA loop transmitter outputs with external drivers. The hardware CIP peripherals (CLC, NCO, CWG) generate PWM and stepper signals without waking the core, reducing average power in unattended edge sensors.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18346T-E/GZVAO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18346T-I/GZVAO | PIC16LF18346T-E/GZ | PIC16LF18346-E/GZ | PIC16LF18346-I/GZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same |
| 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 |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB - same | 28 KB - same | 28 KB - same | 28 KB - same |
| RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB - same | 2 KB - same | 2 KB - same | 2 KB - same |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes - same | 256 bytes - same | 256 bytes - same | 256 bytes - same |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz - same | 32 MHz - same | 32 MHz - same | 32 MHz - same |
| Supply Voltage Range | 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 | 1.8 V to 3.6 V - same |
| Operating Temperature Grade | E-grade (-40C to +125C) | I-grade (-40C to +85C) | E-grade (-40C to +125C) - same | E-grade (-40C to +125C) - same | I-grade (-40C to +85C) |
| Packaging Form | Tape & Reel (VAO) | Tape & Reel (VAO) | Tape & Reel (no VAO) | Tray/Tube | Tray/Tube |
Key Differentiators
- Automotive grade suffix /GZVAO with AEC-style screening (vs PIC16LF18346T-I/GZVAO)
- Tape-and-reel automotive variant on this specific SKU (vs PIC16LF18346-E/GZ)
- Same PIC16LF18346 die and pinout across all 4 listed siblings (vs Industrial siblings (e.g. PIC16LF18346-I/GZ))
Design Notes
Estimated: At 32 MHz CPU clock and 3.3 V VDD, PIC16LF18346 core current is roughly 4-6 mA active plus peripheral current. Sleep current at 1.8 V with WDT off is in the tens of nanoamps thanks to XLP technology, so coin-cell designs should run peripherals (CLC/NCO) at sub-MHz clocks and use HFINTOSC wake-and-do bursts. For sub-microamp standby, disable the BOR module and switch to LFINTOSC + RTC wake-up. Decouple VDD with a 100 nF X7R ceramic placed within 5 mm of the VSS pin.
The 20-UQFN 4x4 mm package has an exposed pad that MUST be soldered to the PCB ground plane for both thermal dissipation and electrical ground reference. Use at least 4 thermal vias in a 4-via-in-pad array under the e-pad to keep junction temperature low; missing or insufficient e-pad soldering is the most common cause of UQFN PIC16LF PIC failures. Maintain a continuous ground pour around the chip with no signal traces cutting underneath unless they are also ground returns.
When using Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), the PPS lock register must be unlocked before changes and re-locked afterward. Leaving PPS unlocked at runtime allows accidental glitch writes that move UART/SPI to wrong pins and brick the firmware. Always enable the watchdog timer (WDT) for unattended sensor nodes and configure the CONFIG words for failsafe oscillator switchover on oscillator fault. Forgot to set MCLR pin function? Configure RA3 as MCLR in CONFIG, or the device will not enter ICSP mode for in-circuit programming.
For analog signal chains, route the analog VDD/VSS pins as star connections back to a clean LDO, not daisy-chained from digital rails. Place a 100 nF ceramic directly on each AVDD pin if used, plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor within 10 mm. Use PPS to move UART/SPI away from analog GPIOs to reduce digital crosstalk into ADC readings. The 10-bit ADC achieves best results when ADC clock is below 1 MHz (FOSC/32 or FOSC/64) - running it faster sacrifices linearity.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. The /GZVAO suffix denotes automotive/VQFN/tape-and-reel packaging variant; AEC-Q100 compliance specifics should be confirmed in the latest manufacturer datasheet revision - this field is set to not_applicable because the Verified Web Data does not explicitly state an AEC-Q100 document number.
