PIC16LF18426-E/ST - 8-bit MCU, 32MHz, 28KB Flash, 14-TSSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18426-E/ST ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.85 | $1.85 |
| 10 | $1.66 | $16.60 |
| 100 | $1.42 | $142.00 |
| 500 | $1.18 | $590.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.99 | $990.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.85 | $2,550.00 |
PIC16LF18426-E/ST Overview
What is a PIC16 microcontroller? A PIC16 microcontroller is a class of 8-bit RISC microcontrollers from Microchip Technology built on a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses. The PIC16LF18426 belongs to the PIC16 family > mid-range 8-bit MCU > microcontroller > embedded processor > semiconductor. It is the workhorse tier of Microchip's 8-bit portfolio, positioned above baseline PIC10/PIC12 and below 16-bit PIC24/dsPIC33 devices. The 'LF' prefix denotes an extended voltage window (typically 1.8 V to 3.6 V) for low-power operation, while the 'F' family in the part number indicates Flash program memory.
Key features of the PIC16LF18426-E/ST include: a 12-bit ADC with Computation (ADCC) capable of up to 140 ksps, a 5-bit DAC, two PWMs with complementary outputs, a Comparator, Zero-Cross Detect (ZCD), Configurable Logic Cells (CLC), Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), and a temperature sensor. Communication peripherals cover EUSART, SPI, and I2C. Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) handle tasks in hardware without CPU intervention, reducing wake events and lowering system power consumption.
Technically, the device supports multiple power-saving modes including Sleep, Idle, and Doze, with a typical Sleep current in the nanoampere range thanks to XLP technology. The 32 MHz internal oscillator eliminates the need for an external crystal in many designs, while the 14-bit instruction word and 8-level hardware stack simplify firmware development in MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compilers.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, low-power wireless transmitters, consumer appliances, battery management front-ends, smart home controls, LED lighting controllers, and small motor control loops. The TSSOP-14 footprint suits compact handheld designs where board real estate is at a premium and a full 20-pin variant would be excessive.
When designing with the PIC16LF18426-E/ST, pay attention to the I/O count - the 14-pin package exposes fewer GPIO than the 20-pin variants in the same family. Engineers migrating from PIC16LF18425 or PIC16LF18325 silicon should verify pin mapping because peripheral remapping differs across pin counts in this family.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18426-E/ST — 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 PIC16LF18426-E/ST (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, DAC, Package, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF18425-E/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18426-I/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18326-E/SL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18325-E/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18424-E/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.86 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18426-E/ST Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC RISC (Harvard) |
| Family | PIC16 (L)F184xx / PIC16LF18426 |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 2 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Instruction Cycle | 125 ns minimum |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC, up to 140 ksps |
| DAC | 5-bit DAC |
| PWM | 2x PWM (with complementary outputs via CWG) |
| Comparators | Yes |
| Zero-Cross Detect (ZCD) | Yes |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | Yes |
| Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) | Yes |
| Temperature Sensor | Yes (internal) |
| Communication Peripherals | EUSART, I2C/SMBus, SPI |
| Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) | Yes |
| Package | 14-pin TSSOP |
| Temperature Grade (E suffix) | -40C to +125C extended |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF18426-E/ST Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Digital I/O / ADC / DAC5REF+ |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — Digital I/O / ADC |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — Digital I/O / MCLR (input only) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Digital I/O / ADC / DAC |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — Digital I/O / ADC / DAC |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — Digital I/O / ADC |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Digital I/O / ADC |
| Pin 9 | RA6 — Digital I/O / ADC |
| Pin 10 | RC0 — Digital I/O / ADC |
| Pin 11 | RC1 — Digital I/O / ADC |
| Pin 12 | RC2 — Digital I/O / ADC |
| Pin 13 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Digital I/O / ADC |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18426-E/ST is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Low-Power Wireless Remote Controls, LED Lighting Controllers, Small Motor Control Loops, Consumer Appliance Front Panels, Industrial Sensor Transmitters, Smart Home Edge Devices.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF18426-E/ST fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its nanoamp Sleep current (XLP technology), 1.8 V minimum VDD, and Core Independent Peripherals (CLC, CWG, ZCD) allow sensors to be polled and processed without waking the CPU on every event. The 12-bit ADCC at 140 ksps digitizes temperature, humidity, and battery voltage readings directly, while 2 KB SRAM accommodates time-stamped sample buffers. The TSSOP-14 footprint suits coin-cell and 2x AA enclosures. Compared to the PIC16LF18325-E/ST, this part doubles SRAM and adds CWG/ZCD for more sophisticated wake-event handling on the same PCB.
Recommended
Low-Power Wireless Remote Controls
The PIC16LF18426-E/ST is well-matched to handheld wireless remote controls thanks to its low Sleep current and 32 MHz CPU that wakes fast enough for sub-10 ms button-to-radio latency. The CWG peripheral generates complementary PWM outputs that drive IR LEDs or RF power amplifiers without CPU overhead, while the EUSART or SPI ports link directly to sub-GHz transceivers. With 28 KB Flash, ample room exists for custom button-mapping, debounce state machines, and pairing protocols. Compared to a PIC16LF15325-E/ST, the 18426 has more CIPs to offload button-scanning glue logic.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC16LF18426-E/ST is ideal for LED lighting controllers because the Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) and zero-cross detect (ZCD) peripheral handle TRIAC dimming and LED driver FET timing without CPU intervention, freeing the core for color-mixing algorithms or DMX-512 parsing. The 12-bit DAC enables smooth logarithmic dimming curves, while the 5-bit DAC supplies bias references for analog drivers. The TSSOP-14 package is small enough for in-fixture designs. Compared to the PIC16F1824-E/ST, the 18426E adds CWG and more PWM resolution for flicker-free dimming at low duty cycles.
Recommended
Small Motor Control Loops
The PIC16LF18426-E/ST supports small DC and stepper motor control loops thanks to its 32 MHz CPU (8 MIPS) that closes current-control cycles in tens of microseconds, plus the CWG and PWM peripherals generating complementary FET drive signals with dead-band control. The 12-bit ADCC samples back-EMF and current-sense signals at up to 140 ksps. With 2 KB SRAM and 28 KB Flash, firmware fits state-space controllers, sensor-fusion routines, or speed-profile tables. Compared to the PIC16LF1769-E/SS, the 18426E offers faster ADC and richer CIPs in a smaller footprint.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Front Panels
The PIC16LF18426-E/ST is appropriate for consumer appliance front panels because it integrates touch-style sensing via CLC and ZCD, ADC for thermistor or rotary knob readings, and PWM for buzzer or LED backlight dimming - all in a TSSOP-14 footprint that fits behind a small display. The 12-bit ADCC provides sufficient resolution for thermistor linearization in coffee machines or induction cooktops. With 28 KB Flash, sufficient headroom exists for icon sets, menu logic, and safety state machines in one firmware image.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitters
The PIC16LF18426-E/ST serves 4-20 mA loop-powered or battery-assisted industrial sensor transmitters because its -40C to +125C extended temperature grade (E suffix) tolerates outdoor and process-plant environments. The 12-bit ADCC digitizes 4-20 mA current-loop shunts or bridge sensors, while the CLC peripheral implements fault detection in hardware. EUSART or SPI ports interface to industrial transceivers like RS-485. The TSSOP-14 footprint fits standard industrial transmitter enclosures. Compared to the PIC16LF1783-E/SS, the 18426E offers higher ADC speed and more CIPs.
Recommended
Smart Home Edge Devices
The PIC16LF18426-E/ST works well in smart home edge devices (light switches, occupancy detectors, valve controllers) because its XLP low-power modes let battery or energy-harvested devices run for years on a single cell, while the CLC and CWG peripherals implement debouncing, edge detection, and TRIAC drive without CPU intervention. The TSSOP-14 package is small enough to fit behind a wall switch. With 28 KB Flash, firmware supports Zigbee or Sub-GHz command parsers and OTA bootloader stubs. Compared to a PIC16LF1705-E/ST, the 18426E has more CIPs and richer PWM.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18426-E/ST — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18425-E/ST | PIC16LF18426-I/ST | PIC16LF18326-E/SL | PIC16LF18325-E/ST | PIC16LF18424-E/ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 14-TSSOP | 14-TSSOP - same | 14-TSSOP - same | 14-SOIC - similar pinout, wider body | 14-TSSOP - same | 14-TSSOP - same |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 14 KB | 28 KB | 16 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 1 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC, 140 ksps | 12-bit ADCC, 140 ksps | 12-bit ADCC, 140 ksps | 10-bit ADC | 10-bit ADC | 12-bit ADCC, 140 ksps |
| Core Independent Peripherals (CLC/CWG/ZCD) | Yes (CLC, CWG, ZCD) | Yes | Yes | No (predecessor generation) | No | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) |
Key Differentiators
- Highest memory in 14-TSSOP PIC16LF184xx family (vs PIC16LF18425-E/ST)
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade (E suffix) (vs PIC16LF18426-I/ST)
- CIPs (CLC/CWG/ZCD) absent in predecessor PIC16LF18326 (vs PIC16LF18326-E/SL)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD=3.0 V and CPU active at 32 MHz, the PIC16LF18426-E/ST typically draws 2-3 mA. In Sleep with peripherals off, current drops into the nanoampere range per Microchip's XLP datasheet figures. For battery budgeting, assume 3 mA active and 100 nA Sleep; duty cycle 0.1% active yields average ~3 uA, allowing coin-cell operation for years. Decoupling: place 100 nF X7R ceramic as close as possible to VDD (pin 13), plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the supply rail.
Route the ICSP/ICD pins (RA0, RA1, RA3) to a 6-pin header or test pads so MPLAB ICD 4 / PICkit 4 can attach without rework. Place the 32.768 kHz or HF crystal traces short and symmetric; if relying on the internal 32 MHz HFINTOSC, leave RA6/RA7 free for GPIO since they double as the external XTAL pins. Keep ADC analog traces away from PWM outputs (RC1, RC2) to avoid digital-noise coupling into ADC samples at high duty cycles.
Do not exceed 3.6 V on VDD for the LF variant - the PIC16F18426 (no L) accepts up to 5.5 V and will silently fail if substituted by mistake. Always configure MCLR (RA3) as an input-only pin or as a reset, never as a digital output, because driving RA3 high can prevent reset. Use the Configuration Words to disable the Watchdog Timer unless explicitly needed, or firmware will hang unexpectedly on missed WDT events.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Mouser and DigiKey listings. E temperature grade supports AEC-Q100-style thermal stress; -Q1 suffix variant would be needed for full AEC-Q100 qualification. Halogen-free per Microchip standard PIC16 product family.
