PIC16LF18456-I/SS - 28KB Flash 8-bit MCU | Microchip XLP
MPN: PIC16LF18456-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.95 | $2.95 |
| 10 | $2.66 | $26.60 |
| 100 | $2.37 | $237.00 |
| 500 | $2.13 | $1,065.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.91 | $1,910.00 |
PIC16LF18456-I/SS Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller is a Harvard-architecture RISC device with separate program and data buses, optimized for low-power deterministic embedded control. PIC MCUs sit within the broader microcontroller taxonomy alongside 32-bit ARM Cortex-M and RISC-V MCUs, typically chosen for cost-sensitive, low-power, and interrupt-driven designs where deterministic timing matters more than raw compute throughput.
Key features include a 32MHz internal oscillator, a 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter with Computation (ADC2), two 10-bit PWMs, a 5-bit DAC, comparators, CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator), EUSART, and two SPI/I2C peripherals - all branded as Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs). These CIPs let hardware handle timing-critical tasks without CPU intervention, reducing firmware complexity and active-mode current draw.
The PIC16LF18456-I/SS uses Microchip's eXtreme Low-Power (XLP) technology, which is the family-level feature that enables deep-sleep currents in the nanoamp range and active currents in the microamp-per-MHz range. The 12-bit ADC2 with computation capability performs averaging, filtering, and threshold comparison in hardware - ideal for sensor signal conditioning without CPU load.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, low-power wireless modules, HVAC and building automation controls, consumer appliances, and industrial sensor interfaces. Designers select this part when they need more code space and analog integration than entry-level PIC16F devices, while staying within the 8-bit XLP power envelope.
When designing, ensure the configuration words (CONFIG1/CONFIG2) are properly set for the chosen clock source, brown-out reset, and watchdog behavior, since PIC MCUs are configured by hardware fuses rather than firmware registers. Use MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler for development.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in PIC16LF184xx family alternatives, and practical design notes that complement - but do not replace - the official Microchip datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18456-I/SS — 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 PIC16LF18456-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, ADC, DAC, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF18455-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18446-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18456-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18455T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF18456-E/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18456-E/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.82 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18456-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC |
| Series | PIC16(L)F184xx, XLP family |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial, I suffix) |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC2 with Computation |
| DAC | 5-bit DAC |
| PWM | 2x 10-bit PWM |
| Comparators | Yes |
| CWG | Complementary Waveform Generator |
| Communication | EUSART, 2x SPI/I2C |
| Package | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF18456-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — I/O / digital-only |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — I/O |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — I/O |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — I/O |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — I/O / DAC reference |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — I/O |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — I/O |
| Pin 9 | RA6 — I/O |
| Pin 10 | RC0 — I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC1 — I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC2 — I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — I/O / SCL |
| Pin 14 | RC4 — I/O / SDA |
| Pin 15 | RC5 — I/O |
| Pin 16 | RC6 — I/O / TX |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — I/O / RX |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground (or Vcap on some family members) |
| Pin 19 | RB0 — I/O / INT |
| Pin 20 | RB1 — I/O |
| Pin 21 | RB2 — I/O |
| Pin 22 | RB3 — I/O |
| Pin 23 | RB4 — I/O |
| Pin 24 | RB5 — I/O |
| Pin 25 | RB6 — I/O / PGC (ICSP clock) |
| Pin 26 | RB7 — I/O / PGD (ICSP data) |
| Pin 27 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 28 | RA5/MCLR — Reset / programming voltage (per Microchip datasheet DS40002038C pinout) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18456-I/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, HVAC and Building Automation Controls, Consumer Appliance Control Boards, Low-Power Wireless Module Hosts, Industrial Sensor Interface Modules, Portable Medical Monitoring Devices, Automotive Body and Lighting Controllers.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF18456-I/SS is well suited for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its XLP architecture delivers nanoamp-range deep-sleep currents and microamp-per-MHz active currents at a 1.8-3.6V supply, directly matching a single-cell Li-ion or two-AA battery profile. The 12-bit ADC2 with hardware computation performs averaging and threshold detection without waking the CPU, extending battery life in duty-cycled sensor applications. Combined with the 28KB Flash, it has enough headroom for application logic plus a wireless protocol stack such as LoRaWAN or a proprietary sub-GHz link.
Recommended
HVAC and Building Automation Controls
The PIC16LF18456-I/SS fits HVAC and building automation controls because its 12-bit ADC2 with computation handles multiple analog sensor inputs - temperature, humidity, pressure - while the CWG and PWMs drive TRIAC or MOSFET gate signals for fan speed and valve control. The 28KB Flash accommodates state-machine logic plus Modbus RTU or BACnet application layers. EUSART and two SPI/I2C peripherals provide comms interfaces to backhaul radios or local sensor networks.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Boards
The PIC16LF18456-I/SS works well in consumer appliance controls such as coffee machines, washing machines, and induction cooktops because the CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) provides hardware-timed switching signals for power stages, while the comparators offer fast overcurrent and overtemperature protection without CPU latency. The 2KB SRAM is sufficient for display drivers and user-interface state buffers, and the wide 1.8-3.6V supply supports direct 3.3V LCD or LED matrix interfaces.
Recommended
Low-Power Wireless Module Hosts
The PIC16LF18456-I/SS is ideal as the host MCU for low-power wireless modules because its XLP sleep currents in the nanoamp range preserve battery life when the radio is idle, while 32MHz CPU speed handles protocol housekeeping after each TX/RX event. The two SPI/I2C ports allow simultaneous connection to a sub-GHz radio such as SX1276 and a sensor front-end, and the 12-bit ADC2 supports battery voltage monitoring for accurate state-of-charge reporting.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface Modules
The PIC16LF18456-I/SS suits industrial 4-20mA loop-powered sensor interfaces because its 12-bit ADC2 with hardware averaging handles noisy analog signals common in factory environments, while EUSART provides RS-485 connectivity for industrial networks. The 256B EEPROM allows storage of calibration coefficients and serial numbers. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature range (I suffix) covers most factory-floor deployments, and the 1.8-3.6V supply aligns with loop-derived power budgets.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Devices
The PIC16LF18456-I/SS fits portable medical monitoring devices such as pulse oximeters, glucose meters, and wearable health patches because its XLP deep-sleep currents in the nanoamp range preserve battery life during idle periods, while the 12-bit ADC2 with computation accurately digitizes photodiode or electrochemical sensor outputs. The 28KB Flash accommodates application logic plus small UI libraries, and the 1.8-3.6V supply aligns with single-cell Li-ion battery designs common in medical wearables.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Lighting Controllers
The PIC16LF18456-I/SS works in automotive body and lighting controllers for interior lighting, RGB ambient strips, and simple body modules where its CWG drives MOSFET bridges for LED strings and its 12-bit ADC2 reads battery voltage and current-sense signals. The two SPI/I2C ports allow connection to body-network transceivers or LED driver ICs. Note that for under-hood or AEC-Q100-qualified applications, the PIC16LF18456-E/SS extended-temperature variant should be selected instead of the I-suffix part.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18456-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18455-I/SS | PIC16LF18446-I/SS | PIC16F18456-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
Key Differentiators
- Doubled Flash versus PIC16LF18455 in same SSOP package (vs PIC16LF18455-I/SS)
- Lower voltage range versus PIC16F18456 for 3.3V native systems (vs PIC16F18456-I/SS)
- Lower power consumption than PIC16F18456 for battery applications (vs PIC16F18456-I/SS)
- Extended temperature option available in same SSOP package (vs PIC16LF18455-I/SS)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 32MHz active current is approximately 100-200 uA/MHz typical per XLP family datasheets, while deep-sleep current with WDT disabled is in the 50-500 nA range. For battery-powered designs, use Sleep mode aggressively: ADC2 with computation can wake the MCU on threshold crossings without CPU intervention, dramatically extending battery life. Always disable unused peripherals via PMD registers to minimize active current.
Place the 0.1 uF Vdd decoupling capacitor within 5mm of the Vdd pin (pin 27 on 28-SSOP), with a direct low-inductance ground return to VSS. For noise-sensitive analog applications, add a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the MCU. The ICSP pins (RB6/RB7 for PGC/PGD) should be accessible on the PCB for in-circuit programming and debugging - do not place large components between these pins and the programming header.
PIC MCUs are configured by hardware configuration words (CONFIG1, CONFIG2, etc.) that are programmed once at end-of-line - incorrect configuration can lock the device or disable programming. Always set CONFIG1 to enable MCLR (or disable internal MCLR), set the correct oscillator mode (HFINTOSC is typical), and set WDT to disabled unless intentionally used. Also note the LF variant (1.8-3.6V) is NOT 5V tolerant - applying 5V to any I/O will damage the part; use the F variant for 5V systems.
Keep analog inputs (RA0-RA5) physically separated from digital switching signals and PWM outputs on the PCB. Use a ground plane with the analog ground tied to the digital ground at a single point near the MCU VSS pin. For ADC2 accuracy, the AVR (analog-to-digital) reference voltage pin should be bypassed with 0.1 uF and 10 uF capacitors, and the AVdd pin (if used separately) should have its own LC filter network.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade (I suffix) - not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 applications contact Microchip automotive product line.
